Travel industry staff trained to deal with terrorist incidents

Travel industry staff working in the UK and overseas are being trained to help keep holidaymakers safe this summer. Over 23,000 employees have attended sessions, which give advice on how to spot suspicious activity and items, as well as what to do in the event of a major incident. The programme is being run in partnership with the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) which has created a short presentation offering travel companies an easy to deliver counter terrorism awareness product. This covers the core counter terrorism guidance needed by staff working in a crowded place. The product includes three new films that show staff what to expect and how to responded in the safest way to a terrorist threat. The presentation is accompanied by a leaflet which can be printed and distributed, and refers to the ACT: Action Counters Terrorism guidelines for reporting any suspicious behaviour or item. Holidaymakers travelling this summer are also being urged to watch a new video designed to help keep them safe in the event of a terrorist attack. The training has been funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Scott Wilson, National Coordinator for Protect and Prepare, said: “The chances of being caught up in a terrorist incident are still low, but sadly we have seen atrocities take place in the UK and abroad. So it is important everyone - staff and customers - stays alert and knows what to do if the worst was to happen. “Understandably people want to go on holiday to relax and enjoy themselves, but we need to remain vigilant at all times. “We want people to think of this in the same way they do the safety film airlines show before take-off. They don’t expect anything bad to happen but it is a sensible safety precaution to show people what to do. “A few minutes of your time spent watching the video before you go on holiday could save you and your loved ones. And find out in advance the local emergency number. For EU counties it is 112. Other numbers can be found on the foreign and commonwealth Office website.”