Terrorist activities involving the use of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) materials constitutes currently a new threat that the European public must consider. That type of terrorism acts may open the door for the possibility of destabilization of the European Union and lead to undermining economic stability, public security and integrity in the EU community.The project CBRN-POL aims at rising public security and in particular resilience to crisis involving chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) component, in particular if intentionally caused e.g. by terrorists, when role of police forces is expected to be substantially larger than in case of industrial or traffic accidents. According to information from Polish National Police Headquarters seconded by Polish “Inter-ministerial Task Force for improve arrangements of cooperation and management actions at the scene of a terrorist attack with CBRN agent” Polish Police does not have CBRN training programme for patrol units officers. Thus the Project proposition is also supported by Polish Government (Letter of support signed by Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration is includes as an Appendix A).The goal is achieved through training the regular police officers in the elements of CBRN response necessary to carry their duties in particular at the initial stage of crisis in the absence of other responders, when safe perimeter hasn’t been established yet and perpetrators are possibly in the vicinity. The officers need both knowledge and confidence required in physically managing such crisis situations without exposing themselves unjustifiably to CBRN threats. The extended interpretation of the Directive 2013/59/EURATOM requires police forces to be provided a features training. That goal is to be achieved through teaching the regular police forces the rules of behaviour and particular skills necessary in crisis situations involving Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear materials. The goal of the project is to be achieved through creating educational programme tailored for patrol police forces extending their capacity and confidence against intentional CBRN releases. We intend to create a multidisciplinary team of experienced specialists representing various disciplines, ready to share their experience and transmit professional knowledge concerning the CBRN risks. The institutions having material expertise in CBRN matters including Belgian Centre of Nuclear Research, University of Lodz and Industrial Chemistry Research Institute join forces with Polish National Police Headquarters forming a task solving consortium. In addition to those institutions a partner from Cyprus specialising in teaching methodology will complete the necessary competencies. CBRN-POL activities include conducting training needs analysis for collection detailed information about gaps in knowledge and skills of police officers required for conducting duties related to CBRN incidents. Based on the training needs analysis report we try fill gaps in police CBRN knowledge and skills via creation outputs of the project include the learning curriculum, handbooks and instructing brochures, supplemented with audio-visual materials. The project consists also of multi-directional knowledge transfer performed through the study visits at each of the participants. The project besides creating learning curriculum includes train-the trainers programme for the police officers seconded by the participating institutions. The purpose of training is to educate a group of future trainers and verify completeness of the programme. The consortium partners will be involved in printing, promoting and exploiting the CBRN-POL course and materials. Several dissemination channels including website, leaflets, multiplier events, conference, scientific publication are planned in order to increase impact of the project's products and assure sustainability of its results.We believe that this project will increase capacity of mitigation of CBRN risks as well as the consequences of its misuse in the territory of the European Union.
CBRN-POL project answered the increasing threat of terrorist activities involving the use of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) materials in Europe. Such type of terrorism acts may open the door for the possibility of destabilization of the European Union and lead to undermining economic stability, public security and integrity in the EU community. CBRN-POL project was coordinated by University Lodz (Poland) and involved following partners: General Police Headquarters (Poland), Local Antwerp Police (Belgium), Cyprus Police (Cyprus), Belgian Nuclear Research Centre – SCK-CEN (Belgium), Industrial Chemistry Research Institute (Poland) and Center for the Advancement of Research & Development in Educational Technology – CARDET (Cyprus). Project activities primary focused on:(a) analysis of training needs of police officers (IO1)Analysis and elaborated report cover representatives of target group form Polish, Belgian and Cypriot police. The report includes information about gaps in procedures, training, knowledge and skills of police officers required for conducting duties related to CBRN incidents. It defines the range of CBRN knowledge and skills needed for police patrol units to allow them to carry on their duties at acceptable risk level despite of hazardous external conditions. (b) elaboration of educational materialsWithin the project following educational materials have been developed:- Good practice and partners capabilities report (IO2). The report include good practices applied by each partner and recommendation on how the system of training and reaction to CBRN threats in Poland and the world should be designed.- CBRN course curriculum (IO3). The course curriculum, covers all areas of CBRN knowledge useful and needed by police officers. The curriculum is constructed in an innovative and practical way. It is divided into 4 parts: (1) Knowledge part, (2) Reporting part, (3) Action on the scene part and (4) Practical part. Each part consists of teaching modules and each module is further explained in details through subject sheets. - Trainers Handbook (IO4). The trainers’ handbook is a tool designed for trainers who will be responsible for conducting the courses according to the CBRN course curriculum. The handbook covers not only relevant knowledge areas, but also, method in which the knowledge should be conveyed to policeman. Book also covers specialist scenarios of CBRN threats and possible countermeasure reactions.- Students Handbook (IO5). The handbook include educational material, exercises and tests covering all information necessary to improve knowledge and skills of police officers in CBRN field. The handbook also includes materials for individual CBRN threats, commanding procedures, securing of action as well as rescue procedures- Set of 3 instructing brochures (IO6). The brochures, which graphically enrich educational materials, contain operating procedures schemes for action in each type of CBRN threat.- 7 instructing videos (IO7). Instructing videos in easy and understandable way present most important aspects of: site recon, personal protective equipment, decontamination basis, example response to biological, chemical and radiological threat.- Guidelines for trainers selection (IO8). For the purpose of organization of train-the trainer event guidelines for the trainees selection have been elaborated, and used to select the trainees. (c) intensive internal trainings. Two series of intensive trainings have been organized. The first was dedicated to police trainers and higher rank officers. They have been provided with CBRN knowledge as well as with knowledge related to learning processes and teaching styles, so that they are prepared to run future CBRN courses themselves.The second intensive study courses were dedicated to first line police officers, and was executed by participants of first course. Two sets of intensive training allowed consortium not only to educate Police officers from Poland, Belgium and Cyprus but also to test elaborated materials and introduce required improvement First was dedicated to police trainers and higher rank officers and second to first line police officers. In total 51 police officers have been trained.CBRN-POL achieved planned goals. Project consortium analysed training needs of police officers, compared police response systems in Europe, elaborated tailor-made course curriculum and educational materials, conducted trainings for police officers and educated future training experts in CBRN area. What is also very important, the project allowed for intense cooperation of police officers form 3 European countries and has significant impact on the CBRN training of the police officers in PL, BE and CY but also other EU member states as being promoted through EC DG Home Advisory Group or developed further in EU large scale projects.