Pubs told to adopt anti-terror tactics
Pub operators are being urged by police to adopt a crisis strategy to help combat the threat of terrorist attacks on their premises.
More pub managers should attend security-focused seminars and conferences to gain a better understanding of counter-terrorism measures, a British Beer & Pub Association key-issues forum has been told.
Delegates heard that big high-street pubs and clubs were obvious terrorist targets, particularly from Al Qaeda-connected groups.
Detective constable Mike Bladon, counter-terrorism adviser to the National Counter-Terrorism Security Office, stressed that Britain was still on a "severe threat" level.
Bladon said captured Al Qaeda documents revealed places of "amusement, immorality and sin" were high on the terrorist group's hit list.
"Pubs and clubs are clearly at the forefront of this, which is why we need to instruct pub managers and assistant managers in proper terrorism prevention measures and on how to react to incidents," Bladon said.
"It is better to have a plan that you do not need than need a plan that you do not have," he warned.
National Pubwatch committee member Frank Marnell urged more pub companies to send managers to security seminars.
"At the moment, it's mainly managers from independent companies and individual licensees who attend Pubwatch meetings.
"It's only when the police put pressure on big companies that they show their faces," he said.
Head of security for pub group Mitchells & Butlers, Andrew Nicholls, said people who attended security seminars did not always act on what they heard.
"Team awareness and a quality CCTV system are two of the key elements needed to enable pubs to respond to a crisis quickly," he said.
