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Management of Security
Serious Incidents

Security threats to the BBC can and do manifest as a serious incident resulting in fatality, injury, programme and service loss, damage to property, reputation issues, and financial loss.  They are brought about by demonstrations, direct action campaigns, terrorist action (often coordinated by increasingly sophisticated use of internet and mobile technology), local area crime, malicious attack on our IT systems and businesses, and the many threats associated with programme operations in High Risk territories abroad.
 
It is essential for effective mitigation that information is shared between the various internal security services, Corporate Security, High Risk Team, Investigation Service, Information Security, Business Continuity Disaster Recovery Team (BCDRT), the Division security managers, Facilities Managers and security officers.  This information informs the Security Risk Assessments and consequent security response level, and it builds defences, whether in planning, procedures, personal protective equipment, IT and broadcast systems and back-ups, etc.
 
A security threat or incident may also activate business continuity plans (BCDRT), the BBC People Major Incident plan and the other Divisions plans that are linked to the BCDRT.
 

Definition of Serious Incident

A serious incident is one resulting in fatality, injury, or programme loss, significant impact on others in the broadcast chain, location, building, etc., and which will also incite interest from press and other media, and/or will adversely reflect on the BBC reputation with its audience, and opinion formers, including UK and foreign governments. All incidents should be reported using myRisks tools.
 
Not included here, but possibly a result of a security incident is;
  • injury or ill health, potential for harm to people, damage to property or equipment, and circumstances and near misses that have the potential to cause harm to people and the business;
  • fire, accident, health incident, building infrastructure damage, IT service failure.

Security Incident Monitoring
Head of Corporate Security monitors and coordinates the response to security threats to the BBC, and liaises with other security services inside and outside the BBC.
 
Serious incidents must be reported to him as soon as practicable whether by programme staff directly or through their Divisional security manager, or by Facilities Managers if building related. 
 
 
Business Continuity Disaster Recovery Team (BCDRT).
In the event of a major security threat or incident involving any of the BBC's staff, activities, services, operations or assets, or major disruption to the broadcast and production activity of the BBC, it will be necessary to activate the business continuity plans managed by the BCDRT. 
  
Such incidents might involve the following, but not exclusive list:
 
  • significant disruption to broadcasting - caused by building or security failure or threat;
  • other major building disruption resulting from a criminal, malicious or hostile act (such as explosion, fire, flood, major power failure or suspect packages) with ongoing disruption to occupants;
  • a major accident or fatality resulting from a criminal, malicious or hostile act on or in the vicinity of BBC premises;
  • demonstrations against the BBC or near BBC premises which involve aggression or violence;
  • incidents involving individuals, UK or overseas, identified in the BBC's  International & Indigenous Terrorism Threat Assessment;
  • a major incident (such as violence, blackmail, theft, stalking or threats) involving senior staff, a key contributor or a member of their family; or receipt of a credible bomb threat to BBC premises.
 
The Director General will appoint an Incident Commander if the BBC Security Response goes to EXCEPTIONAL, or in special circumstances he may set up a group to co-ordinate the BBC's response. Such circumstances may include national crisis, or the receipt of serious, specific and credible threats against the BBC's staff, activities, services, operations or assets.
 
Incidents resulting in the death or serious injury of BBC staff must be reported to the BBC People 24hr duty officer to activate the HR Incident Officer role (HRIO) for co-ordinating all the BBC People services (159, next of kin, etc).
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