The first of its kind, the CSSC is a partnership between, the Police, Government and industry that brings businesses and business networks together to ensure businesses receive the information they need, when they need it, to stay safe and secure. The Metropolitan Police played a vital part in its launch and in its operations.

A team of advisers from the London Metropolitan Police, along with London First and the Home Office, formed the CSSC in the run up to the Games in the spring of 2011 when they decided to initiate a communications and resilience platform that would ensure the capital was ready and able to meet the demands of the Olympics, Paralympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

"We were given a communications tool and told to make it happen," said Steve Lemon, Business Engagement Officer for the Metropolitan Police. "We took advice from the top people like John Smith from Prudential and Don Randall of the Bank of England. Part of the vision was that businesses could speak to the police about pertinent issues and pose pertinent questions. With CSSC, we can go into the heart of the operation and find the people that we need to speak to. Then public communications can be adapted quickly according to current activities such as public order events recently."

The CSSC partnership included 25 business sectors across London who were chosen for their security and continuity experience and potential reach and they formed a platform to enable businesses to speak to each other and key public sector personnel about relevant issues. They also made decisions to form public communications that could be adapted according to time and situation. A suitable reliable communications platform was sought and after a five week process Vocal’s iModus was selected and approved by the CSSC Executive. Now, one year on, more businesses and public organisations are being invited to join the CSSC to broaden its reach and enhance communications to members, the public and media.

"The beauty of the police operation room during the Olympics was that for the first time you had all levels of police sitting with communications experts and information was disseminated by CSSC and sent back through the same channels,’ said Steve. "It meant public communications could be adapted quickly due to current activities such as public order events."

Trevor Wheatley-Perry, Managing Director of Vocal said: "The smoothness of how the CSSC operated during one of the biggest events in the world proves the partnership is a great success and we hope it will continue to be so. We did some big Olympic feedback sessions and the feedback was that it was structured, organised and they had confidence in us."