ACT E-Learning: 250,000 Strong in Counter-Terrorism Awareness

 Reflecting on the growing popularity of National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) free training, Chris Simpson believes there is real interest in Counter Terrorism awareness learning – highlighting the growing partnership between police and security professionals.

The latest statistics for taking the Counter Terrorism e-Learning are really encouraging. Last year over 250,000 people took ACT learning – and that’s not counting the numbers who did it as part of in-house training systems.

It seems that demand for good quality education is strong and rising.

The ACT tools from my organisation, the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), are just some of the available products out there getting a strong uptake. The See Check and Notify (SCaN) programme from the National Protective Security Authority goes from strength to strength as does specialist training such as the Security-Minded Communications from the Servator team based with the City of London Police.

Doubtless, the pending Martyn’s Law legislation has raised awareness of the responsibility of venue owners for public safety. But I think there is a growing realisation that counter terrorism awareness also boosts wider crime prevention and security mindedness.

Staff who understand the power of ‘hello’ are deterring thieves or anti-social behaviour every bit as much as unnerving a potential terrorist doing hostile reconnaissance. And I think the quality of the freely available products is a factor in the uptake.

People seem happy to take the time to complete our ACT awareness e-learning probably because it has been carefully designed to address current issues by learning specialists.

The actual sessions are free but we’re acutely aware that staff time is valuable so we’ve worked with security professionals to make the experience as impactful as possible.

In the last few years we’ve deliberately strengthened our relationships with academics so we can get independent advice to complement the expertise of our partners in the intelligence services and the deep policing experience which makes up our network across the UK and internationally.

That’s because we know that changes in legislation and in the types of threat we’re seeing keep us on our toes. Research and development has to ensure that our training remains current along with the advice it is linked to on ProtectUK.

Our dedicated web platform is undergoing a progressive and significant makeover over the next couple of years and we’re working through the content and what users – particularly the private sector – will find useful.

The e-learning has long been a firm favourite, but the risk management toolkit has also been winning a lot of fans since it was launched last year. It provides a simple framework that is useful for veteran and novice security managers alike to identify potential vulnerabilities. And it sits alongside a range of tactical options, making it easier to plan risk mitigation.

Much of this work is the product of deepening partnerships at every level between police and security professionals. Although we have always worked closely on crime prevention and criminality, there’s an even stronger agreement that collaboration is key when it comes to protection against terrorism and preparation should the worst happen.

In my day-to-day work I see countless examples of close working, either through our national advisory body, the Counter Terrorism Business Information Exchange, or in local events where industry and commerce sit down with our dedicated advisors to share good practice. My sense is that there is a shared understanding of the threats we face, especially in spaces

open to the public and in venues.

Whilst pending legislation is mostly concerned with larger locations, security professionals are under no illusion that terrorists pose a threat anywhere people gather – regardless of numbers – and they are looking for ideas about how to protect people and property, and reassure the public that we’re working to keep everyone safe.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Simpson

Head of Engagement

NaCTSO, Counter Terrorism Policing

www.counterterrorism.police.uk