LONDON: Van owners in Britain will be told to carry out routine checks on people hiring their trucks to prevent vehicle-based terror attacks.
The guidance, brought in by the British Standards Institution, will expect owners to check references and employment history for evidence of criminal links.
Vehicles will also be expected to be checked regularly to spot any signs of tampering in a way that could be evidence of preparation for criminal or terrorist acts.
European cities endured multiple incidents of terrorists using vehicles to run over innocent bystanders, such as the Westminster Bridge and London Bridge attacks in March and June 2017, respectively.
Van rental checks introduced to prevent terrorist attacks
New standards aim to prevent repeat of Westminster and London Bridge attacks Published 10 May 2021 Share Article
NEW GUIDANCE designed to prevent terrorist attacks using vans and other commercial vehicles has been brought in from today.
The new standards, introduced by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and sponsored by the Department for Transport (DfT), includes a requirement to carry out background checks on those hiring commercial vehicles.
The BSI and DfT hope that this will prevent their use in terrorist attacks, such as those at London Bridge and Westminster in 2017, as well as other crimes including people smuggling. The DfT noted the death of 39 Vietnamese nationals in 2019, whose bodies were found in a lorry in Essex.
Maritime UK celebrates one year of Diversity in Maritime
Maritime UK, the umbrella body for the maritime sector, is shining a spotlight on the Diversity in Maritime Programme, one year on from its launch.
Diversity in Maritime aims to promote a fair, equal, and inclusive UK maritime sector that embraces diversity and creates a supportive and open environment for all to be able to achieve their potential. The programme works closely with the Maritime Skills Commission to ensure the sector has a continuous pipeline of highly skilled people from diverse backgrounds and experiences to support the vision for the sector as set out in Maritime 2050.
Goverment confirms cheaper coronavirus tests for travel could be on the way
The government is working to drive down the cost of the swabs
Updated
Passengers queue for a Covid-19 test. (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)
The government is currently working to drive down the cost of coronavirus tests for holidaymakers ahead of international travel resuming. People are expected to be able to travel overseas for a holiday from May 17 under the roadmap and the government confirmed this date was looking good after the data looked positive. Answering questions from MPs on Thursday Mr Shapps said: I know that the House is interested on the update with regard to travel returning internationally over the coming months and I wanted to provide a very quick update to say that although PCR tests may be required from a medical, scientific point of view, we have been working with private laboratories, pharmacies, supermarkets and other companies to encourage them to deliver on their
Greece holidays: Is TUI taking bookings for Greece? Is Greece on the red list? Georgina Laud
Replay Video UP NEXT
Summer holidays are something to look forward to each year, however, Britons have faced months of upheaval and coronavirus restrictions. Now a Government task force is examining how Britons can travel abroad come May, with countries categorised depending on coronavirus data.
International travel is permitted from May 17 under Boris Johnson s lockdown roadmap, meaning holidays are back on the cards.
The Global Travel Taskforce are in the process of deciding which countries will be free to travel to, which will face quarantine upon return to the UK and which are banned.