SFJ Awards Level 2 Award in Counter-Terrorism Protective Security Awareness

Counter-terrorism awareness is not simply about understanding the threat. Staff need to know what to look for, what to report and what to do if an incident occurs.

Martyn's Law - officially known as The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 - is UK legislation designed to improve protective security and organisational preparedness at public venues and events,  reducing the risk of harm from terrorist attacks.

This new nationally recognised one-day Level 2 SFJ programme provides practical, assessed training for people who have a role in keeping workplaces, venues and public-facing environments safe, but who are not responsible for carrying out formal counter-terrorism risk assessments. 

It was developed in collaboration with the National Counter-Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and is the only qualification endorsed by Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) and NaCTSO. It is designed to support individuals and organisations that fall within the scope of  Martyn’s Law to build consistent counter-terrorism awareness, while providing a clear pathway into further protective security and counter-terrorism training.

This isn't simply awareness training. It gives staff a clear understanding of what to look for, what to report and what to do - with assessed learning to demonstrate that they have understood it.

Watch:  

Counter-Terrorism & Protection of Premises
Live Webinar & Industry Discussion with Rick Mounfield CSyP, Figen Murray OBE, Steve McGrath and Richard Pendry

Who is it for?

Anyone who may have a role in recognising or responding to security concerns, including:

• Front-line and customer-facing staff
• Security personnel, event staff and stewards
• Facilities and estates teams
• Supervisors and team leaders
• Volunteers and contractors
• Staff working in public-facing environments

Course Content: 

• Terrorism Threats - common attack methods and what they mean in practical terms
• Martyn’s Law  - its purpose, intent and relevance to staff
• Vigilance & Hostile Reconnaissance - recognising suspicious behaviour and potential indicators of pre-incident activity
• Reporting & Escalation - knowing what to report, who to tell and when to escalate concerns
• Immediate Response Actions – what to do when an incident occurs
• Emergency Procedures - evacuation, invacuation and lockdown
• Suspicious Items - recognising potential concerns and following appropriate procedures
• Public Access Trauma First Aid Awareness - knowing the role staff may play following an incident

Why choose Optimal Risk Training?

Our one-day online programme combines focused, practical training with the expertise of experienced practitioners who understand the realities of security and incident response - not just the theory.  

Assessment

Learning is assessed through an SFJ Awards-set multiple-choice assessment, with a free resit included, providing evidence that training has been completed and understood. 

All assessments are set and quality assured by the awarding body.

Dates in 2026

Tuesday 29th September
Thursday 8th October
Tuesday 13th October
Tuesday 10th November
Thursday 10th December

Fee

£195.00 + VAT

Contact us for further details.

Career Progression

Successful learners can progress to further training in counter-terrorism awareness, protective security, security operations, event safety, emergency preparedness, business continuity and risk management.

Where appropriate, the programme provides a progression route to the NaCTSO-endorsed SFJ Awards Level 3 Award in Counter-Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness.