Exercise Iron Titan: Multi-agency preparedness in London
The City Security Council (CSC) recently organised Exercise Iron Titan at London’s Cannon Street station, bringing together private security and emergency services to test their preparedness for a complex crisis.
This multi-phase initiative involved live deployments at Cannon Street Station, drawing lessons from historical tragedies while aiming to prepare for future challenges.
The exercise architecture
Lorraine Mansfield, the Exercise Lead, and Darren Pulman MSyI, Exercise Director, orchestrated the complex logistics for Iron Titan into three components:
- Live Deployment:
Over 450 personnel from British Transport Police, London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service, and private security teams responded to a simulated major incident at Cannon Street Station – a location chosen for its historical significance following the 1991 buffer stop collision that claimed two lives.
- Observer Programme:
Led by Ray Marskell MSyl, this initiative provided real-time insights through live footage and site visits, demonstrating JESIP (Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles) in action.
- Tabletop Simulation:
Graham Brown of Strategic Continuity engaged 36 businesses in a dynamic online scenario, enhanced by live feeds from the incident site.
Operational realities revealed
Participants confronted the harsh realities of crisis management in constrained urban environments. The exercise highlighted:
- Communication challenges between underground responders and surface teams
- Casualty management complexities in high-density transport hubs
- Business continuity pressures for nearby enterprises like Cannon Place and Cannon Bridge House.
The inclusion of volunteer casualties added visceral realism, while City of London Police Cadets and LFB Cadets provided crucial support roles
Strategic context
This exercise builds on the CSC’s previous exercises, including its 2020 Leadenhall Street chemical attack simulation involving 200 personnel. The 2025 iteration aligns with London’s evolving security landscape, incorporating lessons from global incidents, including the Manchester Arena attack. Key innovations included:
- Live-to-virtual integration: Real-time footage bridging physical and tabletop participants
- SME Hotline: Subject Matter Experts fielding queries from business groups during crises
- RAIB Collaboration: Incorporating Rail Accident Investigation Branch protocols into response frameworks.
Partnership Power
Exercise Iron Titan enabled private-public collaboration including:
- Network Rail and Southeastern Railway provided operational infrastructure
- Eastern City BID and City River Partnership facilitated business engagement
- Mitie, ISS, and CIS Security demonstrated private sector response capabilities.
Lessons for the security sector
Feedback identified critical improvement areas:
- Inter-agency terminology: Standardising communication protocols
- Resource allocation: Optimising specialist equipment deployment
- Crisis leadership: Enhancing decision-making hierarchies during prolonged incidents.
As security threats grow increasingly complex, such exercises prove essential for maintaining London’s status as a global financial hub.
