ProtectUK publication date
With the UK hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool on behalf of Ukraine in May 2023, the number of visitors to the area from around the UK, visitors arriving from different countries and celebrations around the country means crowded spaces and large crowds are a potential target for terrorist activity. 

Eurovision banner

Why are we running this campaign?

The public are likely to be out and about, attending Eurovision parties or visiting one of the nine Fan Zone areas, which are being set up, in the cities below.  As such it’s an opportunity to remind the public to look out for each other and report anything that doesn’t feel right to security, staff or a police officer at the venues they are attending.

 

Brighton: Jubilee Square
Birmingham:Centenary Square
Cardiff:The Depot
Leeds: Millennium Square
Manchester:Piccadilly Gardens
Newcastle:Time Square
Nottingham:Nottingham Castle
Sheffield:Devonshire Green
Tees Valley:Darlington Market Square

 

All of our campaigns are underpinned by insights and research shows that one of the most effective things you can do to deter hostile activity is to demonstrate that your staff and customers are encouraged to be, and are, vigilant, and that they know how to report suspicious activity.  

In addition, we also know that one in three people want to know more about what is being done to keep them safe by organisations and event organisers. 

What are the aims of this campaign?

Our campaign will aim to:

  • Encourage those celebrating the Eurovision to report anything they see that doesn’t feel right to a member of security staff or a police officer.

  • To increase the recognition of public awareness of ACT.

  • To increase the number of stakeholders and partners involved. 

  • To increase public confidence in reporting. 

  • Encourage businesses and local authorities to deploy security minded communications. 

 
Key insights from the polling tell us that people want to socialise safely. 

  • Over 90% believe Counter Terrorism Policing is necessary and vital to keeping the country safe; 

  • Over 60% believe that everyone can play a role in defeating terrorism; 

  • Over 70% felt like vigilance messaging in public spaces was relevant and suitable; 

  • 76% of people who saw messages encouraging them to be vigilant felt assured to follow their instincts and like they knew how to report if they saw something that didn’t feel right. 

 
We know that: 

  • the public understand that vigilance messaging is there to keep them safe; 

  • they don’t feel alarmed when they see messaging from Counter Terrorism Policing; 

  • they are reassured and informed on how to report suspicious activity. 

 
We have worked closely with the BBC and Merseyside Police, to ensure our campaign materials reflect the look and feel of the Eurovision imagery. 

Our messaging has been user-tested and encourages people to look out for anything that doesn’t feel right and gives clear advice on where and how to report. 

Promoting vigilance within your business

The threat to the UK from terrorism remains unchanged at ‘substantial’, which means that an attack is likely.  We know an attack can happen anytime, anywhere.

It’s important to stress that Counter Terrorism Policing officers and staff across the UK, alongside the security services and other partners, work night and day to bear down on the threat from terrorism – but we all have a role to play in looking out for each other.

So what can you do to better protect your businesses, customers and staff from the terrorist threat?

You can take simple actions to ensure your business is playing its part.  Your actions could help save lives.

  1. Staff and volunteers are crucial eyes and ears and can be the people customers or visitors report suspicious activity to.  Make sure they are briefed on what to do if someone reports ‘something doesn’t feel right’ to them and that they are encouraged to take action immediately.

  2. For those staff working at Fanzone areas or in venues showing the Eurovision, ensure staff and volunteers complete Action Counters Terrorism (ACT e-Learning). It is free and takes around an hour.

  3. Take a look around other areas of ProtectUK or download the ProtectUK App on Apple or Android.  ProtectUK is a counter terrorism security advice hub. You can read advice and guidance, carry out risk assessments and sign up for an account to get alerts and updates direct to your device.

 

What we want you to do

Download our toolkit and consider how you will use it to get the vigilance message across to your staff and customers.

Consider which of your communication channels you can use to support the campaign. This could be channels that help you communicate with your staff. Or it could be channels that you use to communicate with customers. Ideally, we’d like you to use both to communicate campaign messages on our behalf. 

Here are some ideas:

  • Use the digital assets and social media copy to create social media posts and post on your channels, using the hashtag #BeSafeBeSound. If you’d prefer, you can share Counter Terrorism Policing’s social media posts on your channels. You can connect to our social media channels below.

  • Use staff emails or newsletters to showcase the campaign and let your staff know that they have a vital role to play in helping to keep everyone safe.

 

We are encouraging everyone to:

Look out for each other.

If something doesn’t feel right, tell a member of staff, security or a police officer. In an emergency call 999

You can also report online, in confidence to the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) website.

Key messages

If you see something that doesn’t seem right, tell a member of security staff or a police officer. 

Your information could be the key to stopping terrorist activity. You won’t be wasting our time. Nothing should stop you from feeling able to report.

Let’s look out for each other. You can play your part by reporting anything that doesn’t feel right to a member of security staff or a police officer.

Remember you should always ring 999 in an emergency.  

Social media messages

General use:

1.Who’s ready for #Eurovision tonight? 🎵 
  
If you’re heading out and about, have a great time and stay safe. 
 
If you see something that doesn’t feel right, follow advice from @TerrorismPolice and report it online via gov.uk/ACT. In an emergency call 999. 
 
#BeSafeBeSound #ActionCountersTerrorism
2.

It’s #Eurovision time! 🎵 

Have a great time, but please help us to keep everyone safe.  

If you see or hear anything that doesn’t feel right, report it at gov.uk/ACT 

#BeSafeBeSound #ActionCountersTerrorism 

3.If you’re heading out to watch #Eurovision, have a great time! 🎵 
 
Look after each other and if you see something that doesn’t feel right follow advice from @TerrorismPolice and report it online at gov.uk/ACT 
 
#BeSafeBeSound #ActionCountersTerrorism 

 

To be used by stakeholders in fan zone areas:

1.If you’re heading out to the Fan Zone to watch #Eurovision, have a great time! 🎵 
 
If you see something that doesn’t feel right, follow advice from @TerrorismPoliceand report it to the nearest steward or police officer. 
 
#BeSafeBeSound #ActionCountersTerrorism 
2.Heading out to the Fan Zone to watch #Eurovision? 🎵 
 
Have a great time! If you see something that doesn’t feel right, follow advice from @TerrorismPolice and report it to the nearest steward or police officer. 
 
#BeSafeBeSound #ActionCountersTerrorism 

Social media channels

Twitter@terrorismpolice
Facebook@CounterTerrorismPoliceUK        
                                                     
Instagram @TerrorismPolice
LinkedIn@CounterTerrorismPolicing
Websitewww.gov.uk/ACT
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Website: https://www.protectuk.police.uk/guidance
Guidance on increasing the protection of crowded places from a terrorist attack.

What’s in the toolkit?

These assets can be used across the social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

Assets 

Description

View & Download

Thumbnail 1

Crowd Vigilance Image

Report online call to action

Square

Wide

Portrait

Thumbnail 2

Speaker Vigilance Image

Report online call to action

Square

Wide

Portrait

Thumbnail 3

10 second Crowd Vigilance Video

Report online call to action

Square

Wide

Portrait

Thumbnail 4

10 second Speaker Vigilance Video

Report online call to action

Square

Wide

Portrait

 

Assets in Welsh

 
Thumbnail 1

Crowd Vigilance Image

Report online call to action

Square

Wide

Portrait

Thumbnail 2

Speaker Vigilance Image

Report online call to action

Square

Wide

Portrait

Thumbnail 3

10 second Crowd Vigilance Video

Report online call to action

Square

Wide

Portrait

Thumbnail 4

10 second Speaker Vigilance Video

Report online call to action

Square

Wide

Portrait

 

 

Keywords
EuroVision
Music
Concert
Event safety
Liverpool
Suspicious Behaviour