10:41am Saturday 20th October 2007
SOME 30 businesses and public sector organisations from the Vale of Glamorgan attended a special counter terrorism seminar in Barry recently to help them in planning to reduce the risk of a terrorist attack and to mitigate the effects of such an incident.
The seminar sought to highlight the vital part shopping centre managers, facility staff and store employees play in the UK Counter Terrorism Strategy.
The event, held at the YMCA, was run by security advisers from South Wales Police Headquarters Special Branch, together with Agency partners.
It formed part of a National Counter Terrorist initiative under the headline banner of Project ARGUS'. They have been held in major towns and cities in the force area as part of a much wider protective security programme for crowded places.
Sarah O'Kelly, deputy manager of New Look, Barry, who attended the seminar, said: "I found the event to be extremely informative. It provided businesses with plenty of information to take back to their premises to put in place.
"Being a part of the Business PACT Partnership we are always on the look-out for suspicious activity, so the information provided at the workshop has made businesses more aware of the importance of noting and reporting suspicious activity to the police and other businesses in the area."
Vale of Glamorgan police divisional commander, Superintendent Sue Hayes, said: "Whilst there is no specific threat to the Vale, terrorist attacks in the UK are a real and serious danger. The seminar is designed to make the business community think about their plans to deal with a major incident."
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