games begin


Let the S


ecurity has been at the forefront of the planning for the London 2012 Olympic and


Paralympic Games, and will continue to be throughout their duration, to allow for safe and successful Games that visitors as well as residents and businesses operating in affected areas can feel proud to be a part of.


David Evans, Project Director for 2012 at the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), looks at what businesses should do to keep disruption to a minimum this summer.


Representing the largest post-war security challenge that the UK has ever faced, the effects of the London 2012 Games will be felt by the companies directly involved in the events, by visitors, and also by all residents and businesses operating in areas in and around the Games and its many associated events.


Helping businesses prepare for the operational impact of the Olympic Games has therefore been a key priority for the BSIA over the past


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few years. Forward planning and considerations regarding the logistics of how to guarantee business continuity during very busy times for the national infrastructure should in fact be a top agenda item for all businesses.


Securing business continuity There is a wealth of advice available for residents, business owners and visitors on how to plan for travel arrangements and business continuity needs throughout the Games.


The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) www.london2012.com and TFL’s Get Ahead of the Games websites www.getaheadofthegames.com are great sources of up-to-date information, whilst earlier in the year, the Security Consultancies section of the BSIA released important advice on how business continuity can be achieved through the effective use of security measures.


Business continuity cannot exist as an independent function; members of the BSIA therefore advocate thinking about security, information management and business continuity as interdependent and requiring a fully integrated solution. Certainly there are elements in all three that are unique to a single function, but the majority of policies and plans in one functional area will have an impact in another, if not in all three.


In particular, the plans should focus primarily on preventing incidents from occurring, and if they occur diminishing their impact on business activity; security measures can play a crucial part in both cases, so reviewing them in time for the Olympics should be a high priority.


According to Chris Lawrence, Chairman of the BSIA’s Security Consultancies section, an effective business continuity plan requires a number of security considerations:


1.Checking your security measures The robustness of the measures employed should be given attention, and these will include CCTV, access control systems, intruder alarms, physical security and IT security. These must work within your specified requirements, depending on your business and the types of threats you are likely to incur. Doors and windows, for example, should be to a proper security rating, which can prevent unwanted entry or spread of fire.


2.Employee and client vetting It is important to ensure that all employees are security vetted – or at least reference checked – and that clients are credit checked, so as to flag up any issues early on. This is an important preventative measure against fraud and/or theft by a disreputable company or person.


3.Training your staff Staff training and making the most of the skills of your security workforce should also be included. Well-trained security staff can in fact act as marshals and wardens during an incident and help evacuate staff, liaise with blue light services and assist in coordinating a response. Also, they can prevent unwanted visitors and can inspect and report suspicious packages.


4.Planning for civil disorder The August riots – which cost UK retailers an estimated £18.3 million – have served as a harsh reminder to businesses that civil disorder and rioting policy and procedures should now


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