A message from Dr Paul Greatrix, Registrar and Chair of the Incident Management Team.

An information film that provides advice on the steps to take to keep safe in the event of a firearms or weapons attack is available to the public.

The University has taken the decision to highlight this guidance to staff and students in light of the national threat level – which remains at ‘severe’ in the UK. However, it must be stressed that this is not in response to any particular or specific threat to the city or the University. All UK police forces have been asked to share with partner agencies and large organisations.

The four-minute film, released by National Counter Terrorism Policing, sets out three key steps for keeping safe and is available at www.npcc.police.uk/staysafe. The film is accompanied by a transcript and an online information leaflet.

The film and leaflet advise that in the unlikely event you are caught up in an incident to ‘run, hide and tell’ – guidance which can be applied to many places and situations. RUN if you can. If you can’t run, HIDE. Then, when you can, TELL the police what’s happening so they can get there quickly to stop the threat. Also tell others of the threat so they don’t approach the danger.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, speaking on behalf of National Counter-Terrorism Policing said: “The public should not be alarmed by this step. While the general level of threat to the UK is severe, the probability of being caught up in a firearms or weapons attack is very, very small. However, it is important the public know what to do in the event of getting caught up in such an incident.”

If you have any concerns please contact the University’s Security team.