Hostile vehicle mitigation

Hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) is a generic term that covers a suite of anti-terrorist protective measures that are often employed around buildings or publicly accessible spaces/venues of particular significance.

The sorts of places that warrant consideration as potential terrorist targets in need of HVM include: government buildings, airports, large railway stations, sports venues, concentrations of entertainment and crowded night time economy, etc.

HVM barrier selection will be conditioned by a hostile vehicle dynamics study carried out by a suitably qualified security specialist.

[16][17] More recently the focus of HVM has expanded to reduce the potential for vehicle ram attacks directed at crowded events and places.

[18] Recent non-VBIED (i.e. vehicle as a weapon) attacks against pedestrians include: HVM can also be used to protect against ram raids which are invariably criminal attacks against high net-worth targets such as jewelers, cash and valuables in transit depots, bullion storage facilities, art galleries, museums, high-end fashion stores, etc.

HVM bollards enforcing a vehicle control zone in Manchester's pedestrianised city centre
Concrete planters provide protection similar to that of bollards . Washington, DC
Concrete blocks placed to protect the Terminal 3 at Manchester Airport from hostile vehicle attack; these have now been replaced by more attractive bollards
Security measures taken to protect the Houses of Parliament in London , UK . This hostile vehicle mitigation is a common form of target hardening and is designed to prevent a vehicle being rammed into the building or into people on the pavement next to the building. It also enforces a zone of protective stand-off from any explosive detonation location.
The ARSENAL lettering in the foreground of the Emirates Stadium is an example of disguised HVM.