Guidance

The National Vehicle Threat Mitigation Unit

Published 17 November 2020

This guidance was withdrawn on

For the latest, up to date versions of NaCTSO guidance, please visit www.protectuk.police.uk. This NaCTSO page is no longer updated.

The National Vehicle Threat Mitigation Unit (NVTMU) is a police unit within the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), that administers the National Barrier Asset (NBA).

The National Barrier Asset is a substantial collection of surface-mounted temporary hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) available for use by both the public and private sectors at relatively little cost.

The NVTMU has expertise in mitigating the risk from a vehicle attack (known as Vehicle as a Weapon or VAW attacks) and the deployment and use of the NBA.

Drop arm gates and portal in Edinburgh

Drop arm gates and portal in Edinburgh

The NVTMU can complete assessments, provides tactical advice and deliver practical solutions, through the provision of the NBA, when assessed as required by Police Forces, local and national authorities and commercial operations. They work with local Counter Terrorism Security Advisors (CTSAs) and Counter Terrorism Security Coordinators (CT SecCos) and offer advice on most events (including those which attract crowds) and provide the expertise to recommend a range of solutions to protect against a vehicle attack.

The NVTMU also is the NaCTSO link with government agencies and policy makers examining ways of mitigating vehicle attacks and protecting against those attacks, should they happen.

Swing arm gates in London

Swing arm gates in London

Outside of government, the unit engages with the Transport and Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) Industry to support on-going NaCTSO information and guidance to areas of business involved in land transportation and the provision of protective security measures.

The NVTMU can be contacted by email at NaCTSOMailbox-.NationalVehicleThreatMitigationUnit@met.police.uk.

Where there is a need for the NBA to be deployed spontaneously as a result of Intelligence or an incident, then the NVTMU can be contacted through your local Protect & Prepare lead or CTSA.

RDS fence

RDS fence