Ring of steel

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For the 1940 recruitment film, see Ring of Steel.

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The ring of steel is the popular name for the security and surveillance cordon surrounding the City of London, installed to deter the IRA and other threats^[1] . Roads entering the City are narrowed and have small chicanes to force drivers to slow down and be recorded by CCTV cameras. These roads typically have a concrete median with a sentry box where police can stand guard and monitor traffic.^[1] Some roads have been closed to traffic entirely.^{[citation needed]} Despite the term "ring of steel", the roadblocks and chicanes are actually created with concrete blocks, sometimes plastic coated, that are wedged together.^{[citation needed]}

The measures were introduced following a massive IRA bombing campaign in the City in the early 1990s such as the 1992 Baltic Exchange bombing and the 1993 Bishopsgate bombing.^[1] At this time the sentry posts were guarded by armed police almost continuously. Following IRA ceasefires the police presence was curtailed. Following the September 11th terrorist attacks, and a reported increased terrorist threat to the United Kingdom, security has been stepped up again somewhat, with occasional spot checks on vehicles entering the cordon, although not to previous levels.^{[citation needed]}

On August 10, 2005, the Ring of Steel was widened to include more businesses in the City.^{[citation needed]} This was as a direct result of a police report that categorized a terrorist attack on the City as "inevitable".

Traffic entering the city is also monitored and recorded at the boundary of the London congestion charging zone, which covers a wider area.

In July 2007, New York City announced plans to install an extensive web of cameras and roadblocks designed to detect, track and deter terrorists called Lower Manhattan Security Initiative, which is similar to the "ring of steel".^[2]