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UK riots 2024 | Guidance on keeping staff and premises safe
Written on 7 August 2024
Following the tragic killing of three young girls in Southport on 29 July, anti-immigrant and far-right unrest has erupted across numerous cities and towns in England and in Belfast in Northern Ireland. This has been the worst outbreak of civil disorder in Britain in 13 years, with police having made 378 arrests at the time of writing.
These riots not only disrupt public order but also pose significant risks to employees’ safety. Businesses in affected areas face heightened threats of vandalism and looting, making it dangerous for workers to commute to and from their workplaces. Additionally, the unpredictable nature of such unrest can result in physical harm to employees and increased stress and anxiety, severely impacting their wellbeing and productivity.
In these turbulent times, employers must prioritise the safety of their workforce and the security of their premises and implement preventative controls to continue to provide a safe working environment.
Here a seven simple steps business can take to keep people safe during large public gatherings and riots.
1. Gather local intelligence
Use multiple channels to gather local intelligence. This might include information sharing with local businesses, monitoring social media and news outlets, and coordinating with law enforcement.
This will help inform your business of the likelihood of large public gatherings in the local area and give you an indication on measures to take in the event of these gatherings developing into a riot.
Use these channels to monitor changing intelligence in real time and be prepared to adapt your security measures as the situation evolves.
2. Conduct a risk assessment
Using the intelligence gathered, conduct a risk assessment of your business and its local surroundings and identify potential weak points in your security set-up.
Consider easily accessible entrances or blind spots in your surveillance coverage. Understanding these vulnerabilities is the first step toward strengthening your security measures.
3. Secure access points
Review the security measures at all access (and potential access) points to your premises. This may involve permanent changes to security measures, such as upgrades to doors, windows, locks and shutters, or temporary measures, such as boarding up windows and doors.
Other additional measures may be required, such as installing fencing and CCTV and removing valuable items or combustibles like wooden pallets or bins from premises yards or car parks.
4. Maintain a stock inventory and ensure safe storage
Maintain up-to-date documentation of your stock inventory. Ensure valuable items are stored securely by moving them to a secure area or off-site storage location when possible.
Additionally, remove any window displays and lock them in the rear of your premises or another secure area. If it appears there is nothing to steal, looters may be less likely to target your business.
5. Provide employee training
It’s important to provide clear instructions to employees and any customers on your premises on what to do in the event of a riot.
Consider employee safety training to cover emergency procedures, evacuation routes, and how to interact with security personnel or law enforcement during riots. Well-prepared employees can play a crucial role in maintaining order and ensuring safety.
Conduct security drills and exercises to ensure that your staff are familiar with emergency procedures. Review and update your security plan as needed to adapt to evolving threats and changing circumstances.
6. Establish clear communication protocols
Develop clear communication protocols for employees, security teams, and law enforcement. Ensure that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in the event of a riot or looting incident. Effective communication can prevent confusion and incidents occurring.
7. Consider WFH
The safety of employees must be prioritised, so assess whether it is necessary for staff to be on site. For some businesses and roles, such as retail staff, reverting to remote working may not be possible, but for others, like those in a high-street law firm, this could be a viable alternative.
More than 30 riots are currently planned across the UK, so if on-site presence is essential, consider closing the business on the day of these gatherings to ensure safety.
Need support?
At WorkNest, we understand the various Employment Law and Health & Safety challenges businesses face during times of civil unrest.
Whether you’re dealing with employees participating in the riots or need support keeping your workforce and workplace safe, WorkNest is here to help you navigate these complex issues. For advice and guidance, please reach out to our team on 0345 226 8393.
