We are now a nationally accredited Project Servator force
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Leicestershire Police is now a nationally accredited Project Servator force.
Project Servator is a policing tactic used to disrupt a range of criminality, including terrorism, and has been trialled at East Midlands Airport since December 2019.
The project sees officers work with British Transport Police, UK Border Force, Counter Terrorism Policing , Airport Security, businesses, community partners and the public.
The project sees the deployment of both highly visible and plain-clothed police officers, supported by other resources such as dogs, firearms officers, vehicle checkpoints, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and live-monitored CCTV.
The deployments are unpredictable and can happen anywhere and at any time and include police officers specially trained to spot the tell-tale signs that someone may be planning or preparing to commit a crime.
The approach was pioneered by the City of London Police in 2014 and is used by a number of Police Forces across the UK and Gibraltar.
The tactics have been developed and tested by security experts at the National Protective Security authority (NPSA) in partnership with the National Disruptive Effects Unit (NDEU) hosted by the City of London Police and are designed to disrupt hostile reconnaissance – the information-gathering and planning of those with criminal intent.
Project Servator has been successful in gathering intelligence that has assisted Counter Terrorism Units in investigating and preventing acts of terror. It has also resulted in arrests for various offences and is responsible for removing firearms, knives and drugs from the streets.
Sergeant James Wakefield, from the East Midlands Airport protective security team, said: “It is fantastic for Leicestershire Police to now be recognised as a nationally accredited Project Servator force. This adds another layer of security to our existing police work by making it even more difficult for criminals to operate in the area while helping us to continue in our work with partners and with the public highlighting the importance of remaining vigilant at all times.
“Please remember if you do see anything suspicious, you can help by telling a police officer or member of staff immediately or call the confidential counter-terrorism police in confidence on 0800 789 321. If it's an emergency, always call 999.
You can find out more about Project Servator on our website