Bi-Steel barriers prove their effectiveness at Government media event

22 Apr 2009

The demonstration took place on 20 April at the Transport Research Laboratories (TRL) site in Berkshire – one of TRL’s services is the testing of vehicle barriers of this type to ensure they meet accepted standards of protection. 

Organised by the Home Office, the event was designed to update the news media on the Government’s ongoing strategy to combat the terrorist threat with the emphasis on this occasion on protecting crowded places - shopping centres, sports arenas, major transport hubs, leisure facilities, etc.-from terrorist attack. Updated guidelines on how to best protect these sites is being given this week under its CONTEST strategy.  In this new guidance sites that might be at risk are to be given detailed advice on how to protect themselves from attack by a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED).

At the media event the BBC and The Sun were given a dramatic demonstration of how a specially developed anti-attack vehicle barrier, in this case a Bi-Steel steel/concrete one, can provide a high level of protection from an attack by a terrorist-driven car or truck bomb.  These types of protective barriers and walls have been developed by Government security staff, including MI5, working with Corus Bi-Steel, and others, over the years to come up with a range of products that would be suitable for these highly demanding applications.

The demonstration consisted of a 7 tonne truck being driven at speed towards the Bi-Steel barrier.  The result was a completed wrecked vehicle and a Bi-Steel wall with only a dent and a few scratches. The test dramatically showed how walls like this - the ‘MI5 Wonderwall’ as The Sun characterised it - can provide highly effective protection from this new form of terrorist threat.

Bi-Steel is currently in use protecting several security-sensitive sites in London including around the Houses of Parliament and Government buildings in Whitehall, and New Scotland Yard. 

For more information on Bi-Steel vehicle security barriers, bollards and walls call 01344 751670.