SIA ran a safety resilience exercise in Wales for the first time in partnership with South Wales Police and Counter Terrorism Policing Wales in the Great Hall of Cardiff Students’ Union.
The training event confronted security staff with a series of real-time simulations, involving actors, of possible emergency scenarios. These included a mass stabbing, an acid attack, a marauding terrorist attack taking place outside the club, and a suspect package. The exercise also included an instant debrief from counter-terror experts.
Paul Lucas, the SIA Criminal Investigation manager who co-ordinated the event, said: “The main aim of exercises like this is to enhance public safety in the night-time economy by working with venues and security staff.
“It’s also to showcase best practice by putting the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) security e-learning package, which we’ve been recommending to all SIA-licensed operatives, into practice.
“We’re really pleased with the commitment that all the security staff put into the exercise.”
John Sandlin, the SIA’s Senior Manager of Compliance and Inspections, stated that they have run a number of these events across the UK, and added: “The event in Wales enabled security operatives to experience scenarios with a counter-terrorism theme in a training environment to better prepare them in the event of a real-life incident.”
Phillip Dayment, Head of Venues at Cardiff Students’ Union, stated that ensuring the safety of the students is of utmost importance and added: “We are thrilled to collaborate with the SIA and South Wales Police for this initiative, which will certainly enhance the security resilience for our venues and events at Cardiff Students’ Union.
“This training program complements our efforts towards promoting the well-being and safeguarding of our students.”
Inspector Jeff Lewis of South Wales Police emphasized how pleased they are to support this exercise and said: “The Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) training is a very effective way for security operatives to improve and increase their skills.
“This has a direct effect on public safety. Effective venue security is crucial and initiatives such as this, when combined with working closely with our partners, can only serve to help keep people safer and I thank all those who took part in today’s event.”
