Ring of Steel (London) facts for kids

The Ring of Steel is the name people use for a security area around the City of London. Its main goal is to help prevent terrorism. This system was first planned during the time of the IRA 'troubles'. The city of Belfast in Northern Ireland was the first place to have a 'ring of steel'.

What is the Ring of Steel?

The Ring of Steel is a set of security measures. It makes it harder for vehicles to enter certain areas. Roads leading into the City of London are made narrower. They also have small turns called chicanes. These changes force drivers to slow down. This allows CCTV cameras to record them.

How it Works

Many roads have concrete barriers. These barriers sometimes have a small guard box. Police officers can stand there. They watch the traffic. Sometimes, police with special equipment are hidden nearby. City planners call these security steps 'fortress urbanism'. This means making the city like a strong fort.

Some roads have been completely closed to traffic. Even though it's called the 'ring of steel', the roadblocks are usually made of concrete blocks. These blocks are often covered in plastic. They are fitted together tightly to create barriers.

Why Was It Created?

The security measures were put in place after big bombings. The IRA carried out these attacks in the City of London in the early 1990s. One was the 1992 Baltic Exchange bombing. Another was the 1993 Bishopsgate bombing.

Early Days of the Ring

At first, the security posts had armed police guarding them almost all the time. The very first 'ring of steel' used plastic cones. Police officers were on duty. Local people called this the 'ring of plastic'. It showed everyone that the City authorities were serious about stopping the IRA threats.

Later, more lasting structures were built. These included strong concrete barriers and checkpoints. Thousands of video cameras were also added. After the IRA stopped fighting, the number of police guards was reduced.

Security After 9/11

After the September 11 attacks in 2001, security increased again. There were more threats of terrorism in the United Kingdom. In December 2003, the Ring of Steel was made wider. It now covered more businesses in the City. Police believed a terrorist attack on the City was "inevitable."

Monitoring Traffic

Traffic entering London is also watched closely. An automatic number-plate recognition system (ANPR) records vehicles. Police watch this system all the time. The information collected is saved for five years. This data can be used for analysis or as evidence if needed.