SIA Door Terrorism Awareness (UK) 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'IED' stand for in a security context?
- Improvised Explosive Device (Correct answer)
- Immediate Emergency Deployment
- Incident Emergency Directive
- Internal Emergency Detection
Correct answer: Improvised Explosive Device
An IED (Improvised Explosive Device) is a homemade bomb; door supervisors should be aware of indicators of IEDs and know not to use radios near suspected devices as radio signals can trigger some detonators.
Question 2: Why should radios NOT be used near a suspected IED?
- Radio signals can trigger electrically initiated detonators (Correct answer)
- Radios attract attention to the device
- Radio communications may reveal the device location to attackers
- Radio signals alert other members of the public
Correct answer: Radio signals can trigger electrically initiated detonators
Some IEDs use radio-controlled detonators; using a radio or mobile phone near a suspected device could trigger detonation, making it critical to move away before communicating.
Question 3: What is the recommended minimum distance to maintain from a suspicious vehicle?
- At least 100 metres (Correct answer)
- 10 metres
- 50 metres
- 25 metres
Correct answer: At least 100 metres
Police guidance recommends at least 100 metres (or more for larger devices) as an initial safety cordon distance from a suspicious vehicle that may contain an explosive device.
Question 4: What is 'marauding terrorist attack' (MTA) and how should door supervisors respond?
- An attack where terrorists move through a location targeting victims; supervisors should run, hide, tell and not engage attackers (Correct answer)
- An attack using a vehicle as a weapon
- A cyber attack on venue communications
- A staged distraction followed by a robbery
Correct answer: An attack where terrorists move through a location targeting victims; supervisors should run, hide, tell and not engage attackers
In an MTA, attackers move through a venue or area targeting victims; the response is Run Hide Tell — escape if possible, shelter if not, and alert police immediately without confronting attackers.
Question 5: Which organisation should door supervisors contact if they have counter-terrorism concerns?
- Police via 999 (emergency) or the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789 321 (Correct answer)
- Their SIA regional officer
- The local council security team
- MI5 directly via their website
Correct answer: Police via 999 (emergency) or the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789 321
In an emergency, door supervisors should call 999; non-emergency counter-terrorism concerns can be reported confidentially to the Anti-Terrorist Hotline at 0800 789 321.
Question 6: What personal data protection consideration applies when door supervisors note suspicious persons?
- Records must be factual and proportionate; personal data must be handled in line with GDPR (Correct answer)
- Any note-taking is prohibited under GDPR
- Only police may record descriptions of individuals
- Photographs may be taken freely for security purposes
Correct answer: Records must be factual and proportionate; personal data must be handled in line with GDPR
GDPR requires that personal data, including notes about individuals, is recorded on a need-to-know basis, stored securely and handled proportionately; blanket surveillance without justification is not permitted.
SIA Door Terrorism Awareness (UK) 3
What does 'IED' stand for in a security context?