PC Mark Pywell and Angel Bid director Christine Lovett

Published: 17 August, 2012
by PETER GRUNER

AN anti-terrorist campaign in Angel in the run-up to the Olympics has proved so successful that further meetings are planned.

The project, organised by police from Angel Aim Business Improvement District – the town centre organisation paid for by local firms – included training to deal with potential attacks and meetings on how to combat security threats.

Anti-terror advisor PC Mark Pywell said that the current level of terrorist threat was still “substantial”.

PC Pywell gives training to shop and store managers to ensure they are up to date in anti-terror procedure and methods of evacuation. That information is then passed down to staff.

“All staff should know how to deal with a suspicious package,” PC Pywell said. “If there’s any doubt dial 999 and activate an evacuation procedure.

“Each premises will have its own procedure for evacuation, which may also depend on where the package is found. It might mean asking customers to leave from the front door or from the back.”

Last month up to 100 people from local firms attended a two-hour meeting at the Business Design Centre to discuss security issues.

PC Pywell said that a review of the project would be written, with further meetings and events planned.

Angel Bid director Christine Lovett said it was important that people know what to do in the event of a potential terrorist threat. “We all have to be continually vigilant and report anything that looks suspicious,” she added.