Incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market: UCL security advice for staff and students

As the current threat level from international terrorism to the UK is categorised as severe, it makes sense for the UCL community to:

1. ensure that you have read the advice or watched the film from the National Police Chiefs Council on how to react if you are involved in a terrorist incident

2. in light of this advice, assess your current place of work or study to ascertain the following:

• is there a safe means of escape from the floor/building (this may be different to the way you entered)?
• if you were to leave the building, do you know where you would go, especially if your regular route was inaccessible?
• if you are unable to leave the building, is there somewhere safe you can hide (preferably 'locking yourself in' until the threat has gone)?
• are you able to call for help, whether this is calling UCL Security on ext. 222 (020 7679 2222) or calling the police direct on 999?

Any of our students who have been affected by this incident, or have found the events upsetting, can access emotional support through the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Metropolitan Police presence

In response to the incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market, the Metropolitan Police Service has increased the number of officers on patrol by 30%, with all officers now working 12-hour shifts as a minimum. Camden is considered a priority borough.

The UCL community should expect to see an increase in officers, who will in the main be carrying out reassurance and vigilance patrols. We would ask all staff and students to look out for anything that seems unusual. It may be nothing but if you see or hear anything that could be terrorist-related, trust your instinct, no matter how small and inform UCL Security immediately.

The neighbourhood Dedicated Ward Officers will be patrolling on foot, as will dedicated specialist officers. Many of these officers will be found at locations that have been assessed as vulnerable, or where there is a large footfall of people. 

UCL Security maintains an ongoing contact with the Metropolitan Police in order to liaise on security issues in and around the UCL campus.

Please see the Metropolitan Police Service Twitter account for the latest updates.

Key UCL Security contacts

If you require any further advice on any of the above, please feel free to contact UCL Security Manager Mark West (mb.west@ucl.ac.uk) or Deputy Security Manager Oliver Curran (o.curran@ucl.ac.uk) who will be happy to speak to you.

UCL Security