PSNI begins project Servator trials in Belfast

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have begun preparing the public for the roll-out of Project Servator.

Project Servator (Latin for Watcher), first used by City of London Police in 2014, uses tactics which are designed to identify and disrupt hostile reconnaissance – the information gathering a criminal does when planning to commit a criminal act, including terrorist attacks.

Now being trialled by the PSNI, officers have been visible in Belfast this week talking to the community and local businesses and encouraging them to be the PSNI's eyes and ears. They are supported by other resources, such as police dogs ​armed officers, CCTV operators, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and vehicle checkpoints.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said: “Project Servator aims to disrupt a range of criminal activity, including terrorism, while providing a reassuring presence for members of the public.

“Project Servator patrols are highly visible and can happen at any time and in any location. They are characterised by the use of a range of policing assets - dogs, vehicles, plain clothes – in an unpredictable way.

“We are working closely with our partners, including other police forces, security staff and CCTV operators, local businesses and retailers and members of the public, to continue to keep people safe in Northern Ireland and protect everyone who lives, works or visits here and make it a difficult place for criminals and terrorists to operate.

"Our initial trial includes deployments across our bus and rail stations in Belfast and we have been liaising closely with Translink in planning these deployments to help keep people safe.”