Council said the added controls will give the police stronger powers to ensure it can protect the public during large events
General image of Merseyside Police cars(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
Tougher security measures to combat the threat of terrorism are set to be adopted in one part of Merseyside. The added controls will give the police stronger powers over the road and pedestrian network, in the event of a serious incident, and will be used to keep event goers safe in the area.
There are a series of big scale events across Sefton in 2026, including the world famous Open Golf Championship which will return to Royal Birkdale this year, the Music Weekender festival in Bootle, and the return of Southport’s Air Show and Flower Show.
With special events in Sefton starting as soon as next month, the council said it’s passing a temporary Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order (AATRO) after receiving a request from the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police.
The AATRO gives event organisers and Merseyside Police powers to activate traffic and pedestrian safety measures when needed. They can close or restrict access on the highway near to events for cars and pedestrians, ensuring the safety and security of visitors, event organisers, and residents.
The Liverpool ECHO understands the ATTRO restrictions for a pre-planned event must remain in place for no longer than is necessary, and would be reviewed by the council and the police during the designated timeframe. ATTROs are regularly put in place across the country ahead of events to manage traffic and the safety of pedestrians, just in case they are needed.
According to government guidance, an ATTRO aims to help keep people safe from the threat of terrorism by enabling the police, working with local authorities, to put protective security measures in place “to reduce vulnerability to, or mitigate the potentialimpact of, attacks”.
The Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 Act amended the law governing ATTROs to “enhance their effectiveness and simplify their implementation”. A factsheet on the details why ATTROs have been updated and what purpose they serve was published by the Home Office.
A general image of a Merseyside Police officer(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The report states: “Radicalisation and terrorist activity is constantly evolving. This legislation is in response to the developing threat landscape, and it is right that we keep our counter-terrorism framework under review so that it can respond effectively to emerging trends in the terrorism threat.
“In recent years the UK, as well as a number of other countries, has experienced terror attacks in which vehicles are used as weapons. Hostile vehicle mitigation measures are now widely deployed to protect the public at a wider range of sites and events than when ATTRO provisions were first introduced 13 years ago, and the site and events management model has evolved too.”
An ATTRO enables the restriction of vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic, according to the government report, and this may be achieved in practice by the permanent or temporary installation of physical equipment such as bollards and vehicle security barriers, gates and fences to protect against, or to mitigate the potential impact of, a terrorist attack.
Ahead of the borough’s first notable event in March, the council is passing a temporary ATTRO while a permanent whole-borough-wide ATTRO is being considered.
Cllr Daren Veidman, cabinet member for housing and highways, said: “This year in Sefton there is a busy upcoming schedule of events, which kicks off next month in Southport.
“The Council and Merseyside Police have been working together to examine all aspects of safety.
“There is no specific terrorist threat in Sefton at the moment, but we know crowded places can unfortunately be a target. Putting an ATTRO in place is about being proactive and ensuring that we have all the right tools to ensure we can protect the public during large events.
“Event goers in Sefton can just enjoy themselves, knowing all our events have been planned with appropriate measures taken to keep them safe.”
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