Date: Thursday 5th May 2022

Time: 10:00am

Details: This webinar is for Security Institute Members and guests

About this event... 

Preparing for a terrorist attack – Is good security enough?

An example of how one such tragedy has influenced and led to international recognition of the need for improvement to security measures.

On 26th June 2015, a mass shooting occurred in the tourist resort of Port El Kantaoui, Tunisia. Thirty-eight people were killed, thirty of whom were British when a gunman walked unhindered along the beach and into a hotel, indiscriminately shooting tourists.

Following the attack and with the enduring threat of further terrorist attacks, UK Government formed the Joint Overseas Protect & Prepare team (JOPP) to build relationships with other governments and advise on protective security.

Alongside this, the CT Exercise Team within the Home Office changed focus to work more closely with the private sector in the UK, holding seminars and training events with the likes of hotel providers, shopping centres, cinemas and sporting venues. This was in order to raise awareness of the threat from terrorism and how to mitigate the threat through testing and exercising of emergency response plans.

More recently, we have seen the drafting of the Protect Duty following the Manchester Arena bombing and the publication of ISO 31030 Travel Risk Management for hotel accommodation all of which is aimed at improving security and preparedness.

ISO 31030 Travel Risk Management Standard was published in September 2021 and is the first global benchmark for travel risk management. The standard was a UK initiative and proposed to ISO by the British Standards Institution in response to growing anxiety about travel related risk on the part of travellers and travel managers.

This webinar will map the journey from the Tunisia beach attack through to current UK national and international preparedness. Using their in-depth knowledge and experience, the speakers will reflect on the changes that have taken place over the last few years, as well as how these and other aspects of readiness can help mitigate the effects of future attacks and other major incidents.

During this webinar you will hear from Mark Gower OBE, Neil Gaskell MSyI and Bob Quick QPM.

Mark Gower OBE 

Director at 3PX Ltd

Former New Scotland Yard senior officer, SO15 counter-terrorism expert with 34-years policing experience. He was the police lead for the FCO in Afghanistan as strategic advisor on security sector reform for three national policing organisations. As a senior detective, he has led counter-terrorism investigations for high-profile terrorist attacks in the UK including, Finsbury Park and Parsons Green. Similarly, he was the UK’s senior Investigator for the Coroner at the inquest into a terrorist incident in Tunisia in 2015 where 30 UK citizens were tragically killed. He has been invited to deliver presentations across the globe to share expertise for training and mentoring of organisational leaders, most recently, in The Kurdistan Republic of Iraq (2022). In 2019 Mark was awarded the OBE for services to policing.

Neil Gaskell MSyI

Director at 3PX Ltd

Neil has 30 years’ experience as a senior uniformed Fire Officer within Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service working at all levels of command and control. Previously seconded into the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT) within the Home Office, London as the National Marauding Terrorist Attack (MTA) Programme Coordinator, responsible for the management and coordination of the national response to a terrorist attack, including all aspects of testing and exercising. Working extensively with the OSCT to develop, deliver and umpire national CT exercises and feedback at Senior Civil Servant and Ministerial level. Neil was directly responsible at the Home Office for the production of national multi-agency doctrine ‘Responding to a Marauding Terrorist Attack - Joint Operating Principles for the Emergency Services Edition 1’ and initiating changes from MTFA to MTA, reflecting the broad spectrum of terrorist attack methodologies experienced both nationally and internationally.

Robert (Bob) Quick QPM

Executive Director and Founder of Global Secure Accreditation Ltd (GSA)

Bob Quick enjoyed a 32-year career as a police officer specialising in counter terrorism, tackling organised crime and anti-corruption. In 2008 he was appointed Assistant Commissioner at New Scotland Yard, where he was responsible for counter terrorism nationally, the protection of the British Royal Family, the UK Prime Minister and cabinet, the foreign diplomatic community and visiting Heads of State. Between 2004 and 2008 he was Chief Constable of Surrey Police.

In 2018 Bob established Global Secure Accreditation Ltd (GSA) introducing the world’s first independently validated security and safety accreditation for hotels and other accommodation. He was co-opted onto the BSI Policy Working Group which led the development of the new Travel Risk Management Standards - ISO 31030 from 2019-2021.

You can earn 2 CPD points for attending this webinar