Security
The successful specification of anti-terrorism solutions Professionals involved in the planning, design and ongoing management of public spaces and streetscapes must consider and address a number of factors when looking at site security and safety. Here, Mark Lester of Hörmann UK, explores the key issues and the solutions available to help mitigate against potential terrorist threats, without altering the overall landscape As crowded places remain an attractive schemes, without impacting on the overall target for terrorists, architects and specifiers style and intention of the place in question. have an increasing challenge to successfully Using this guide as a basis, professionals blend counter-terrorism protective security should first understand the varying measures with the urban design principles circumstances and associated degrees of the public space they’re creating. of risk that each project presents, Within the government’s ‘Protecting before looking to specify solutions that Crowded Places: Design and Technical aim to reduce the vulnerability of the Issues’ guide, it provides those involved in location from a terrorism perspective. the development and maintenance For many public spaces, its crowd of the built environment with a density may be temporary. comprehensive basis for the In this instance, a By first appropriate specification of specifier will be assessin anti-terrorism solutions. responsible for potenti g the The document offers locations housing advice and guidance concerts or events security al levels of r i s on how high design that do not k t h present quality can be have a constant s, profe e space can the ssionals upheld throughout level of visitors, n unde the commissioning rather one that r s t the inte and and planning of is concentrated the p grity of new development at peak times.
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Here, the specification of temporary antiterrorism solutions present an appealing approach as the desired attraction of the space can easily be retained, without compromising the safety and security of the environment during high footfall periods. One of the main benefits of temporary anti-terrorism systems that are designed to specifically manage hostile vehicle mitigation is that they offer the potential for continued flexibility, particularly when compared to fixed systems that must be permanently installed. As the very nature of temporary systems lends their application to a wide range of configurations that can be transported to different areas of the location, the evolving requirements of the environment can continue to be met, without impacting on the level of security and safety provided. By first assessing the potential levels of security risk the space presents,
