G20 disruptions ... security advice for Business
Category Business Continuity Management BCM - News - Business Continuity - Advice - Security - Continuity Forum
G20 security advice for businesses from the Met and City Police
The G20 London Summit will take place at the ExCel Centre, Newham, on 2 April 2009.
The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, is hosting the event. World leaders, including Barack Obama, will attend – currently around 38 protected delegations are expected to attend.
The G20 summit is the focus of a whole number of events, marches and protests planned for the week - starting on Saturday 28 March with a TUC March.
Ahead of next weeks summit in City of London Police, the Metropolitan Police and City of London Corporation are determined that it will be business as usual within the City during the Summit during which there are expected to be a number of demonstrations.
A pan-London policing approach will be used in the week running up to and during the Summit, which relies on well-established protocols. A very experienced team of senior officers from both Metropolitan and City of London Police used to policing large scale events of this nature in London will be in charge.
There are a number of events occurring leading up to and on the day of the G20 Summit. Events include:
28 March – TUC march and rally - 20,000 expected to participate but it is anticipated to be peaceful
30 March – State visit of the President of Mexico, including parade along the Mall and State Banquet at Buckingham Palace
1 April – various City of London Demonstrations (‘Financial Fools’, “Fossil Fools” and overnight camp) - protestors have stated they may try and cause disruption during these marches, especially by the Bank of England, RBS at Bishopsgate and the Carbon Exchange.
1 April – ‘Stop the War’ demonstration in Westminster with march involving around 3,000 people from Trafalgar Square to Grosvenor Square during the afternoon.
2 April – London Summit (G20) at ExCel involving Heads of State and Finance Ministers – delegates will leave throughout the late afternoon and early evening.
2 April – Stop the War demonstrations at ExCel, further demonstrations from supporters of ‘Free Tibet’, supporters of human rights in Ethiopia, advertised spontaneous anti-capitalist and anti-globalisation demonstrations in the areas surrounding ExCel.
Throughout the week, the arrival, departure and travel of the G20 delegations will likely disrupt some aspects of the roads network and will require the closure of 3 DLR stations around the Excel on 2 April (Royal Victoria, Custom House and Prince Regent). There is likely to be some disruption to roads during the marches and protests.
Most protestors are planning to conduct peaceful demonstrations, however it's still important for businesses to remain vigilant at all times and ensure that buildings are safe.
Security and Employee Safety Advice
Ensure business continuity plans are up to date
Consider cancelling unnecessary meetings depending on your location and exposure to the possible disruptions
Make sure all staff wear clearly visible ID and challenge any persons unknown in the workplace
Stagger staff arrival and departures where possible
Cancel deliveries
Firmly secure any street furniture you may own, ie - tables and chairs, advertising boards, or, if possible, move it inside on the 1st and 2nd April
Keep movement in and out of business premises to a minimum
Make sure security staff are fully briefed and wearing high visibility jackets
Review smoking areas - do they weaken access security.
Consider security staff checking ID outside premises to create natural barrier
Consider homeworking for some staff
Ensure all staff are regularly updated
Review whether staff should use their own vehicles to come to work
Check CCTV is working
Ensure information is disseminated throughout multi-occupied premises in plenty of time
Advise staff not to antagonise protestors and risk escalation in incidents.
How to receive updates
For general advice updates via email sign up to receive City of London Police community update emails at http://warnandinform.com/colp/index.html . There is no charge to register for this service.
You can also regularly check the City of London Police website for updates. www.cityoflondon.police.uk
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