Counter-terror Project Griffin to be extended

One million people who work in crowded places in the UK are set to receive terror response training over the next 12 months, following the extension of counter-terror Project Griffin. The plan is due to be announced by the National Police Chiefs Council, and will see counter-terror experts pass on training and advice to colleagues. The extended scheme will build on Project Griffin, which currently allows police to train 100,000 workers each year. The training will be targeted at public limited companies based in busy city centres, in addition to those involved in the entertainment, sports and retail sectors. The news comes as police maintain that everyone is needed to ‘play a part in keeping the public alert’. Project Griffin was originally set by the City of London and Metropolitan police forces in 2004, to offer training to managers and security officers from large organisations on how to best deal with security and counter-terrorism issues. However, the initiative has since been rolled out to forces across the UK. Detective chief superintendent Scott Wilson, the national counter-terrorism co-ordinator, said: “Police can help explain what the threats and risks to different sectors are, but companies are better placed to explain to staff exactly what action they can take to enhance their security and how to respond if the worst happens. "Individual organisations have vital protective security information such as building layouts, security equipment and safety procedures. They have the local knowledge that could be vital to keeping staff and the public safe."