Civil unrest – protecting your organisation

Protests are by nature unpredictable, but steps can be taken by organisations to help mitigate the risk. These include:

• Reviewing work practices if protests are anticipated. Ask staff to avoid going into areas where protests may occur, possibly switching to virtual meetings. Consider rescheduling any planned events.
• If staff must come in, relax dress codes. Avoid wearing any branded business wear.
• Review security arrangements for your premises. Limit the number of entry points to your property to help control access and keep doors secured when not in use.
• Remove any waste and other items that could be used by protestors to a place of safety.
• If relevant, move any valuable items from perimeter locations, where they can be more readily accessed by intruders, to a safer internal location.
• Make sure any life safety systems, such as fire alarms, and electronic security systems, such as intruder alarms, have been tested and are operational.
• Review your organisation's Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to ensure it will effectively respond to any protest activity. Guidance on developing a BCP can be found on our website if you don’t already have one.
• Train staff who will be responding to any protests on what they should do.
• Monitor national and local news channels, as well as social media, for the latest updates on protests and be ready to adapt business operations to reflect any increased risk due to protests in your area.
• If you are concerned about the safety of your staff or property, call the police. Remember to report any criminal activity.
• Notify your insurer at the earliest opportunity in the event of an incident that may be covered under your insurance policy.

The National Business Crime Centre has developed some helpful guidance for businesses, which may assist when reviewing your arrangements - Safeguarding your business during public events