Support workers to spot terrorists
Staff sources say that the sessions have included being told how to spot anything suspicious, and being asked to report anything – no matter how trivial – to police.
edinburghnews.scotsman.com | Feb 17, 2010
By MICHAEL BLACKLEY
CITY leaders have been accused of encouraging staff to snoop on residents after support workers and concierges were given training on spotting signs of terrorist activity in people's homes.
The city council has already sent around 60 staff on counter- terrorism sessions where they are asked to look out for anything that would suggest terrorist activity and report it to police.
Staff sources say that the sessions have included being told how to spot anything suspicious, and being asked to report anything – no matter how trivial – to police, such as quantities of empty bottles of bleach.
Support workers who visit a range of clients in their own home including vulnerable groups, people with addictions and elderly people, have been among the first to get the training.
Concierges, community safety teams and other front-line staff across the council are also to be sent on the sessions, which are hosted by police as part of the Home Office's counter-terrorism strategy.
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