Annex E

 

 

Our ref:

LR/SR

Your ref:

     

Date:

17 August 2018

Name and address:

Mary Weastell

Chief Executive

City of York Council

West Officers

Station Rise

York

YO1 6GA

 

 

 

Dear Mary,

 

North Yorkshire Police support for Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) measures

 

Thank you for the recent invitation to meet Executive Members which took place on Monday 6th August 2018. Following my attendance, I would like to place on record my support, on behalf of North Yorkshire Police, in relation to the proposed HVM measures planned for the City of York.

 

As I am sure you are aware, the national threat level remains at severe. This means that a terrorist attack is highly likely and any attack is likely to come without notice. Further, there has been a clear shift in attack methodology, from complex pre-planned coordinated attacks such as those seen at the World Trade Center to the more recent attacks on mainland Europe and those in the United Kingdom where attack planning is very basic, including the use of hire vehicles and knives as weapons.

 

Public spaces are currently the most favoured locations because they have ready access to a large number of potential victims. York has very tight streets where there are large crowds of people regularly going about their daily business. Any attack carried out by a vehicle is therefore likely to result in multiple fatalities and many significant injuries.

 

Currently there are no suitable vehicle mitigation measures in York. My colleague, Superintendent Mark Khan, a specialist Security Coordinator, is of the opinion that this is an unacceptable risk for the city to carry. I would echo this view, especially when we, as public authorities, have responsibilities in relation to the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). This is particularly relevant when Article 2, The Right to Life, is considered as this article places a positive duty on the state (i.e. public bodies) to protect life.

 

Hostile vehicle mitigation can work in two ways. It can be a visible deterrent and also a physical barrier. I am therefore in full support of the proposed measures and look forward to continuing to support City of York Council as this work moves forward.

 

 

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Superintendent Lindsey Robson

Area Commander York & Selby