Summary
Religious sites are considered to be especially vulnerable to attacks due to their accessibility and the fact that there are usually limited security measures applied.
ProSPeReS project is aimed at increasing the level of protection in places of worship with keeping the balance between security measures and preservation of the open nature of religious sites.
It will be achieved by forming a cooperation between faith-based leaders, public services and security experts, the places risk evaluation, raising public awareness (especially key beneficiaries – clergy and worshippers), as well as developing and validating comprehensive protection system.
The system involves tools and templates (i.e. including utilization of EU Vulnerability Assessment Tool), training (including eLearning with VR), educational materials and security precautions covering entire cycle of an emergency (from prevention to recovery), a model of security system for indoor and outdoor religious gatherings with set of recommendations. The model will include upmost effective ways of cooperation between public authorities and services, faith-based leaders, various religious institutions, security experts and practitioners. Efficient communication is a key element in order to build solid platform for exchanging needs, expectations, best practices; sharing knowledge and experiences on usage of technological and non-technological solutions as well as existing and potential innovations in the respected field.
The inherent part of the project is organizing a series of train-the-trainer training and large-scale exercises in religious sites with engagement of public security services: police, fire-fighters and medical.
The project will design and implement EU-wide awareness-raising campaign addressed to religious sites’ personnel and leaders, worshippers, officers of public services and authorities related to protection of congregations and broader society.
Main aims objectives
The general objective is to leverage security of places of worship in the EU against terrorist attacks. It will be achieved by forming a cooperation between faith-based leaders, public services and security experts, the places risk evaluation, raising public awareness (especially key beneficiaries – clergy and worshippers), as well as developing and validating comprehensive protection system.
Specific objectives
- Establishing long-lasting model of cooperation among religious organizations, security experts and public protection services.
- Exchange of good practice examples in current security systems and identifying a common set of evidence based needs and gaps at various religious sites of worship.
- Preparing the tailor-made and validated security measures for religious sites.
- Enhance the preparedness of religious sites for CBRN protection.
- Preparing a modular training programme with educational materials for the religious sites in regular and eLearning mode.
- Conducting training for the staff (trainers) related to security of religious sites to initiate the cascade scheme.
- Designing and implementing EU-wide security raising awareness campaign.
- Assuring sustainability and compliance with ethical and societal issues.
Results
The comprehensive protection system developed within the PROSEPERES project covers a variety of measures targeting an increased prevention, protection and deterrence of terrorist and CBRN related threats. The carefully drafted, targeted prevention measures will comprise of a set of tailor-made templates, tools, procedures, equipment, improvements in infrastructure reflecting the “security by design” paradigm of European policy making. These will be complemented by a set of protocols suitable for cooperation with public services.
The implementation of the dedicated PROSPERES system will be further advanced by a modular training including VR supported eLearning platform, applicable to various types of education in religious structures as well as for conducting large-scale exercises in the relevant domain
Project partners
