CSSC: A cross-sector safety network for UK businesses
Cross-sector Safety and Security Communications (CSSC) is a national, charitable initiative that helps businesses and organisations stay safe, secure and resilient by providing accurate, timely and authoritative security information. It exists to support robust emergency preparedness and resilience planning across the UK, turning complex threat and policy updates into practical messages that can be shared quickly within organisations and across sectors.
What CSSC offers
- Operates under charitable status to keep businesses informed about security, crime and disruption risks, so they can plan, prepare and respond effectively.
- Delivers trusted “Green Messages” and other alerts drawn from policing, government and specialist partners, covering everything from major campaigns and protests to crime trends and public safety issues such as large events or national awareness campaigns.
- Works across a wide range of industry sectors, each led by one or more Industry Sector Leads (ISLs), ensuring that updates are relevant to finance, retail, transport, higher education, hospitality, healthcare, local government and many more.
- Is now operational across the UK, with regional hubs in London, Scotland, Wales, Eastern, South East, South West, East Midlands, West Midlands, North West, and Yorkshire & North East, so wherever you are based you can connect into your local CSSC network.
East Midlands in focus
CSSC East Midlands is one of these regional hubs, and its seasonal newsletters show the value of being part of the network. Its latest newsletters covered:
- Martyn’s Law and physical security – articles explaining the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, what public protection procedures mean for evacuation, invacuation and lockdown, and how to design these into buildings and refurbishments from the outset.
- Designing out crime and CT at the planning stage – guidance on using Secured by Design and local designing out crime officers, helping estates and project teams to build security, fire safety and usability into one coherent plan.
- National campaigns you can lift and use – signposting to resources like the ProtectUK seasonal digital toolkit, giving members ready-made posters, social content and briefings aligned with national counter terrorism messaging.
- Emerging front line risks – explainers on social media auditors, drone filming and other behaviours that can challenge staff at reception or perimeter points, plus practical advice on calm, proportionate responses.
- Crime and asset protection advice – detailed guidance on vehicle theft, cyber and mobile phone security that organisations can adapt into staff briefings and policies.
- Leadership voices and case studies – contributions from police chiefs and security leaders on how cross sector intelligence sharing has disrupted organised crime, strengthened regional resilience and supported local businesses.
DCI Marianne Winn leads Counter Terrorism Policing East Midlands’s efforts to Protect and Prepare the region against terrorism. She says: “The work we do through partnership with the CSSC across the various business sectors in the East Midlands is incredibly important in keeping people safe from terrorism. Our teams work hard, offering training and security advice to various types of companies and organisations across the region and, by working together, we are able to cast the safety net so much wider.”
Why you should join – wherever you are, by joining CSSC in your region, you gain far more than a newsletter: you plug into a live, two-way information-sharing network that helps you anticipate risk, brief your teams and demonstrate due diligence to your board. You receive authoritative messages that you can cascade without heavy re- editing, access insights tailored to your sector, and connect with peers who are facing the same security and resilience challenges.
CSSC East Midlands is just one of many hubs; whether you are based in a city centre, rural area or across multiple sites, there will be a local CSSC network ready to help you keep your people, customers and places safer.
Andrew Nicholls, Chair CSSC East Midlands says, “CSSC is a great initiative run by security experts to help support people in business. It is free to join and there is no charge for membership. In the East Midlands we are directly supported by the Protect and Prepare Lead for Counter Terrorism Policing in the East Midlands. This means that not only do we share the national police advice but we are also able to share local information from the EMSOU police team. The East Midlands management board comprises several commercial security managers who contribute their own expertise to help improve business resilience across the region.”
Find out more here: www.thecssc.com
CSSC Annual Charity Dinner
We are delighted to invite you to join us on Thursday, 28th August 2025 for our annual CSSC Annual Charity Dinner at 1 Lombard Street. We are offering a variety of table sizes, and the cost includes wine, beer and soft drinks.
In recent years, we have raised approximately £45,000 for the City of London Police Charity for Children. For this year only, we have chosen to support the Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls and Domestic Abuse consortium – Our Safer City.
We deeply value your support and would be immensely grateful if you could consider donating an auction or raffle prize.
Your contribution will play a significant part in our efforts to make a positive impact on the security of the City. If you would like to book individual seats, a smaller table or a table of 10, please email Irona Wilson at admin@cityoflondoncpa.org.uk
