ARE YOU PREPARED?: Launching the new programme are (l-r) Mercury Security CEO Frank Cullen, Garry Suddaby, Mercury Training and Development Manager, and PS5 CEO Steve Collins, an acknowledged authority on weapons-related crime and personal protection from violence, aggressive behaviour and terrorism.
NORTHERN Ireland’s biggest independent security company Mercury Security Management has teamed up with internationally acclaimed specialist security consultancy and training provider PS5 to launch a new training programme to help local businesses prepare for a terrorist attack.
With the terrorist threat level in the United Kingdom currently set at SEVERE, another attack is considered by the Government as highly likely, so Mercury and PS5 are urging companies across Northern Ireland to look at their security operations and ask themselves if they are truly prepared for the worst to happen.
The four-hour training programme, entitled ‘We Go Prepared: Living in an Age of Terrorism’ will show companies what can be done to protect their employees, organization and customers from a terrorist attack, including the correct protocols and procedures to deal with the attack and its aftermath.
“The problem with international terrorism in this day and age unfortunately needs no explanation,” said Mercury Security CEO Frank Cullen.
“In our own daily security work, we have become increasingly aware of the threat of terrorist attacks and the need for vigilance to ensure that we are best prepared to deal with worst case scenarios if they should happen.
“So we thought it would be a good idea, in association with our long-standing training partner PS5, to share the knowledge and expertise that we have collectively accumulated with the business world at large and help them prepare as best they can for every eventuality.”
The training programme has been designed by PS5 CEO Steve Collins, an acknowledged authority on weapons-related crime and personal protection from violence, aggressive behaviour and terrorism.
Collins has worked as an advisor to UK, USA and Middle Eastern government bodies and in service with law enforcement agencies, government departments and security professionals in over 60 countries, including the USA Department of Defence in their TSWG research directive for combating terrorism.
Mr Collins said: “Without question, terrorism is a global issue and we all need to develop a unified approach to these terrorist attacks and cultivate a more timely and effective response before the police and emergency services arrive on the scene.
“Recent history shows us that terrorism attacks can and will occur in just about every imaginable location possible so our course will look at ‘hard targets’ such as government buildings, airports, military installations and embassies – and ’soft targets’ such as hospitals, schools, shopping centres and malls, entertainment venues, etc… unfortunately that list goes on and on.
“Modern day terrorist attacks come in many forms and our course will look at a variety of scenarios including improvised explosive devices (IEDs), suicide bombers, active shooter incidents and the use of what we call ‘melee’ weapons which are used at close quarters such as edged weapons, blunt impact striking weapons and acid.
“All companies have a legal, ethical, and moral responsibility to mitigate against the risk of a terrorist act and to prepare for the possibility of one,” added Mr Collins.
“While we do not pretend to hold the answers to the world’s terrorist problem, our unique training course will show what can be done to protect your employees, your organization and your customers from a terrorist attack, and if the worst were to happen, the correct protocols and procedures to deal with the attack and its aftermath, before the Police and Emergency Services arrive.”
‘We Go Prepared: Living in an Age of Terrorism’ is a fully comprehensive four-hour course with a total of 10 modules covering a range of topics from recognising a terrorist attack and identifying potential terrorist behaviour to understanding weapons and self-preservation in the event of an attack.
Companies can book the programme exclusively for staff on site at their own premises or off site at Mercury’s Training Academy near Lisburn.
Alternatively, the company will be announcing a number of public dates and venues to which small businesses can send delegates.
ARE YOU PREPARED?: Launching the new programme are Garry Suddaby (left), Mercury Security Training and Development Manager, and PS5 CEO Steve Collins, an acknowledged authority on weapons-related crime and personal protection from violence, aggressive behaviour and terrorism.
For further information on the ‘We Go Prepared: Living in an Age of Terrorism’ training programme or to book a place, interested parties should call Mercury on 028 9262 0510 or email info@mercurysecurity.biz.
Headquartered in Lisburn, Mercury Security Management also operates out of offices in Dublin, Limerick and London.
Since its formation in 2001, the company has established a strong reputation across the industry as a pioneer in the area of integrated security solutions – combining physical manpower with cutting edge technology to service an ever-growing client base all over Ireland and the UK.
