Nactso publishes new guidance following Paris attacks

The UK’s National Counter Terrorism Security Office (Nactso) has published new guidance to develop procedures to dynamically lockdown sites following the Paris attacks.

The new guidance details how to prepare for an attack similar to the events in Paris on 13 November that left 129 dead and more than 350 injured.

The Nactso document outlines what should be done in response to ‘a fast moving incident such as a firearms or weapons attack’, and provides advice on ‘dynamic lockdown’, which is the ability to quickly restrict access to a site or building (or part of) through physical measures in response to a threat.

This includes advice on how a site can be sectored to allow specific areas to be locked down, how to train staff and how to let people know what is happening, for example using a public address system.

Additionally, it also provides ‘stay safe’ principles for the event of a firearms or weapons attack. This follows three sections of ‘Run’, ‘Hide’ and ‘Tell’. The guidance makes clear that if caught in a firearms attack, people should try their best to run away and escape. If they cannot get far enough away to be safe, it then instructs people to hide and find cover from the gunfire, bearing in mind to not get trapped. Thirdly, it recommends silencing phones and then calling 999 to give give location details to the police.