| The Security Institute has issued a call for vigilance to those responsible for premises in the UK |
Andrew Nicholls, Deputy Chairman of The Security Institute, the UK's principal professional body for senior security personnel today extended the organisation's sympathies to all those suffering loss and injury as a result of the attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida but also issued a call for vigilance to those responsible for premises in the UK. "This incident is another shocking example of violence targeted without conscience or remorse. In Britain we have past experience of attacks on bars and nightclubs, including the gay community being specifically attacked in London in 1999. These type of venues are sometimes described as 'soft targets' because they are places of recreation with a degree of unrestricted access."
Contingency plans to respond to terrorist attacks
Nicholls went on "The Security Institute encourages those responsible for the management of any premises, to develop contingency plans so as to be able respond in the event of a terrorist attack. The National Counter-Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) have made available a range of advice to help organisations with this task. No-one wants to live in a fortress but all necessary steps should be taken to ensure that if the worst happens venues can take necessary steps to protect their customers and staff. Having an emergency plan to deal with a terrorist incident should be as commonplace as fire procedures. As the largest professional membership body in the UK the Security Institute has a wide membership with extensive reach and will assist wherever possible."
Read more on the Orlando attack here