Procedure 10: Building lockdown procedures

1. Introduction

1.1 The aim of these procedures is to provide the University with the capacity to react and recover quickly during a crisis.

“A lockdown of a building or group of buildings is an emergency procedure intended to secure and protect occupants who are in the proximity of an immediate threat. This procedure is used when it may be more dangerous to evacuate a building than to stay inside. By controlling entry/exit and movement within a facility, emergency personnel are better able to contain and handle any threats”.

1.2 The purpose of this lockdown procedure is therefore to minimise access or exit to or from rooms/buildings on campus to reduce the risk of injury or danger to staff, students or visitors. The lockdown procedure will help prevent people moving into danger areas and preventing or frustrating the attackers accessing a site (or part of), through physical measures in response to a threat, either external or internal.

1.3 This document is formulated based on the unique nature of our learning environment and in conjunction with guidance on Developing Dynamic Lockdown Procedures provided by the National Counter Terrorism Security office (NaCTSO). The procedures are developed to dynamically lockdown the University campuses in response to a fast moving incident such as a firearms or weapons attack, either directly at the site or in the vicinity.

1.4 These procedures are designed to cover a variety of scenarios including full or partial lockdown.

1.5 These Procedures are to be communicated to all operation staff with responsibilities to assist in specific scenarios. These include but not limited to, Fire Marshals and Security.

1.6 Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) Awareness training provided by MET police counter terrorism unit to key personnel should be offered to staff responsible for implementing these procedures.

1.7 Due to the fast moving nature of incidents that require lockdown it is important that all University staff should act quickly and effectively. Staff and students should in addition to the procedures outlined in this document, familiarise themselves with ‘Stay Safe’ principles (Run, Hide, Tell) which give some additional simple actions to consider during an incident and the information that armed officers may need in the event of a firearms and weapons attack. Full guidance is contained on the NaCTSO: http://www.nactso.gov.uk/.

2. Authority to implement lockdown procedure

2.1 A lockdown would be implemented when requested by the Police, the Vice Chancellor or members of VCE in accordance with the Business Continuity and Incident Management Plan. Under circumstances where a delay in seeking direction from the Vice Chancellor or other member VCE would result in significant risks to the lives of the University community, lockdown procedures may be initiated immediately by Security.

3. Incidents requiring a lockdown

3.1 These examples are not exhaustive or absolute but reflect the type of situation that may require a lockdown.

• Person(s) armed with a firearm or weapon on campus property
• Gunshots directed at or near the University campus
• Police incidents involving dangerous person(s) that are adjacent to or within a short distance of the campus
• Intruders
• Hazardous chemicals spills, gas leaks, electrical conditions, or disasters close to the campus
• A reported incident / civil disturbance in the local community (with the potential to pose a risk to staff and students in the University).

4. Responsibilities

4.1 The Head of Security or the Health and Safety Manager will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the lockdown in conjunction with Bouygues and the Emergency Services.

4.2 The Incident Management Group (as detailed in the UWL Business Continuity and Incident Management Plan) will oversee the lockdown where possible and appropriate.

4.3 All academic staff who have students in class or other staff who are in meetings or otherwise in control of students at the time of the lockdown become responsible for those students at that time. Staff who have visitors should behave in the same way. Students/visitors without staff (eg those in open areas such as The Heart or Haven) will be directed to the nearest classroom or safe building building/room by members of Security or Fire Marshalls. Staff should follow directions from line management, security, fire marshals and/or communication received to initiate lockdown.

4.4 Heads of School/Department should be familiar with the procedures and ensure that staff are aware of them and the guidance on ‘Run, Hide, Tell.

4.5 The SU should also be made aware of the procedures and ensure that their staff are appropriately informed.

Lockdown procedures

5. Notification

5.1 A notification to occupants to lockdown may be sent by UWL Security, Emergency Response Personnel (Health and Safety Office, Fire Marshalls or First Aiders), SMS Alert, Blackboard, All UWL email Users Announcement, or from Head of Schools.

Colleges and Central Services Departments or an academic. Since each building on campus is unique, individuals may receive notifications to lockdown through various means.

5.2 A communication needs to be sent to the University Shuttle Bus to cease transportation of staff or students to the affected site. This will be done via direct communication from property services to Byes and then to National Express.

5.3 When the University receives request to initiate lockdown procedure, some of the following communication tools are used to deliver notifications during the incident:

• UWL Announcement (broadcast directly to all staff and student emails)
• SMS/Text Alert to all UWL issued Business mobile devices, Blackboard
• “Pop up” on employees computers/internal messaging systems
• Website (updates will be posted on intranet and student portal of uwl.ac.uk)
• Blast FM (Listen via the TuneIn radio app
• 2-way Radio Communication (Security, IT, Events, UWLSU and Core FM staff only)
• Word of mouth (face-to-face Security and Emergency Responders requests)

6. Upon alert to lockdown

6.1 It is essential for the safety of occupants and emergency responders that individuals comply with instructions provided by emergency personnel at all times.

6.2 If you are in a classroom, room or office:

• Stay there, secure the door and windows and wait further instructions (or escort from emergency personnel)
• If the door does not lock, barricade the door with tables and chairs
• If you are in a corridor, go into the closest office not already secured and lock or barricade the door and windows
• Close curtains or blinds where possible
• Stay away from windows and doors
• If known threat is from a bomb or incendiary device and there is insufficient time to run, hide behind a concrete pillar with 100 metres from the device if in open area or 30 metres in between buildings
• Stay low below window level and be quiet
• Cell phones should be put on quiet or vibrate mode.
• Do not make non-essential calls
• Follow instructions from emergency personnel only
• If the fire alarm is activated, remain where you are and await further instructions from emergency personnel, unless you smell smoke or see fire in your immediate vicinity
• If possible, monitor www.uwl.ac.uk for updates.
• Be aware of alternate exits if it becomes necessary to flee.

6.3 If you are directed by police to leave your secured area, assists others in moving as quietly and as quickly as possible.

6.4 If you are off-campus, do not return and follow instructions from campus notification system.

7. Actions to avoid

7.1 DO NOT do the following:

• open doors once it has been secured until you are officially advised “all clear” or are certain it is emergency personnel at the door.
• use or hide in toilets
• travel down long corridors
• assemble in large open areas (e.g. refectories)
• respond to anyone at the door until an “all clear” message is received DO NOT call 999 unless you have immediate concerns for your safety, the safety of others, or feel you have critical information that will assist emergency personnel in the response
• sound the fire alarm in the building unless there is a fire. People may be placed in harm’s way when they are attempting to evacuate the building.

8. Actions when the police arrive

8.1 Follow instructions from police at all times to avoid harm and ensure the best possible response

• Keep your EMPTY hands raised and visible
• Remain calm and follow instructions
• Avoid pointing and yelling
• The first police officers to arrive will not respond to or aid those who may be injured. They will go directly to the intruder or source of the threat.
• Know that help for the injured is on the way
• The area is a crime scene. Police may secure all witnesses until identified for questioning.

9. Following the lockdown

9.1 When the condition causing the lockdown has been eliminated, an “all clear – lockdown is over” announcement will be made as appropriate.

9.2 Once the lockdown is over, you should:

• Cooperate with emergency personnel to assist in an orderly evacuation
• Proceed to the designated assembly area if advised
• The police may require individuals to remain available for questioning following a lockdown
• University security and emergency response staff may be present as you exit from buildings to provide additional information

10. Full lockdown – external threat

10.1 A full lockdown will be instigated when the University receives from the police or confirmed and verifiable source, of an immediate threat to the University or in close proximity and is likely to escalate to the University campus. A full lockdown may be the escalation of a partial lockdown.

10.2 In a full lockdown entrance and exit from the campus will be made impossible in so far as the threat remains curtailed outside the University perimeter.

10.3 Some of the possible incident under this category are:

• Firearms and weapons attack
• Hostile vehicle attack
• Biological/Chemical attacks
• A warning being received regarding a risk locally, of Biological/Chemical attacks, air pollution (smoke plume, gas cloud etc.)
• A reported incident / civil disturbance in the local community (with the potential to pose a risk to staff and student in the University)

10.4 The lockdown will be authorised as outlined in 2 above. The notification of the lockdown will be made as appropriate to the incident.

10.5 Security will secure all perimeter gates/car park barriers into the campus where present, including main entrance doors, access controlled doors, turnstiles/barriers which can be manually/remotely locked . Security staff should not put themselves in any danger if the source of the threat is obvious.

10.6 Security will remotely monitor the threat(s) or activities via the University networked CCTV camera system from a safe and secure location and provide/share important information with the police or University emergency response team.

11. Partial lockdown – internal threat

11.1 A partial lockdown means that all access and exit routes leading outside the safe buildings are locked and people may not exit or enter the buildings in order to keep the threat away. Some of the possible incident under this category are:

• A warning received regarding a risk locally, of air pollution (smoke plume, gas cloud etc)
• A reported incident / civil disturbance in the local community (with the potential to pose a risk to staff and student in the University)
• An intruder in an area of the campus
• A suspect package in an area of the campus
• Gas leaks or flooding in parts of the campus

11.2 The lockdown will be authorised as outlined in 2 above. The notification of the lockdown will be made as appropriate to the incident.

11.3 Security and emergency response staff secure the safe parts of the campus, all access and exit points in both public and private areas of the site as predefined will be secured to keep the threat at bay until emergency services arrive on site.

11.4 Security and emergency response staff will stop people leaving or entering the site and direct people away from the danger.

11.5 All staff, students and visitors remain in the affected building and external doors and windows locked.

11.6 Free movement may be permitted within, but not between buildings dependent upon circumstances

11.7 All outside activity or areas of congregation (refectory, cafes etc.) to cease immediately, student and staff follow instructions from security/emergency response staff and return to the safe building(s).

11.8 In the event of an air pollution issue, air vents and mechanical ventilation can be closed or shut down (where possible) as an additional precaution. Emergency Services will advise as to the best course of action in respect of the prevailing threat.

11.9 In the event of gas leaks and flooding, gas safety valves and water supply valves should be closed (where possible).