Advice zone
Counter Terrorism
Staffordshire Police, together with police forces throughout the United Kingdom, is better trained and equipped than ever before to combat the threat of international and domestic terrorism.
The force, as part of the ongoing national counter terrorism strategy, has dedicated Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSAs) who are coordinated, trained and tasked by the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (Opens in new window) (NaCTSO), a specialist police organisation co-located with the Security Service in the National Security Advice Centre (NSAC).
The core role of the CTSA is to identify and assess local critical sites within their force area that might be vulnerable to terrorist or extremist attack; then devise and develop appropriate protective security plans to minimise impact on that site and the surrounding community.
NaCTSO and CTSAs have recently been delegated responsibility by the Home Office for dealing with protective security for ‘Crowded Places’. This could mean areas like shopping centres, sporting stadia, pubs and bars or transport hubs.
Additionally, the CTSA will promote awareness of the terrorist threat and develop positive ongoing relationships by appropriate discussion of changes in the prevailing terrorist threat and commensurate responses. CTSAs have regular access to current terrorism threat assessments and related intelligence as well as other classified material. This requires that they are all appropriately vetted – above and beyond the usual checks for police officers and staff.
CTSAs receive comprehensive specialist training in areas such as explosives and pre-cursor chemicals, pathogens and toxins, radiological sources. CTSAs can offer extensive advice on site and vulnerable point surveying, business continuity and disaster recovery, information and personnel security, integrated security systems, designing out vehicle borne terrorism and the threat from Chemical, Biological and Radioative (CBR) attack.
'The public can play a key role in supporting the CTSAs and the police. By remaining vigilant, being security minded and having good security measures in place, you can protect your community and business against crime and make the work of terrorists more difficult. A small investment in security measures greatly enhances the feeling of security on behalf of everyone and helps protect those around you.'
Terrorist groups around the world have for many years misused fertilisers to make explosive devices. Now producers and suppliers of many chemical-based fertilizers have joined forces with national agencies to promote better awareness and enhance safer trading. If your company is involved in the storage, supply or use of fertilisers then please contact your local CTSA or visit the website Secure Your Fertiliser (Opens in new window) for further security related advice.
For non-urgent crime prevention advice, businesses can contact their local police crime reduction officer, but if you feel that your company could benefit from counter terrorism security advice, you can write to the following address:
Counter Terrorism Security Adviser
Staffordshire Police
Special Branch
Rowley House
Weston Road
Stafford
ST18 0YY
Counter Terrorism Security Advisers may also be contacted on 01785 235169 or by email at CTSA@staffordshire.pnn.police.uk
The CTSAs would also like to remind you that if you consider anything to be suspicious or connected with terrorism to contact Staffordshire Police on 01785 235130 or the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.
