The success of Project Griffin relies on building relationships and sharing information. This engages and empowers participants, enabling them to become a highly effective part of the extended police family.

There are two key initiation and procedural programmes for Project Griffin:

Awareness Days

These seminars focus on introducing the concept, how it works and how to participate. They are also important on a personal level. Many participants may not have spoken to a police officer informally before, so they offer an excellent opportunity to open channels and build networks.

Each participating city or regional police force organises and determines the content of its own Awareness Day. But the focus is always on countering terrorism and crime, covering topics such as:

• Special Branch update on current threat
• Vehicle/Person Borne Improvised Devices
• Crime Scene Management
• Hostile Reconnaissance
• Current crime trends and methods of operation
• Consequence Management

Good practice is a core discipline of Project Griffin, with specialists sharing their particular expertise on these and other topics. Video, photographs and visual aids help reinforce key messages, as well as engage, motivate and maintain the interest of participants.

Online refresher module

To ensure that Project Griffin participants remain fully briefed and effective, it is obviously vital that they are kept up to date on key messages and procedures. Twelve months after attending an Awareness Day, participants are eligible to update themselves by accessing the online refresher package.

This takes about an hour and is informative, interactive and easy to follow. It comprises a number of modules and presents various scenarios from which the participant has to select the correct course of action. Successful completion ensures formal recognition for each participant.

Bridge Calls and special briefings

Although not part of the formal familiarisation process, most Project Griffin police forces employ a system of Bridge Calls. These regular contacts can be via conference calls, SMS, pager, or email. They provide information updates and intelligence on terrorism/extremism and other crime-related issues. They are also used for specific local situations, such as measures to be employed in times of an emergency.