Release date: 10th March 2008
Gatwick Airport is due to launch Project Griffin on 27th March, 2008, the first airport to go live with the project. The project will be launched with an awareness day focusing on crime and counter terrorism issues, which specifically relate to the day-to-day running of the airport. Being a self contained policing area, Gatwick Airport is the ideal location to introduce Project Griffin as all staff are working towards the same goal of maintaining the security and efficient running of the airport. Superintendent Robin Smith, Divisional Commander for Gatwick, said: "Project Griffin is the embodiment of the partnership approach to protective security. This is an international initiative to assist the fight against terrorism, and Gatwick Division is keen to support it."
With now over 25 cities in the UK running Project Griffin, Lothian and Borders being the latest Scottish Force to join the Griffin family and Singapore about to go live with the scheme, the project, which aims to provide security advice to workers who have responsibility for security to act as 'eyes and ears' for the police, is gathering momentum each month.
The Project Griffin partnership starts with an Awareness Day hosted by the police, which is aimed at equipping members of the community with knowledge and information which will help them to work with the police to deter and detect terrorist activity and crime. The programme was instigated by the City of London Police, but is now identified nationally as good practice.
Skills for Security is proud to have played a role in making the initiative a success, and now continuing our association into Phase 2. Phase 2 is an e-based learning package and has been introduced as a refresher programme for those who have completed the Awareness Day.
The London Stock Exchange was the first organisation to implement Phase 2. Greg Beech, Senior Account Manager for Knightsbridge Guarding Ltd, contracted to the London Stock Exchange comments: "We were very impressed with the Project Griffin training initiative and the refresher programme supplied our officers with additional skills to deal with awareness in the city, all of our officers have thoroughly enjoyed the scheme."
For further information regarding Project Griffin's Awareness Day or Refresher Programme, please visit the new website, www.projectgriffin.org.uk.