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Audience and Visitor Security
VIP Visitors and Persons at Risk (PARs)

The BBC often invites to its studios dignitaries who are considered to be Persons At Risk (PAR). These guidelines provide procedures and supporting information in respect of visits by such persons to BBC premises.
 
Responsibilities for VIPs
The Head of Corporate Security, Duty Facilities Manager in London, or local facilities/programme management at other BBC sites will be responsible for the following:
 
  • Security Risk Assessment if required
  • Overall security during visit of PAR to BBC sites / event
  • Provision of security planning for visits
  • Overall management of security function during visits
  • Liaison with relevant police agencies as necessary
  • Liaison with BBC Head of Corporate Security
Security Risk Assessment for VIPs
Visits by VIPs rated at the highest level, categorised as VVIPs in the table below, such as senior UK and Foreign government ministers, royalty and visiting heads of state, will require a Security Risk Assessment based upon actual and perceived threats against the visitor(s) concerned. It is important to note that the presence of a VIP/PAR, even on a temporary basis, may also require the production of a new building security risk assessment to cover the period of the visit.
  
If necessary, further advice should be sought from the Head of Corporate Security as to the status of the visitor and threats peculiar to that individual(s).

VIP Categories

Depending upon the category of VIP, police protection (armed or otherwise) may be provided. It is stressed that the decision for police protection will not be at the discretion of the BBC, though it may be requested.
Categorisation of VIP/PAR is as follows:
 
CATEGORY

POSITIONS

(Not exclusive)

 POLICE PROTECTION

Very Very

Important

Persons (VVIPS)
Senior Royalty
Heads of State / Senior Administrators of Foreign Countries
Senior Cabinet Ministers
Opposition Shadow Ministers occupying sensitive posts
Senior Government members occupying sensitive posts

Other persons as advised by police

PROBABLE
Very Important Persons
(VIPs)
Minor Royalty
Junior Cabinet Ministers
Leading members of activist groups
Other Senior Government figures
High-profile media and entertainment figures

Other leading corporate and public figures

POSSIBLE

 Other PAR

Members of public at risk from criminal or terrorist attack 
POSSIBLE

Police Assistance
It is important that the police are aware of visits and kept informed by us of the more detailed arrangements. It is in the BBC's interest to provide the police with this information, as there are times when we rely heavily on their assistance, e.g. when there is likely to be a large crowd, and when their specialist knowledge may assist in dealing with this. The decision about whether the police wish to pay special attention to the premises during the period of a VIP visit is theirs and not the BBC's.
 
Special Circumstances
There may be circumstances when the VIP is required to keep a low public profile and restrict knowledge of their movements accordingly, including a request to the police to keep a low profile.   If dedicated police protection staff are involved in visits, then their advice and agreement must be sought as to how to brief local police should additional police input be required.
 
Programmes that involve such guests should give as much advance warning as possible in order that any necessary precautionary arrangements can be made.
 
Additional Measures 
Although the normal standards for building security will always apply, some additional temporary measures may be put in place during the visit, dependant upon the advice and guidance from the police protection officers. Security arrangements should be commensurate with the current BBC Security Alert Level, which may have to be raised should the status of the person visiting warrant it.
 
Private Bodyguards
Some personalities, in particular high profile entertainment personalities have private bodyguards. For the safety and security of these, and other high profile visitors that do not normally warrant the close attention of the police for their protection, programme staff should review associated security measures and if necessary consult the Facilities Manager in advance.
 
As a rule admittance of bodyguards to BBC sites and restricted areas within them is at the discretion of the Facilities Manager.  Where visitors are considered to be in a secure environment on BBC premises, the Facilities Manager may request that access be restricted for bodyguards if space or access is limited.
Further advice on visiting VIP protection and police liaison can be obtained from the BBC Head of Corporate Security.
 
There is a generic checklist that can be used as a guide for security issues that need to be considered for such visits. For individual visits it may not be necessary to convene security planning meetings and produce a security plan, however, the individual considerations listed can be referred to on a stand-alone basis or as part of the security plan for large-scale visits.
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