Action upon discovery of any suspicious delivered item

You could discover a suspicious item in a post room, or anywhere else in the building - ensure you have appropriate emergency response plans in place.

Avoid unnecessary handling

• put the item down on a cleared flat surface
• keep it separate so it is easily identifiable
• do not move it, even to x-ray it
• if it is in an x-ray facility, leave it there.

 Move away immediately

• clear immediate area and each adjacent room, including rooms above and below
• if there is any suggestion of CBR materials, move those directly affected to a safe location close to the incident - keep these individuals separate from those not involved
• prevent others approaching or accessing the cleared areas.

 Do not use mobile phones or two-way radios in the cleared area or within fifteen metres of the suspect package.

Communicate regularly with staff, visitors and the public.

Notify police

• if the item has been unwittingly opened, or partially opened prior to being deemed suspicious, it is vital that this is communicated to the police and responding EOD team
• ensure informants / witnesses remain available to brief the police, and that the accuracy of their observations is preserved: encourage witnesses immediately to record their observations in writing, and discourage them from discussing the incident or their observations with others prior to the arrival of the police.