Following a major incident in the Square Mile the police may
consider it necessary to establish a cordon around the area
affected. This is to:
- Protect the public from what may be a dangerous area
- To facilitate any rescue operation
- To preserve a possible crime scene and to facilitate the
restoration of normality
Anyone within the cordoned area will initially be required to
leave and access through the cordons will be strictly
controlled.
As access to premises for security and business continuity
purposes would be a priority for all organisations affected, the
City Police and the City of London are committed to reducing the
size of any cordons as quickly as possible.
While the cordons are in force the City Police, in conjunction
with the City of London, may determine that escorted visitors can
be allowed access to a specific area within the cordon.
If this is the case depending on the nature of the incident a
Business Information Centre based at the Guildhall may be
established to issue Cordon entry passes (CEP). Where the
Guildhall is not available an alternative venue will be used and
details posted on the City of London's website.
In order to facilitate the issue of passes, organisations can
pre-register their nominated staff on the Contingency Planning
unit’s cordon access database.
(For more details on the database and how to register please
click here.)
This simplifies the process of obtaining a CEP at the Business
Information Centre should an incident occur. However,
registration on the database is not mandatory and passes will be
issued on the day to individuals who are not registered.
All those arriving at the Guildhall who have pre-registered on
the database and are therefore in possession of a Red Incident
Registration Database Card will be allowed direct access to the
Great Hall where they can utilise the facilities available (public
phones, notice boards, internet access, televisions and
refreshments) and await release of cordoned area.
Once an area of the cordon has been released CEP will be
issued.
All those individuals arriving at the Guildhall to obtain a CEP
who are not on the cordon access database and
therefore not in possession of a Red Incident Database Registration
Card, must first obtain a Blue
Incident Registration Card. In order to do this applicants
must provide some identification (for forms of identification click
here). Only once individuals are provided with a Blue
Incident Registration Card will they then be allowed into the Great
Hall and onto the process of obtaining a CEP.
To obtain a CEP applicants must hold one form of identification
(
for forms of identification click here) as well as their
Incident Database Registration Card.
Those in possession of a CEP obtained at the Business
Information Centre can gain access through the cordon at a
nominated entry point. Entry through the cordon will only be
allowed for those wearing appropriate safety clothing.