UNDERSTANDING THE RISK Given the number of high profile businesses in the City of London, particularly within the financial sector, it is no surprise that the area has become a major target in recent years for both legitimate protests and those mounted without reference to the authorities, often by groups determined to cause maximum disturbance and even criminal damage. The impact on business life in the Square Mile can range from minor inconvenience to severe disruption, while in some circumstances a company may find its premises and staff under direct physical threat.


The most obvious risks concern those events in which groups or individuals may depart from a route agreed with the City of London Police and may be intent on going beyond the bounds of lawful protest. In this case, the businesses most at risk are likely to be those directly involved with the issue in question – banks in the case of an anti-capitalist protest, for example, or the headquarters


of a company involved in animal research. When assessing the extent to which your own business may be put at risk in this way, it is worth remembering that protesters may have put considerable time and effort into researching links of ownership and interest between different businesses, and that they may be prepared to attack associated businesses accordingly.


The extremes of protest may involve picketing, occupation of business premises, harassment of contractors, and even violence against staff. What all have in common is intimidation, which can take subtle as well as obvious forms. Understanding the risks means assessing the potential threats to your organisation and also – if collateral damage is to be avoided – to those companies sharing your building or neighbouring it. Your organisation may already be a target for protest, or it may operate in ways or in parts of the world that might attract attention from extremists.


The first step to a successful response to an actual or potential attack should be the creation of a company security policy and the appointment of a Domestic Extremism Co-Ordinator (DECO), who will have full oversight of, and responsibility for, the whole security planning process.


The vulnerability of your business may depend on information about your employees, installation or services that is in the public domain and therefore easy for outsiders to access. Check all sources of publicly held information (internet sites, for example) and take steps to reduce its availability if possible. Do not overlook the perennial need to detect and combat guerrilla activity such as ‘professional intrusion’ – employees who join an organisation for subversive purposes – and cyber threats such as an internet virus attack.


You can find further information and advice about the risks of domestic extremism at www.netcu.org.uk


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