1. Project Argus – Safety & Security Sentinel Release
‘Project Argus’ a workshop facilitated by the UK Police’s Counter Terrorist Security Advisors
(CTSAs), under The National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) umbrella, which
advises businesses on how to recover from a terrorist incident or criminal attack by
developing Business Continuity Plans, was held on Monday 23rd
August 2010 at the
Leicester Marriott Hotel.
These workshops are aimed at key decision makers who own or manage businesses such
as hotels, shopping centres, visitor attractions, educational and health service providers and
licensed premises.
Previously such a ‘Project Argus’ workshop had been hosted at the Huntingdon Marriott
hotel for the combined training and table-top scenario exercise for the Ex-Com and
management teams of both Huntingdon Marriott and Peterborough Marriott hotels, which
was run by Cambridgeshire Police CTSAs.
This proved to be a highly valuable training resource as it educated managers on current
terrorist trends and the type of tactics used by AQ related groups and how to mitigate against
such potential dangers. It also proved very valuable in that two hotel management teams
could train together in such an environment as they would more than likely be the mutual
supporting base for the other depending upon the type of crisis/disaster that may have
impacted the other.
As this had worked so well previously in the Midlands Cluster, Aram Dhaliwal (Cluster Safety
& Loss Prevention Manager – Midlands Region) worked with the Leicestershire
Constabulary CTSAs to arrange for a combined ‘Project Argus’ workshop to be hosted at
Leicester Marriott hotel.
This particular ‘Project Argus’ event, which was specifically designed for the hospitality
sector was opened by Leicestershire Constabulary’s Deputy Chief Constable, Gordon
Fraser, and attended by regional managers and Head of Departments from the Leicester
Marriott Hotel, Marriott Breadsall Priory Hotel Golf and Country Club and the Northampton
Marriott Hotel, a total of 40 senior managers and associates.
L to R - Aram Dhaliwal (CSLPM – Midlands Region);
Jonathan Kay (GM Leicester Marriott); Deputy Chief
Constable Gordon Fraser; Nic Dumbell (GM
Breadsall Priory Hotel); Naleem Ariff (Dir of Ops
Northampton Marriott) and Mondy Holliday
(Business Continuity Manager at Leicestershire
County Council)

2. The workshop commenced with an impactive audio-visual simulation of a major disruption
scenario which wreaks havoc on a business. Participants then worked in groups to look at
how to strengthen security measures to safeguard staff, customers and company assets and
ensure business continuity following such a terrorist attack.
In the second half of the workshop there was a section about Hostile Reconnaissance by the
CTSAs jointly facilitated by Cluster Safety & Loss Prevention Manager - Aram Dhaliwal,
tying together the Loss Prevention “See Something – Say Something” posters and the newly
launched on-line Predicative Profile Indicators training.
Feedback at the end of the day on the workshop from all was very positive - participants
aswell as the CTSAs. All managers and associates commented about the knowledge that
they had gained and the benefit gained from working in groups on scenarios with colleagues
from sister hotels as individual mini-crisis teams.
Nic Dumbell – General Manager at Marriott Breadsall Priory Hotel Golf and Country Club
commented “…..I felt the training was extremely informative, relevant and professionally
presented. It definitely exceeded my expectations.”
The CTSAs were very impressed with the enthusiasm, participation and knowledge of the
Marriott managers, especially with the examples provided by some of the managers of
situations that they had previously dealt with at their hotels and those that had accounts of
colleagues, friends and relatives that had been caught up in the Mumbai attacks in 2008.
L to R – David Randall (CTSA); Tony Day (Principal
CTSA); Deputy Chief Constable Gordon Fraser;
Aram Dhaliwal (CSLPM – Midlands Region)
Managers from the three hotels
receiving instruction on the table-top
scenario exercise

3. Principal Counter Terrorism Security Adviser at Leicestershire Constabulary, Mr Tony Day
said: “We are pleased to facilitate Project Argus for the Marriott Hotels in our region. This
particular workshop is specifically designed for the hotel and hospitality sector with specialist
input from Leicestershire County Council on business continuity as an integral part of this
event.”
“We also run similar workshops which are tailored for the retail sector, bars and clubs, the
health service, educational organisations and architects and planners.”
“Project Argus helps businesses to combat a wide range of threats by enabling staff to be
vigilant by recognising and reporting suspicious activity and having a business that is more
hostile to terrorism or any other form of criminal activity.”
Mondy Holliday, Business Continuity Manager at Leicestershire County Council, said:
“Leicestershire County Council works closely with all its partners to promote and raise the
profile of business continuity across all industry sectors in the County. In particular, our work
with the Constabulary around Project Argus for Hotels highlights the importance of resilience
planning support which is freely available to the hospitality industry from their local County
Councils.”
Aram Dhaliwal Cluster Safety & Loss Prevention Manager – Midlands Region advised “I
have been through many ‘Project Argus’ workshops now at different hotels and with
counterparts from other hotel groups and you always learn something new as terrorist trends
develop and CT strategies are enhanced to counter those trends.
That is why I believe that all Marriott hotels should endeavour to get their managers and
associates through ‘Project Argus’ workshops, as it is a great training tool that ties together
the UK Police counter-terrorist strategy and our own pro-active CT training along with LPO
training and crisis management training.”
When requested for a quote for the press release by Leicestershire Constabulary Alan Orlob,
Vice President, Global Safety and Security for Marriott Lodging, International, said: “We must
continually adapt our security measures to the rapidly evolving threat environment.
Associate awareness and surveillance detection are essential tools in the disruption of
potential terrorist activity. We are pleased that Project Argus addresses these critical needs
and helps us maintain a high security profile for all of our hotels.”