New guidance designed to prevent commercial vehicles, including vans, lorries, buses, coaches and even cranes, from being used as weapons in acts of terrorism has been published on 10 May 2021).

 

The standard, which has been published by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and sponsored by the Department for Transport, sets out a raft of security measures to prevent criminals and terrorists from accessing commercial vehicles.

 

To meet the new requirements, operators must:

• improve their knowledge of potential risks and determine which of those risks apply to their business
• develop a security management plan
• assess risk exposure
• put in place management and accountability for security

Other requirements will include checks of drivers’ references and previous employment history and also regular visual checks of vehicles for signs of tampering.

 

To ensure this new standard is met, the government is working with the industry to develop accreditation and certification schemes for commercial vehicle firms, with further details to be announced in due course.

 

Attacks on the public involving vehicles, which have been targeted due to their size and potential impact, have had tragic consequences in recent years, including in the Westminster and London Bridge attacks of 2017.

 

Today’s announcement not only aims to create barriers to carrying out these types of attack but could also assist the fight against serious and organised crime, including helping to minimise the risk of drug and people smuggling.

 

Further information:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-guidance-published-to-prevent-use-of-vehicles-as-weapons-in-terror-attacks?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=5703c5d1-2eb3-4f6d-8fea-a07bbc70dab5&utm_content=immediately