Operational partnerships - Security levels for police estate policy (O27)

O27 Security Levels for Police Estate

1. Summary of changes

1.1 The following changes have been made to this policy in March 2024:

• Changes to threat level terminology
• Change of name of Centre for Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) to National Protective Security Authority (NPSA).

2. What this Policy is About

2.1 The purpose of this policy is to ensure that Kent Police have a guide to inform decisions, locally and forcewide, regarding the options available to increase security at police premises if there is an increase in threat level to the Police Sector or Police Estates. Op Quantity (Move to Critical), Contingency Plan 448, which can be accessed through the Commanders Portal, refers to the force’s response to a move to Critical Threat level and contains the Menu of Options that should be considered to support the force during an increase in threat level.

3. Statement of Policy

3.1 This policy applies to all staff. It is essential that staff are aware of current security response levels for the police estate together with associated actions.

3.2 The policy is cognisant of the national threat and intelligence mechanisms ensuring that there is a measured and proportionate response to any increase in threat.

3.3 Op Quantity (Move to Critical) Contingency Plan details the actions that should be considered should the national threat level move to Critical.

4. Implications of the Policy

4.1. Finance / Staffing / Training

4.1.1. Should the response level to the police estate go beyond a Normal Response level, requiring additional resources to increase the security of premises, there will be some resource implications. Additional actions, such as searching and patrolling particularly during an Exceptional Response Level could be resource intensive. The Op Quantity 'move to critical' plan provides guidance regarding procedures to be initiated should the security level increase to critical.

4.2. Risk Assessment

4.2.1. This policy has been assessed as medium risk.

4.3. Equality Impact Assessment

4.3.1. An Equality Impact Assessment has been carried out and the impact assessed as Medium.

5. Consultation

5.1. The following were asked to consult on this document:
o Finance
o Information Security
o Estates
o Human Resources
o Health and Safety
o Legal
o Professional Standards Department
o Freedom of Information
o Data Protection
o Diversity and Inclusion Academy
o Divisional Commanders
o Supts Association
o Unison
o Federation

6. Review

6.1 The policy and linked Standard Operating procedure will be reviewed by the Op Quantity Lead with engagement with the Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSAs) to ensure that it falls in line with the Response Level guidance produced by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC).

6.2. The policy will be reviewed every two years with the next review taking place in January 2026.

7. Security

7.1. Kent Police have measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management Policy (Policy W1000 – Information Management).

8. Retention and Disposal of Records

8.1 Kent Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention and Disposal Policy (Policy W1012 – Records Review, Retention and Disposal).