Haringey Council bolsters terror preparedness with new board
Haringey Council is strengthening its defences against potential terror threats with the establishment of a new board to oversee preparedness and response measures. The Protect and Prepare
initiative, driven by the requirements of Martyn's Law, is now a key focus for the Haringey Community Safety Partnership.
The initiative aims to enhance the borough's readiness for potential terrorist incidents, focusing on the protect nature
for venues. This includes developing robust plans for council-owned properties, internal processes, and public spaces that could be targeted.
Preparedness Measures
The Protect and Prepare
initiative is being driven by Martyn's Law, which was facilitated by an incident in Manchester several years ago. The law focuses on preparedness and or that protect nature for venues.
The Protect and Prepare Board, which meets monthly, is working closely with Counter Terrorism Policing and other security advisors. Their efforts include identifying high-risk locations and developing a communications strategy to raise awareness among businesses, schools, faith groups, and event organisers.
Specific areas of concern within Haringey have been identified as Wood Green and Seven Sisters, noted for tensions related to violence and drug offending. Partnership activity, including additional CCTV, has been implemented in these areas. Seven Sisters is particularly highlighted as a hotspot for violence, with Wood Green and Tottenham also identified as areas requiring attention due to factors such as drug supply and the need for increased police presence and proactive operations.
While progress has been made, the council acknowledges challenges, including a lack of dedicated resources for training and coordination. The council hopes to overcome some of these challenges with the help of emergency planning colleagues. There is also a need for clearer guidance from the Security Industry Authority (SIA) regarding compliance and enforcement, as the SIA will be looking closely at compliance with the law in this discipline.
Future Focus
Looking ahead, the board plans to deliver an ACT Operational tabletop exercise for council services and partners. This exercise is intended to assess responsiveness and preparedness in the event of an incident. They will also work to embed Protect and Prepare
requirements into safety advisory group meetings and event planning processes by drawing linkages and ensuring that regulatory inspection detail, templates, and tools remain clear. The initiative aims to ensure Haringey is in a strong position regarding preparedness by April 2027, in line with the implementation of Martyn's Law.
More information on the Community Safety Partnership can be found in the Public reports pack and the Agenda frontsheet.