In light of the recent terror attacks in Nice, the BBC’s Home Affairs Correspondent, Dominic Casciani has emphasized the need to protect our public spaces and critical infrastructure. As proprietary providers of in-situ perimeter security designs, BBS Barriers has hailed the focus, which has in recent times been concentrated heavily on the threat of Cyber Crime. Whilst the threat of Cyber Crime is ever growing, it is still greatly important to remember that vehicle borne threats are very real and can cause tremendous devastation. The attack on Glasgow airport in 2007 served to highlight that the threat was not exclusive to foreign parts of the world, and that the UK was vulnerable to such assaults.

Current concrete in-situ systems on the market are capable of stopping a 7.5 tonne truck from a head on impact, restricting a vehicles access or delivery of payload. Such systems are rigorously tested to internationally recognised technical standards such as PAS 68. The design providers often work in line with national governments to develop appropriate containment to suit their requirements. Popular additional features include anti-personnel fencing to prevent trespassing, or to facilitate lighting columns or CCTV systems.

The BBC rightly asks the question, does this engineering and other related measures turn a city into a fortress? With sympathetic design and attention to aesthetics, it is realistic to expect that security systems can be disguised, if a visual deterrent is not warranted. The London Olympics for example used a concrete in-situ barrier system, hidden in plain site as part of the architecture with coloured mounted fencing.

With the terror threat becoming increasing more severe, the designers of such systems have a duty to ensure that such products remain in the thoughts of the organisations that protect the national infrastructure, and equally important, the safety of the population.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36806691