Safety, Health & WellbeingSecurity

Instructions for all staff, students and visitors

Run, hide, tell

In the rare event of a firearms or weapons attack:

  • Run to a place of safety. This is a better option than to surrender or negotiate. If there's nowhere to go then...
  • Hide Remember to turn your phone to silent and turn off vibrate
  • Tell the police by calling 999 when it is safe to do so

In the event of a firearms or weapons attack on campus, off campus, at home or abroad, follow the UK Government's "Stay Safe" principles.

Run

Run - to a place of safety. This is a far better option to surrender or attempt to negotiate:

  • Consider the safest options
  • Escape if you can
  • Is there a safe route?
  • Can you get there without exposing yourself to greater danger?
  • Insist others leave with you
  • Leave belongings behind

If you have nowhere to go, then:

Hide

Hide - It is better to hide than confront an attacker:

  • Find cover from gunfire
  • If you can see the attacker, they may be able to see you
  • Covering from view does not mean you are safe; bullets can go through glass, brick, wood and metal
  • Find cover from gunfire e.g. substantial brickwork/heavy reinforced walls
  • Be aware of your exits
  • Try not to get trapped
  • Be quiet. Silence your phone and turn off vibrate
  • Lock/barricade yourself in
  • Move away from the door

Then finally, and only when it is safe to do so:

Tell

  • Call (9)999
  • Consider what the police need to know (if you cannot speak or make a noise, listen to the instructions given to you by the call handler):
    • Location - Where are the suspects?
    • Direction - Where did you last see the suspects?
    • Descriptions - Describe the attacker, numbers, features, clothing, weapons
    • Other information - Casualties, types of injuries, building information, entrances, exits, hostages
    • Stop other people entering the building, only if it is safe to do so

Armed Police response

  • Follow any officer's instructions
  • Remain calm
  • Avoid sudden movements that may be considered a threat
  • Keep your hands in view at all times

Officers may:

  • Point guns at you
  • Treat you firmly
  • Question you
  • Be unable to distinguish you from the attacker
  • Officers will evacuate you, only when it is safe to do so

Good to know

  • The University has procedures in place for dealing with such incidents and liaising with emergency services
  • Given the rapidly evolving nature of such situations, you must adopt the Run, Hide, Tell principles as soon as you suspect an incident is happening
  • Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) should be in place for people who require assistance during an evacuation

Plan & prepare now

  • What are your plans if there is an incident?
  • Consider First Aid only when it is safe to do so; CitizenAid is one example of a source of information of a simple, clear teaching aid for immediate actions and first aid for a stabbing, bomb or firearms incident

In exceptional circumstances (for example, utility failure or terrorist attack) and in the event of an evacuation of Glasgow city centre, the Police may require the evacuation of part or all of the University John Anderson campus, and will contact the University, advising of the need to evacuate.

In the event of such an evacuation:

  • You will be informed via your department/host department, email or social media
  • Follow all instructions provided on what action to take

Additional points

  • Transport systems may be affected by the city centre evacuation, therefore you should be prepared for disruptions to arrangements for travelling home
  • In the event that you are in the city centre, and become involved in an evacuation not related to the University, ensure that you follow all instructions given to you by the Police or Glasgow City Council

Good to know

  • The University has procedures in place for dealing with such incidents and liaising with emergency services

Bomb threats may be received in a phone call, via email or through social media applications. No matter how ridiculous or implausible the threat may seem, all such communications are a crime and should be reported to the police by dialling (9)999.

Upon Receiving a bomb threat

  • Stay calm and listen carefully
  • Have immediate access to a checklist of key information that should be recorded
  • If practical, keep the caller talking, and have a colleague dial (9)999
  • If displayed on your phone, note the number of the caller, otherwise dial 1471 to obtain the number once the call has ended
  • If the threat is a recorded message, write down as much information as possible
  • If the threat is received via text message, do not reply to, forward or delete the message. Note the number of the sender and follow police advice
  • Contact Security on (0141 548) 2222 as they will need to make an assessment of the risk

Additional points

If the threat is delivered face-to-face:

  • Try to remember as many distinguishing characteristics of the threat-maker as possible

If discovered in a written note, letter or as graffiti:

  • Treat it as police evidence, and prevent others from touching the item

If the threat is received via email or social media:

  • Do not reply to, forward or delete the message
  • Note the sender's email address or username/user ID for social media
  • Preserve all web log files for your organisation to help the police investigation (as a guide, seven days prior to the threat being received and for 48 hours after)

Good to know

  • The University has procedures in place for dealing with such incidents and liaising with the emergency services

When dealing with suspicious items:

  • Do not touch or interfere with the item
  • If possible, attempt to identify the owner in the immediate area
  • If you still think it's suspicious, do not feel embarrassed or think somebody else will report it
  • Report it to a member of staff, Security on (0141 548) 2222 or if they are not available, dial (9)999; Do not use your mobile phone in the immediate vicinity
  • Move away to a safe distance - Even for a small item, such as a briefcase, move at least 100m away from the item

Remember: If you think it is suspicious, say something.

Good to know

The University has procedures in place for dealing with such incidents and liaising with emergency services.