Home Office backs University of Northampton plan to develop Higher Education terrorist threat system

A system which will help universities deal with terrorist and other serious threats is being devised by a team from the University of Northampton.

The University has received funding from the Home Office’s Office of Security and Counter-Terrorism to develop a Campus and Higher Education Security Standard (CHESS).

CHESS would provide UK Higher Education institutions with a traffic light-based checklist system which they can use to shape their thinking, planning and investment to meet the challenges posed by the threat of terrorism.

The system will be informed by three groups: an expert advisory group comprised of policing, law enforcement and counter-terrorism experts, including Superintendent Dave Hill, from Northamptonshire Police, who also lectures in Policing at the University; a colleges and Higher Education institutes group made up of principals and vice chancellors, and chaired by the University of Northampton’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Nick Petford; and the CHESS project team, which is based within the University’s Institute of Logistics, Infrastructure, Supply & Transformational Travel (iLISTT).

Once up and running, the expert advisory group will provide information and strategic insights into credible security threats and will provide the latest Government advice on dealing with threats, creating a one-stop resource for universities and colleges. The collaboration will also allow the institutions to share their experiences and knowledge.

Dr Mils Hills, Associate Professor of Security at the University, said: “The expert advisory group will provide information and strategic insights into credible security threats and forward the latest Government advice on dealing with threats, creating a one-stop resource for universities and colleges.

“The collaboration will also allow the institutions to share their experiences and knowledge, meaning if one is doing something particularly well, the others will be able to follow their example.

“We already know that some universities and colleges are doing some great work and this is an opportunity to celebrate that success.”

The successful bid for Home Office funding was coordinated and is co-directed by Nick Allen, Executive Officer at the University.

Pictured from left: Mils Hills, Supt Dave Hill and Nick Petford