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Manchester Project Griffin briefing

Police in Manchester have recently delivered one of the largest counter terrorism security events ever held in the UK. Around 750 people gathered at Manchester’s One Central Convention Complex for a Project Griffin event on Friday 16 June 2017. Attendees came from various industry sectors to learn how to protect themselves against terrorist attacks, and what to do in the event of one. The briefings are normally given to small groups of between 30 and 50 people, with the previous largest in Manchester consisting of around 140 attendees. The enormity of the event this year demonstrates the desire of local businesses to keep their employees as well as the public safe from harm. The briefing consisted of a package devised by the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), which was delivered by Counter Terrorism Security Advisors (CTSA) from the North West Counter Terrorism Unit (NWCTU). Project Griffin is a NaCTSO initiative designed to help protect workers, businesses and communities from the threat of terrorism. It builds on existing partnerships between counter terrorism police, emergency services and local companies which help businesses improve their security and preparation plans in order to better protect their staff and customers. DCS Scott Wilson, the national police coordinator for Protect and Prepare, said: “Project Griffin has been a vitally important strand of our policing strategy for more than a decade, but recent atrocities in Manchester and London have brought into sharper focus the necessity for police and our partners in industry to work closely together. I am delighted to see this partnership is flourishing in the North West, and I am sure this is typical of the close relationship police forces around the country share with their local businesses. “While there is no specific intelligence to say an attack is imminent, the threat from terrorism is Severe and that means an attack is highly likely. But it is important to keep a sense of perspective. Our aim is to move public thinking from an irrational fear of terrorism to a rational concern, where the nature of the current threat is better understood, and staff members know what to do if they find themselves involved at the scene of a terrorist incident or if they should witness the preparations for a future attack.”

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