Local businesses can find useful advice and information from one of our four Counter Terrorism Security Advisors (CTSAs).

These specially-trained members of staff are part of a network of 250 advisors across the country co-ordinated by the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO).

Their key national priorities are:

• To provide counter terrorism advice on the protection of concentrations of people/crowded places.
• To provide counter terrorism advice on the protection of hazardous sites and advice on securing dangerous substances.
• To support the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) on the protection of Critical National Infrastructure.

NaCTSO and CTSAs have recently been delegated responsibility by the Home Office for dealing with protective security for ‘Crowded Places’. This could mean areas like shopping centres, sporting stadia, pubs and bars or transport hubs. Guidance booklets can be found on the NaCTSO website.

The core role of the CTSA is to identify and assess critical sites in their counties that might be vulnerable to terrorist or extremist attack; then devise and develop appropriate protective security plans to minimise impact on that site and the surrounding community.

Additionally, the CTSA will promote awareness of the terrorist threat and develop positive ongoing relationships by appropriate discussion of changes in the prevailing terrorist threat and suitable responses.

CTSAs will also strive to engage with other police departments as well as partner agencies to encourage a co-ordinated approach and build useful networks. They work closely with representatives of trade organisations and professional bodies to ensure counter terrorism protective security advice is incorporated in general crime prevention work.

CTSAs have regular access to current terrorism threat assessments and related intelligence as well as other classified material. This requires that they are all appropriately vetted – above and beyond the usual checks for police officers and staff.

CTSAs receive comprehensive specialist training in areas such as explosives and pre-cursor chemicals, pathogens and toxins, radiological sources, site and vulnerable point surveying, business continuity and disaster recovery, information and personnel security, integrated security systems, designing out vehicle borne terrorism and the threat from CBRN (Chemical/Biological/Radiological/Nuclear) attack.

If your business could benefit from Counter Terrorism security advice, you can contact Norfolk Constabulary’s CTSAs by phone on 101 or email ctsa@norfolk.pnn.police.uk.