Government injects £5 million to increase Project Servator deployments

The new funding will increase deployments under Project Servator, the national policing tactic which disrupts criminal activity and protects communities through highly visible and unpredictable deployments.

The specialist officers are trained to spot suspicious activity and identify individuals who are preparing to commit serious crimes, including acts of terrorism.

Initially, funding will be focused on supporting communities in London and Manchester, with the Metropolitan Police Service and Greater Manchester Police expected to step up patrols to stop potential terrorist threats and reconnaissance.

The news comes during a period of increased concern for some communities across the country as episodes of both antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate crime have reached record highs.

Stepping up support 

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: “At a time of heightened concern for some communities, it’s vital that we step up our support. Project Servator has a proven track record of stopping criminals and terrorists through highly visible and unpredictable policing deployments that vary in time and location, deterring those planning harm and reassuring the public.”

Jarvis added: “This new funding will back the police with the resources they need to step up patrols, protect communities and keep people safe in the places where they live, work and worship.”

The uplift in Servator deployments follows the arson attack on the Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green, the charging of individuals under the National Security Act for alleged surveillance of Jewish sites, the terrorist attack at Heaton Park synagogue and the arson attack at Peacehaven mosque last year.

Disrupting crime

Project Servator officers disrupt crime through highly visible and unpredictable deployments consisting of uniformed and plain clothes officers, as well as specialist units. Previous deployments have led to arrests, seizures of drugs and weapons and the collection of critical intelligence to support counter-terrorism investigations.

Officers also engage with members of the public and businesses to further heighten awareness, encouraging everyone to remain alert and act swiftly on anything they see or hear that’s unusual.

Heart of policing 

Matt Jukes Deputy Commissioner at the Metropolitan Police Service, commented: “Our communities are the heart of policing. Everything we do is focused on keeping people safe and feeling protected where they live, work and worship. Servator deployments are an important way in which we deliver on that goal by placing specialist officers at key locations to deter criminal activity and provide visible reassurance.”

Jukes added: “In recent months, we’ve increased our presence around faith and community sites, strengthened the way in which we support victims and investigate hate crime and continued to build strong relationships with faith leaders and local representatives alike. We welcome this new funding, which will help us go further in working alongside communities and safeguarding what matters most to them.”

The new funding forms part of a package of measures to protect communities across the country, including a record £73.4 million in funding for protective security at Jewish, Muslim and other faith sites.

It also follows a fundamental reset in terms of the approach to countering extremism so that the Government can keep the public safe, with new measures introduced to expand the Visa Task Force to stop foreign extremists from ever setting foot on UK soil and bolster the disruption capability to dismantle extremist networks nationwide and keep the public safe.

Vital role

Greater Manchester Police Inspector Chris Hadfield, tactical lead for Project Servator, explained: “Project Servator plays a vital role in our approach to public safety by providing a combination of police visibility, community engagement and partnership working to protect people.”

He continued: “This additional funding strengthens our commitment to Project Servator and will afford us the opportunity to expand the work we do in disrupting criminal activity. Our specially trained officers spot the tell-tale signs that someone is planning to commit an act of crime, while maintaining a strong and reassuring presence within the local communities.”

Further, Hadfield noted: “Since launching in 2016, Project Servator has continued to work in busy areas across the city, as well as maintaining safety at wider public events that visit Manchester, such as the BRIT Awards earlier this year. Our patrols are highly visible, but deployments are unpredictable and can happen at any time in any given location. The teams also regularly conduct deployments in and around local faith communities, supporting with cultural events and holy days.”

Hadfield concluded: “It’s our aim that the new funding will continue to support this mission and ensure the public always know the best places to report any suspicious or unusual activity.”

Project Servator was devised by the City of London Police.