Creation of a Counter-Terrorism Covenant proposed

Nick Aldworth has proposed a Counter-Terrorism Covenant through which the security industry can improve its focus on delivering against terrorist threats and provide confidence to their customers.

Aldworth, a former UK Counter Terrorism National Coordinator for Protect and Prepare, intends for the covenant, with the required backing, to stand as a collective agreement to undertake activities and behaviours that will improve the delivery of counter terrorism protective security.

The recent Manchester Arena Inquiry provided lessons for us all about how we should keep people safe and showed us how we need to develop the services we deliver. This learning, alongside the imminent Protect Duty, which Aldworth campaigned for alongside Figen Murray, will define what owners and operators will need to do to keep their customers safe from terrorism, and the part that contractors need to play in support of their customers.

While individual security contracting companies will continue to engage with their customers, there is an opportunity to create a common industry baseline against which that contracting should take place. In short, as an industry we should collectively commit to excellence in the field of countering terrorism.

The covenant is the signatory’s collective commitment to the behaviours they will exhibit, and the actions they will take, to make sure their individual companies are as focused as they can be on countering the ever-present threat of terrorism. It is not legally binding but creates a helpful checklist that will reduce our liabilities and improve our service delivery.

Proposals within the initial document include organisations pledging to ensure that all public facing staff undertake the counter terrorism training relevant to their role, support existing clients in preparing themselves for the UK Protect Duty and ensure there is a Publicly Accessible Trauma (PaCT) first aid kit that matches the recommended standard set by the National CT Security Office at venues.

Proposed members and supporters of the covenant are invited to consider if they wish to be part of this initiative. If they do, they are invited to review its contents and propose amendments by 22 April. The document will then be finalised, and signatories will be invited to attend a publicised event for a ‘formal’ signing. At this time, the IFSEC conference at London’s Excel on 17 May could be used for this.

Responses should be sent to Nick Aldworth at nick@risk2resolution.com

Risk to Resolution Ltd was created by Nick Aldworth with a view to helping organisations identify the terrorism risks they face and support them, and their staff, in resolving them.