Temporary and Deployable Hostile Vehicle Mitigation

Preparations for any public event must in today’s climate consider how crowds are protected against ‘vehicle as a weapon’ (V.A.W.) attacks, as well as ‘vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices’ (VBIEDs).

This gives organisers a huge dilemma; regardless of how much they spend there is currently a significant risk that any temporary or ‘deployable’ H.V.M. (Hostile Vehicle Mitigation) measures they buy-in will fail to properly fulfil their public safety obligations. This isn’t due to any lack of availability of excellent deployable HVM products. In fact, the design and testing regime has never been so well developed and rigorous, and never before has there been so much good data relating to the performance of deployable HVM products. The problem lies in how inexperience can lead to selective use of this data to configure and install HVM products. Unlike product testing regimes there is currently little independent monitoring of this process. We see configurations of deployable and modular HVM solutions being used that bear no resemblance to the original test configuration. Although this is inadvertently sometimes requested it is important to note that this is not always recognised or highlighted by inexperienced installers. Inexperience and the lack of independent monitoring of installations and installation expertise can mean that should there be an incident the HVM measure could fail to work effectively, or in some instances actually increase any damage to life and limb.

Crowdguard believes that the success of the solutions encompasses the product and its deployment, whereby the quality of installation is essential in the integrity of HVM. Deployment needs to be efficient, precise and without disruption. Crowdguard is owned and managed by the same shareholders as its deployment partner Ainscough Industrial Services (AIS) with over 40 years experience in equipment moving and technical installation. AIS supports Crowdguard by sharing their comprehensive equipment handling and mechanical installation knowledge and skills. This partnership ensures no compromise in the HVM product and its application, ensuring excellence and professional service is delivered. The partnership between Crowdguard and Ainscough Industrial Services aim to set new standards for HVM installation to match those already in place for the HVM product. The threat to public safety and freedom is too important for any HVM installation to be an after- thought or a relegated secondary task.

With our national network and transport we ensure that we can deploy HVM efficiently through our highly skilled workforce anywhere in the UK. Our combined capability enables road closures, pedestrianisation schemes, stadiums, venues, short and long term events and any other crowded place to be secured effectively.

Crowdguard are a specialist HVM provider and installer, dedicated to increasing public safety and freedom, for crowds and public events and launched specifically to bring the professional skills of an industrial engineering industry to the HVM industry.

Deborah Ainscough

Founder and Director - Crowdguard