Page 40 - the SyI Quarterly 13 - (V4)

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Responding to attack scenarios is difficult and most
CPNI research leads to new SCRs are not going to get it right first time. Training and
rehearsal are often the only ways for SCR operators to
gain and practise the necessary skills.

Sites are unlikely to provide an effective response to a
training methods for terrorist incident unless:

• Security control rooms are provided with the
appropriate equipment, policies, and procedures
• Operators are given the necessary training and time
to practise and exercise the response.
Control Room Operators The CPNI research identified that SCR operators:

• Struggle to complete tasks when working under
pressure
The Centre for Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) - the UK’s national technical authority for • Were unclear on what tasks needed to be prioritised
physical and personnel protective security has successfully piloted a new course for Security Control • Were unclear on who had responsibility for each task,
Room (SCR) operators who are critical to mitigating the impact of terrorist incidents. resulting in duplication.

The need for this course has been identified following six years of CPNI research into terrorist Based on these research findings, the course has
incidents and control room responses. Testing in the ASCEND programme of live attack trials, plus been developed to enable operators to practise the
survey analysis of existing command and control capabilities and analysis of previous incidents, have skills required in a realistic control room environment.
shown that many UK businesses and organisations are not sufficiently prepared to manage a terrorist World-first immersive exercises have been developed
incident. to simulate multiple terrorist incident scenarios. They
are based on realistic attack scenarios and provide a
The course was developed to address the significant challenges organisations face in preparing for an unique experience – above and beyond classroom-based
attack on their site. Most casualties in a terrorist incident occur within the first few minutes before the learning - enabling delegates to practise decision-making
emergency services have arrived on the scene. During this period the SCR is the front line of defence in real time as if they were in a control room. In the words
organising the initial response to the terrorist incident and is responsible for effective command and of delegates “The immersive exercises seem real”, “it is
control. While terrorist attacks are perhaps the most challenging types of incidents an organisation will intense” and “they make it as real as they can”.
ever face, they are also rare, and most people will never encounter one.
CPNI has produced a graphic video depicting the course
content, which can be seen on their website Responding
to Terrorist Incidents – Security Control Room (SCR)
Operators Course | CPNI or on YouTube.

Increase In Preparedness

Over 120 delegates from sectors including transport,
retail, stadia and arenas, major events, office and
government buildings and Publicly Accessible Locations
have attended the 5-day course at locations around the
country since its launch in March this year. The course
has received positive feedback with delegates giving the
course an overall rating of 9.5/10.

Operators who have completed the course report that
they feel more prepared and that the course has greatly
increased their confidence and capability to respond to a
terrorist incident.

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