At the heart of the standard tier are four public protection procedures. They are the simple, agreed actions your people would take if a terrorist attack happened at or near your premises, to reduce the risk of physical harm. You don't need fancy equipment — you need clear, realistic plans your staff understand.
1. Evacuation — getting people out
How will you get people safely away from the premises? Think about who decides to evacuate, how the instruction reaches everyone, which exits and routes you'll use (and alternatives if one is blocked), where your assembly point is at a safe distance, and how you'll help people who can't move quickly.
2. Invacuation — moving people to safety inside
Sometimes the safest thing is not to leave but to move people into, or to a safer part of, the building — for example if the threat is outside or nearby. Identify which internal areas are safer (away from external glazing and entrances), and how staff would calmly direct people there and keep them informed.
3. Lockdown — restricting access
Lockdown is about securing the premises to restrict movement in or out — locking doors, closing shutters, and keeping people away from entrances and windows. Agree who can call a lockdown and how, what people should do during one (move away from doors and windows, stay quiet, silence phones), and how the all-clear is given.
4. Communication — alerting and informing
How will you alert everyone quickly — including people who might not hear a standard alarm — and who calls 999 with the key information (location, what's happening, numbers of people)? Splitting who talks to staff and who talks to the public keeps messages calm and consistent, during and after an incident.
What good looks like
Good procedures are realistic for your premises and your people, name roles rather than individuals (so they still work when staff change), and are written down simply enough that a new volunteer could follow them. They should be briefed to staff and reviewed at least annually.
Common questions
Do we need all four procedures?
The standard tier asks you to put in place appropriate public protection procedures relating to evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication, so far as is reasonably practicable for your premises.
What's the difference between evacuation and invacuation?
Evacuation gets people out and away from the premises. Invacuation moves people into, or to a safer part of, the building when leaving would be less safe.
Is a written procedure required?
Writing it down isn't strictly mandated at standard tier, but it's how you brief staff consistently and evidence that procedures are in place.
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