Shopping Centres

Terrorist attacks in the UK are a real and serious danger. Crowded places, including shopping centres, are likely to feature in the attack plans of terrorist organisations in the future as they are usually locations with limited protective security measures and therefore affords the potential for mass fatalities and casualties.

Counter Terrorism Protective Security Advice for Shopping Centres (1.2MB PDF) has been produced in partnership with the British Council of Shopping Centres.

Those responsible for public safety and security within shopping centres and other retail premises are urged to take time to study the advice contained in this document and put it into practice in respect of each of the environments they are developing and managing.

It is recognised that there is a need to maintain a friendly and welcoming atmosphere within shopping centre environments and this guide is not intended to create a ‘fortress mentality’. There is however a balance to be achieved where security management are informed that there are robust protective security measures available to mitigate against the threat of terrorism, e.g. vehicle access controls at goods/service entrances.

For site specific advice relating to your premises, contact your CTSA or use the new non emergency police telephone number 101.