The Secure City Programme
“Policing is something we do with people, not to people.” How is this mantra driving the City of London Police’s approach to enhancing security in the Square Mile?
Our ambition, together with the City of London Corporation, is to develop a world-leading protective security regime within the Square Mile. This work, modernising and expanding the existing ring-of-steel security measures, is aimed at ensuring the Square Mile becomes the world’s safest city area by 2025.
To ensure that the improvements meet the requirements of our stakeholders and communities, we’re reaching out through an extensive series of engagement activities.
This work is being delivered under the banner of ‘Secure Cities’, which recognises that many capital cities across the globe are making significant strides in improving their security measures. We want to identify these ‘best in class’ approaches and bring them back to the Square Mile under our local Secure City programme.
The first step in reaching out to our community was a public security exhibition at the City Centre in Basinghall Street, in the City of London in spring 2019. It provided an overview of security in the City from the times of the Romans’ defensive wall through to the modern day.
The exhibition showcased innovative security approaches used in twelve cities around the world and invited visitors to vote for what they believe are the most important security issues. They were also invited to complete an online survey after their visit with more in-depth questions about the City’s future security plans.
School groups visited the exhibition and tasked with their own unique challenge: to design a new police box fit for the 21st century.
Think smart glass and multi-function, rather than Tardis! Their entries will come back to the City Centre to be judged by the public.
In addition to the exhibition, a series of stakeholder breakfast events took place in February, continuing into March. These have focused on different elements of future security: the built environment; cyber: and people – providing attendees with a forum to share ideas and influence future security in the City.
We’re also delivering some targeted work with communities that are often overlooked when security matters are discussed.
As part of all this, we’re keen to hear from our stakeholders and communities, including large organisations, small and medium-sized businesses, City residents, workers and transport groups.
Please tell us what you want to see as part of our future security arrangements so that we can use your views to enhance our local response to the threats we face.
Take our short survey at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SecureCity
By working together, I’m confident we can realise the ambition to make the Square Mile the world’s safest city area by 2025.
Supt Ollie Shaw, City of London Police
See also:
Exclusive interview with Ian Dyson, Commissioner City of London Police
Articles from our Police & Partnerships category for City of London Police
