Dedicated Action Counters Terrorism App reaches 10,000-plus people

As the horrific terror incident in Reading began to unfold on Saturday 20 June, ACT app users received an instant message direct from Counter Terrorism Policing and were then sent regular updates as the situation developed through the rest of the weekend.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve McGrath, who’s head of information, capability and business engagement at the National Counter-Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), explained: “I’m sure everyone will have been shocked and saddened when they learned the dreadful details of the incident in Forbury Gardens. As everyone with responsibility for security will know, in the aftermath of a major incident there’s a need for clear, accurate and trustworthy information about what has happened and the wider implications for the UK. Our ACT App subscribers are some of the first people to receive that detail.”

McGrath continued: “Our users received instant message updates direct from Counter Terrorism Policing’s experts throughout the weekend, as well as receiving a message from Metropolitan Police Service Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing. We saw a huge spike in ACT App users across the weekend of Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June, with thousands of people located in 16 different countries using it to access the latest messaging, advice and protective security documents created by Counter Terrorism Policing.”

Developed in partnership

Launched in March this year and powered by Urim, the ACT App is free for businesses and has been developed in partnership with industry specialists from Marks and Spencer and Highfield eLearning. It’s designed for use across business and industry, including the security, sporting and retail sectors.

Available from Google Play or the Apple App Store, the ACT App provides access to practical advice and guidance to help people protect their business, plus information on how to respond in the event of an attack. There’s also information on Counter Terrorism Policing’s suite of ACT training products, not to mention access to the online e-Learning package.

In addition, there’s a suite of NaCTSO guidance videos, the latest reference documents and publications, the ACT online reporting form and confidential Hotline, emergency response and post-incident guidance and, last but not least, live-time news updates courtesy of UK Protect.

McGrath added: “With lockdown restrictions now easing, businesses everywhere will be readying themselves to return to work or otherwise increase their activity. We’re urging them to put security high on their agenda as, sadly, the threat hasn’t gone away. We want everyone to feel that they have a role to play in national security and making the UK a hostile place for terrorists to operate. For me, the ACT App is a further example of how collaboration and integration between the police and the private sector can enhance national security and collectively work to make all of our communities safer places in which to live and work.”

Download the Urim app

Download the Urim app by accessing Google Play or visiting the App Store. App users then need to e-mail ct@highfieldelearning.com in order to request a username and password. Note that access is for business/professional use only.