Vulnerability Self Assessment Tool (VSAT)

The National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and the national network of police Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSAs) are working on reducing the vulnerability of crowded places sites across the UK. Many of these crowded places consist of small to medium enterprises (SMEs), that may not have necessarily considered themselves as, or even "part of" a crowded place.

The Crowded Places Vulnerability Self Assessment Tool (VSAT), which has been developed by NaCTSO in partnership with leading businesses across the UK, will assist owners, operators or those responsible for the security of crowded places to determine their vulnerability to terrorist attack.

What Is VSAT?

The self assessment consists of 33 questions and should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete and will provide you with an understanding of what you need to put in place thereby reducing your vulnerability to a terrorist attack. The online assessment will also produce a report of recommendations. In order to protect your business interest and commercial sensitivities the report will only be available to the individual user. The overall assessment result will be displayed without showing numerical values but will assist you in prioritising where you may need to make improvements.

What VSAT will provide you with?

  • Sign posting to best practice
  • 12 months Business Continuity Management tool
  • Increased local engagement with security experts ( CTSA )
  • Training Opportunities
  • Written assessment report with recommendations covering, Physical Security, Personnel Security, Information Security, Good House Keeping and Risk Management

The Vulnerability Self Assessment Tool will provide a means for you to identify and reduce the vulnerability to your establishment and help protect our communities.

How do I Register?

You can register by contacting Cheshire CTSAs on ctsa@cheshire.pnn.police.uk you will need to provide them with an email address, contact name and telephone number. Your email details will then be sent to the VSAT site and you will then receive an email with instructions on how to log on.

In the case of larger or national chains, user accounts can be created by contacting NaCTSO on nactso@btconnect.com