Terrorist strike in 2010? Westminster City Hall danger poster for Business Continuity Awareness Week, sparks anger

Published: 9 April 2010
by TOM FOOT

FROM suicide bombers to rampant global viruses, recent threats to the fabric of Westminster society have taken many sinister and fearful forms.

Now City Hall officials are warning residents of the dangers that lie ahead.

“Industrial strike action”, according to a prominent public poster displayed in the reception of the council’s headquarters, is ranked alongside terrorism and pandemic flu in a list of “unplanned events” to watch out for in 2010.

Union chiefs – who are fighting to stop 300 “planned” redundancies – have ridiculed the display. But it has also upset some staff who have lost family members in terrorist attacks.

A Unison spokesman said: “If Westminster Council really believes that the threat of industrial action is as dangerous as the threat of terrorism then they are greatly under-estimating the risks to staff. Our assistant branch secretary, Gina O’Conner, has lost several family members killed by terrorists and was deeply offended.”

A Westminster Council spokesman said: “This display was part of Business Continuity Awareness Week, which aims to raise awareness among staff about the importance of planning ahead for either known or unplanned events that could disrupt the day-to-day working of the council. The display is not ranked in any order and simply gives examples of events that could occur. Advising staff about the importance of developing comprehen­sive business continuity plans is critical so they can continue providing services to residents and businesses if circumstances which may disrupt their work arise. The display is not ranked in any order and simply gives examples of events that could occur.”