However, the initiative has been given greater impetus as a result of an alleged bombing attempt outside a nightclub in London last year, and a number of local businesses have signed up.

Detective Sergeant Rick Petrie, Tayside Police counter terrorism security advisor, said the training was part of the Government-backed Project Argus.

“We have a duty to get over to businesses, industry and people in the security sector the counter-terrorism message,” he said. “One of the vehicles for that is Project Argus, which was originally developed for the retail sector and has subsequently taken on various strands — one of which is for the night time economy.

“It was incumbent upon the police to prepare the night time economy for events that might arise, and Project Argus is targeting security managers and managers of larger licensed premises.

“We want to give them an understanding of how to protect the premises, to think about security and how to prepare staff for a terrorist-type event — an attack or the threat of an attack.”

The free training, to be held in the new Liquid & Envy premises, South Ward Road, takes staff through a realistic terrorist incident using a multi-media DVD.

Over a three-hour period, participants will be expected to discuss and resolve scenarios which will prepare them for what the organisers describe as “the toughest situations.”

DS Petrie said there was interest in such training from the licensed trade throughout the country, as the national threat level remains “severe,” meaning an attempt is likely.

“It makes no difference that we are up in Scotland — Dundee is part of Scotland and Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, and we all need to be prepared,” he said.

“There is no intelligence to suggest Dundee is likely to be a target more than anywhere else. We don't want to alarm people, just alert them.”