The tragic events in Woolwich, London, yesterday, where a serving member of the armed forces was attacked whilst off duty, has led to much discussion and analysis already. As is often the case, we are left asking the question: “Could we have done more?”
It is reported that it took 14 minutes for the armed police response unit SCO19 to arrive on site. Whilst this is a short amount of time in which to mobilise a unit and reach a location, and while there is no doubt at all that the responding units operated with haste and absolute bravery, it remains a long time for two armed individuals to walk freely amongst an ever-increasing crowd of onlookers.
This event took place next to an army base where there would likely have been a military police presence. Members of the public would have contacted 999 as the incident unfolded; if the local army base had been aware of activity in such a close proximity, could they have provided aid more swiftly?
I consider the situation that our nation faced during the Second World War when we had an urgent need to employ every possible asset we had available in the most effective manner. The most important aspect of such efforts was to ensure that fast and accurate communication was achieved.
Improving communications
Currently, many different solutions are used for police control rooms. If we could agree on a standardised approach such as the popular STORM platform from Steria then we could more easily provide integration with ARCs (alarm receiving centres) if the forces involved commit to investing in the work required. At the same time we could then use standard interfaces to distribute alerts based on such things as proximity to a location of any relevant assets on the ground.
These assets could include armed forces and private businesses that are accredited members of the security industry. Such groups are able to ensure that they assist in an appropriate manner to help keep us all safe, as it is what they already do every day of the year in some cases.
We should move forward with a focus on the best possible use of our many skilled and capable individuals and adopt a wartime mentality which utilises the best of modern technology to ensure the greatest efficiency of our services.
This attack was a savage terrible attack and while it did take police time to respond I am sure they were doing everything in their power to come to aid. With that said it is easy to set back after such a event and play arm chair quarterback and see where things went wrong and how they should have played out. In reality we need to find a way to learn from this attack and develop a response that minimizes response time and addresses shortcomings such as understaffing and response capabilities.
All of our emergency services are currently facing immense challenges to reduce costs and deliver the same performance for less. This is not always deliverable to the extent they are being asked. However, the police forces and fire brigades are certainly performing an amazing job given the constraints under which they are having to operate.
I agree we need to find solutions. Issues such as understaffing are not going to go away in the near future so we need to think out of the box to find ways to solve these genuine concerns.
It also seems to me that the criticism of the intelligence services for knowing the suspects but not being able to stop them totally misses the point that civil liberties have to come first. As sad as the death of this soldier is, and absolutely tragic, he died while also working for an organisation who are supposed to be building democracy and freedom. But he also allegedly died at the hands of just two men, who were on the fringes of radical extremism. We cannot and should not lock everyone up who has been linked with ‘extremist’ views at some… Read more »
Rob, I think there is a difference here between expectation and reality. Yes these extremists were know of but that doesn’t mean that there are personnel available to follow these two guys around for the rest of their lives and wait for them to get into something. The title of the article says Cohesive Response and that is a lot different than prevention.
That’s fair. Whatever happened to all the good work that was done for the Olympics security systems in London? I’ve forgotten the name but there was a very effective cross-organisation system in place, which I’m sure is still in operation. Anyone.
I think it is easier said than done when incident like this which rarely occured
I can not see how these men can be monitored since they were not recognised as high risk extremist. Lessons will be learned and we will know more in the coming weeks of their unknown motives.
During the ‘Justice Questions’ session in parliament I noted the following exchange: Julian Happert “There seem to be ways of both making substantial savings and providing a better service and improving the way the courts operate, particularly by using more digital information so that documents don’t get lost and fail to arrive at court at the correct time, What work has the ministery of justice been doing to try to acheive this?” Damian Green: “Very much, I completely agree with my honourable friend that the digitisation of the whole crimina justice process, not just within the courts but including the… Read more »
@George Brown – You are right that such attacks are incredibly difficult to predict. Despite the obvious thread of extremism involved in this attack it is not being stated enough that there are mental health issues at play here also which are being overlooked. Normal sane people do not act in the way that these two individuals did and whether through indocrination, drugs or any other means – those who carry out such attacks shoud not be painted as ‘normal’ or ‘heroes to their own people’. The media footage identified them and amplified their message to the entire world which… Read more »
@JOE AWUNI. I will do and I think you are right for saying our media as given them the necessary coverage they deserved in our press.
We must stop those bahaviours and confront them before they grow wings
@JOE AWUNI I just do not know the answer to this new bill which Mrs May is pushing forward for the police and our security agents and government should have the power to insert and record everyone emails and messages in the land, when there is enough evidence that they can not secured our sensititve data like NI and others. The police and our security agents have those powers anyway and I can not see the difference it would have made to prevent such attackshappening when they have cut the a terrorist budget bill from preventing home grown extremist from… Read more »
House of Commons – Debate on the Queens Speech:
Nia Griffith – Labour
“I had the pleasure of recently meeting the new Chief Constable for the Dyfed-Powys Police – Simon Prince and having very meaningful discussions with him about how to make our communities better and safer places. I was very pleased to notice his emphasis on the need for partnership with other organisations to make a cohesive community and to have cohesive approach to preventing and tackling problems and a better understanding of the role of the police in society”
In some aspects of borough of London, the police has been seen as unfriendly organisation and could be acting as intelligence as well. How does the police assured those communities of fair play?. I think if the police are seen as fair organisation then individuals will be willing to disclose vital information to them leading to the arrest of the extremist.
For me, Government IT projects are notoriously slow to be developed, over-budget, and often end up being not fit for purpose. I’ll hold my breath on the police and courts digitisation. Naturally though, it could potentially have a huge change for the efficiency of the whole process.
Hi Before i emigrated to Sweden worked on a lot of MOD ,Police sites and they are linked via emrgency wavebands. Military Police monitor 999 wavebands and can assist if local or to do with their base,ths case was classed as publc road so ddnt fall under military duristiction,eventhough those MP`s could have been on scene in couple of minutes. Redtape needs to be cut and forces strengthened and linked fully to interact. The governernment have done massive cutbacks Woolwich barracks for example used to have around 30-40 armed Miltitary Police patrolling inside and the outside perimeter of the Barracks… Read more »
Fascinating perspective, Darren, thanks. I did wonder why the (few) MPs stationed at Woolwich weren’t part of the first response team so that makes sense. As for cutbacks, I can understand the rationale behind them, as the level of protection needs to be proportionate to the threat, but I also see your point that a reduction in military police patrolling is undoubtedly a bad move for security. But, with the reduced IRA threat, it’s understandable.
Amazin clip, and incidentally, I’d forgotten about that particular shooting in Germany, showing that the mass media’s contant portrayal of these individuals and their crimes is just a constant move from murder to murder.
I also think that we as a society don’t talk enough about mental health issues. There’s much to be done in this area.
@ Joe You bring up a lot of really good points. Mental health certainly played an issue in the unfortunate event that happened in Woolwich. You could tell by watching the video of the assailant that he was not right in the head. I also agree with your statement about the media coverage. By all the news channels, worldwide, broadcasting the rantings of this extremist over and over again he got exactly what he wanted. He got his message heard, as deranged as it may have been. I watched the broadcast and just found it eerie, the way he was… Read more »
I was thoroughly shocked when I saw this on the news the night it happened. I was wondering the same thing as you, Rob. I wonder why the MPs stationed didn’t respond to the incident. It was a tragic, tragic thing and it’s only fortunate that the imbalance thugs who carried out the attack didn’t resort to hurting passersby in the area.
Oh, but there have been reports and documentation of their alarming behavior. I believe one of the suspects was snapped in a photo participating in some rally of some sort where he allegedly turned violent. And he preaches about jihad, so really, I would have wanted something more done before this incident had taken place.
@ IT Hazel
I think there is something wrong with the system of deterring these men from becoming extremist . We need to look at our laws and have common sense of what is acceptable and unacceptable in our society
I believe one of the suspects was snapped in a photo participating in some rally of some sort where he allegedly turned violent.
@Hazel Chua, I didnt knew that the suspect had shown alarming behavious earlier as well. I think serious action should be taken and such suspects should be investigated/counselled so that they dont get a chance to carryout such henious crimes.
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