Circuit Magazine #16

Circuit The

July TWENTY TWELVE issue #16

The Magazine for Security Professionals

SECURING LONDON 2012

PROMETHEUS STORM COURSE REVIEWED

PLUS: EVIL DEEDS THE THREAT UNSEEN MARITIME SECURITY COLOMBIA: A NEW WAY TO ATTACK CLOSE PROTECTION IN THE U.K.

SAFER STRATEGY SEE PAGE 8

KIDNAP AND RANSOM SEE PAGE 20

llllllll

Contents JULY 2012 - ISSUE 16

FEATURED ARTICLES

08 14 20 22 28 46 48

DISARMING TECHNIQUES Safe Strategy for disarming SECURING LONDON 2012 Dangerously neglected or Unreasonable excessive

08

RANSOM AND NEGOTIATION A piracy advocate THE STATE OF THE UNION Observations of the US close protection industry CLOSE PROTECTION IN THE UK David Rubens speaks to Mike O’Neill

20

COLOMBIA A new way to attack EVIL DEEDS What makes us do the things we do

45

REGULAR FEATURES

Circuit The

The Magazine for Security Professionals

OnTheJob - The Debrief Course Review - Prometheus: Storm OnTheJob - Getting Noticed ShopTalk - Maritime Security ShopTalk - Night Vision Intel Section - EP/Maritime/Hostile ShopTalk - Surveillance: Back2Basics BoyZone - Walk a Mile in My Shoes

llllllll

14

05 06 12 24 32 38 53 54

Editors Foreword

H

ere we are in July and things are coming together nicely with the Circuit as we gain interest and new readers worldwide with every issue. There is still much to be achieved and we’re working hard every day to create the most informative and interesting magazine possible. The blood sweat and tears which are shed each issue are all made worthwhile every time I see an issue come back from the printers.

Special mention should be made in recognition of the sterling efforts put in by our newest team member, Marketing Exec, Christina Docherty. She has brought a level of organization to the publication the like of which has not been witnessed before in Circuit corridors, trust me, I have the whip marks to prove it!

In this issue there are several new features debuting as we continue to get bigger and better, these include; the Global Risk Analysis sections, where we will focus on current security threats and incidents from all the main hot spots in which our readers are operating. Academic development; is it important for a career in the security industry? Bucks Uni will answer your burning questions and provide a steer in the right direction. Additionally, we will be running a regular feature on surveillance, a real topical area of the industry at the moment and the new CPD section continues to gain momentum, becoming an invaluable resource for finding all the top products or services within the industry.

I’d just like to take a moment to congratulate everyone who took part in the annual ‘Cuthys 200’ bike ride in June of this year. The event begun as a tribute to Private Nathan Cuthbertson who died in Afghanistan whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment. All funds raised are donated to the Afghanistan Trust. This year the event enjoyed its largest participation and the organisers and parents of

W

Nathan, Tom and Carla Cuthbertson would like to thank all Circuit readers for your support and donations which they have received. Anyone wishing to make a donation can still do so at: www.justgiving.com/cuthys200 Finally, we exhibited the magazine at the Counter Terror Expo in London back in April where we received compliments from a great many people who remarked on the quality of the publication but notably the calibre of articles. When you consider the fact that the majority of our articles are written by operators working out on the ground it is an even greater achievement. So, if you’re a current or previous contributor to the magazine then you deserve to give yourself a big pat on the back. For everyone else who is thinking about writing an article, if you have a keen interest in security and would like your words to be considered for submission within the pages of the magazine then please contact us at: info@ circuit-magazine.com

Shaun West Circuit Magazine

elcome to the latest edition of The Circuit Magazine. I have to come right out of the gate and say it; this issue has the goods.

Page after page of useful information, facts, tips and an analysis of the Close Protection Industry and the people that make the engine run. It’s no secret that The Circuit is the official mouth piece for the North American and British Bodyguard Associations.

With it, we have a global delivery system to unite the industry in a professional manner and at the same time deliver a quality product.

Our aim is to be ahead of the curve, not playing catch up.

By now we’re sure everyone has seen the updated website with our highly interactive message boards. We also hope you Apple Apostles out there have checked out the digital editions of the magazine available for your iPhone or ipad.

(It looks fantastic!)

But while technology is great, it’s people that drive the movement. One of the most telling examples is how social media has entered the lives of the Executive Protection Industry. I can remember when “Facebook” was a dirty word in our profession. Many cried that it was a “Pandora ’s Box,” that would just cause breach after breach of Personal and Operational Security. While there are some unfortunate incidents of that, on a much larger scale, the medium has been used for a free flowing exchange of ideas and information, and I’m proud to say nowhere is that more apparent than on the North American Bodyguard Association’s Facebook Page. While I won’t bore you with mind-numbing statistics, it’s fair to say that within the last 6 months, the traffic on our page has been at the vanguard of the intelligent use of social media as it relates to close protection, and that’s namely because the people who are most active truly care about the industry.

Every day, there are senior members of the community sharing tips, case studies, examples and real world scenarios, right alongside newcomers that have questions about how to make it in this challenging business. All of this is happening in the framework of the NABA, and while not everyone on the board are official members (yet), the use of a platform like Facebook allows for exposure that then carries over to Protectors wanting to know more about the benefits of membership, like the free annual subscription to this very magazine! Some of the stewards of this movement, and yes it is a social media movement, are also contributors to the magazine, several with articles in this issue. So upon reading, if you enjoyed (or had an alternating opinion with) the articles by Tony Scotti, Benjamin Alozie, Mark James or Eric Konohia, chances are you could jump right on Facebook and find them contributing to the latest thread.

Again, the machine is powered by people, and I’m proud to be associated with an organization and publication that showcases some of the best and brightest minds in the industry.

Elijah Shaw Managing Editor (US Edition)

THE DEBRIEF Circuit :: OnTheJob

A

by | Ivor Terret

question that I often see asked, predominantly in the UK market is does it make sense combining Surveillance and Close Protection to make a job seeker more marketable?

At face value this indeed seems to make sense, more skills means more job options right? Well, sort of, to understand this completely, one needs to understand the different roles and responsibilities of each, as well as skills required for each task.

My definitions below may not match all our esteemed readers definitions, but that’s absolutely ok, by the end of this article, you will hopefully understand my points regardless.

Let us start by examining the mainstream field of Close or Executive Protection (CP/ EP); what are the roles, the responsibilities of the EP agent or Close Protection Operative (CPO) ? Keeping the client safe, “catching the bullet”, as some say; the priority of the EP/CPO is first and foremost the EP/CPO and then the Principal. Stay with me here folks, protecting the Principal is simple enough – but remember, if anything happens to the protector, then the Principal is left unsecured.

So now that we understand the primary roles of the protective agent, we can examine all the tools at their disposal. For the sake of this article, I want to examine one tool only and that is a deterrence. Traditionally the EP/ CPO is an overt position, making the Principal look protected, like a hard target; attempting to dissuade harm doers from trying to harm the Principal and to rather seek an easier, more vulnerable looking target.

This deterrence may be achieved in multiple ways, these can include, but are not limited

Does Combining Surveillance & Close Protection Make Sense?

to, a security culture as illustrated in a visual sweep of the vehicle before use, overt security cameras, warning signs at the residence and over the course, a protective agent with a demeanor that clearly radiates a “don’t try it” attitude.

Great, so you, the CPO are a mean, lean (hopefully), a deterrence machine and due to your vast security experience can easily juggle between overt CP duties and covert surveillance, right? I would say this is only possible at the lower to mid-levels of the security industry. For any professional at the higher levels, or professionals who strive to elevate to the higher levels, mixing overt security and covert surveillance is like mixing water and oil, it’s just not meant to be. Did I get your attention yet?

Surveillance is a completely different trade, with a completely different objective, and a completely different set of required skills.

The objective of surveillance is to operate in the field, in a covert manner in order to collect information that is otherwise unavailable. The key skills I would like to focus on here are the covert field skills. These skills involve learning the environment in order to completely blend into it, devising a solid cover, cover story and thus resulting in being “invisible” to the object you are watching.

There is no protection, no protective responsibilities and absolutely no deterrent function whatsoever. Now some are saying, “what about protective surveillance?” It should stand to reason that with enough training one could work as a CPO and SV operative, right? Protective surveillance is a skill on it’s own and indeed an individual can merge the two skill sets nicely -- if the operative works

primarily in a covert capacity.

The primary issue with an active CPO working as a surveillance operative is that we, as people, cannot switch on or off our demeanor, our look and the energy we transmit. The more time someone has spent in an overt role, the more difficult it is for them to unlearn their deterrent and overt skills and learn covert skills. Experienced or less experienced professionals might say that it’s not a problem for them to work as a CPO one day and in a covert role the next day; they are 100% wrong, the closest they can come to truly covert work is at best, low profile work.

I am not in any way belittling low profile work; only stating that in many instances; what people believe is covert is really low profile. There is a difference, and I challenge everyone to learn the distinction between the two.

So esteemed readers, where does that leave you and your career paths, decision-making and future training? At present the security market is flooded with many great professionals, double that amount of amateurs and triple that to include newbies. If you feel you need to get both a CP/EP and SV qualification under your belts to pay the bills, may the force be with you, but keep in mind that as your career develops you should make a decision as where to focus, and develop your skills, either in the overt or covert realm, but get off the fence as playing on both fields can endanger you and your clients and will most certainly stunt the level of proficiency you will attain.

Ivor Terret is an Israeli-based expert on counter surveillance, surveillance detection and covert executive protection.

Circuit : : 5

Circuit :: Course Review

ADVANCED MEDICAL TRAINING

The Prometheus Storm™ Course

Specialist training for overseas and remote medics I recall a quotation from chapter 16 of “The Modern Bodyguard” by renowned close protection expert Peter Consterdine. “You’ve got to know what to do if it happens! It may happen in front of you and you are going to have to act and act competently”. He was referring to the occurrence of a serious medical emergency such as the shooting of a client. I, like I’m sure many of us who wish to eventually achieve a gold standard of overall security professionalism, have made much effort to educate and improve my level of medical skills but the constraints of time and work commitments have until now to some degree frustrated my development. On completion of the Prometheus VIPER™ first person on scene course in 2011 I submitted a course appraisal to this magazine and noted that I had learned a great deal from an excellent course and would hopefully be taking things a step further with the Prometheus STORM™ course later in the year. As it happened I was deployed overseas and it was only in March of this year that I was able to take the time to return to the Old Rectory just outside Hereford and immerse myself in a course which I had been anticipating for some time.

O

n day one we assembled in the classroom to meet the primary course instructor, a man who proved himself to be a superb teacher combining both extensive hostile environment military and domestic civilian medical experience. Importantly, he is currently operational as a medic with an eye on the cutting edge of relevant medical technique development. The first topic to be addressed was preparation and planning for remote area support. This should be of great interest to CPO’s as it adds the capability to research, assess and report to a client the various medical and health risks which will be poten-

6 : : Circuit

tially encountered in a specific country.

The “engage-study-activate” learning method favoured by English language teachers was utilised here as after the lecture, we were given the task of preparing a pre-trip medical brief on a country to be presented to the course on the final day. Both hard copy and internet sources were give to us to aid our preparations.

It became apparent that the course would be undertaken at a slower pace than VIPER™, possibly because the precourse requirements included recognised (such as first aid at work or first person on scene) previous medical training, it was thus unnecessary to continuously

by | John Player

practice and learn the <C>ABCDE (Catastrophic compressible haemorrhage, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure/ Environment) model and rather include it into the scenarios with new material. This slower approach allowed subjects to be examined in greater detail.

The initial aim appeared to me to refresh and build on the trauma management that we had learned on VIPER™, using new skills such as the delivery of intravenous fluid to a casualty in a safe manner, knowing when and why to commence the process and when and why to stop , and also time was given to the instruction of more sophisticated techniques of airway management to enhance the care. I was

Circuit :: Course Review particularly impressed with the lecture and practice on needle chest decompression in the event of a tension pneumothorax (air in the pleural space under pressure collapsing the lung and also reducing blow flow back to the heart). I have had this briefly explained to me before and it still appeared a dark art however the method used to confirm the injury, identify the correct point on the chest to penetrate and monitor the results was crystal clear and straightforward. Again, usefully the instructor had himself performed the procedure in both hostile environments and once in the UK. On the second and third days we had the pleasure of meeting two more of the course instructors. Two ladies with vast personal experience and excellent communication skills and manner, one a paramedic with the air ambulance and the other a senior nurse. We covered such subjects as tropical diseases, field hygiene, bites/stings and strapping /taping.

Having all previously completed VIPER™ the students were in a position to ask some penetrating questions however the

instructors had no problem with fielding anything aimed at them. We progressed through to learn more about cannulation techniques and wound management and in the afternoon had the opportunity to practice suturing on a synthetic flesh wound. Casualty scenario practices cemented the learning process.

On day four we were introduced to a vital function of the remote area medic, primary care. Tools useful in diagnosis such as the blood pressure cuff and glucometer were introduced to the sessions as we progressed from dealing with immediate life threatening conditions to using specific questions and utilising clues gained from assessment of patient history and signs and symptoms to diagnose and treat illness before it reached a life threatening stage. The Prometheus consultant pharmacist then gave us a fascinating drugs lecture, which we then combined with our primary care knowledge in another interview scenario to establish diagnosis and treatment. Again I was impressed with the attention to detail in the diagnosis techniques, an example being the instruc-

tor’s comment that when trying to diagnose a stomach problem a patient with severe acid indigestion might place the palm of their hand over the area whereas an individual suffering from something like an ulcer may unconsciously point at the spot with their finger. Not definitive of course, but a useful indicator when combined with others. That evening we returned for the expedition dentistry lecture to practice filling (false!) teeth.

On the final day we were critically assessed by way of our presentations, an exam and most importantly of course, practical tests. I’m delighted to say everyone performed well and left Prometheus with greatly enhanced capabilities and confidence. Whilst I would certainly not presume to label myself as any kind of medical expert and have only a desire to learn more, thanks to this course I am finally at a level, which satisfies my interpretation of a good standard for a security professional.

Further information available at www.prometheusmed.com

?

D E T S E R E T N I HORIZONS IN NEW

you the skills and ge of courses that give and Training offer a ran a comprehensive es vid pro ST Maritime Asset Security MA y. urit a career in maritime sec to rs doo n g. ope nin to trai nce rd confide rs and on-boa es practical drills, semina experience which includ arily from the Military personnel, prim former senior British Agency (MCA) d uar stg Coa All our instructors are and y and we are a Maritime Nav al Roy and s rine Royal Ma accredited trainer.

Courses include: O) Ship Security Officer (SS · ety Saf ic STCW 95 Bas · Counter Piracy Training · (FPOC) First Person on Scene – · 2 el Lev oat erb Pow ·

€ 415 715 650 700 360

Contact us today to find out how MAST can change your horizons

training@mast-security.com

00 356 21 323 774

www.mast-security.com

Circuit : : 7

Circuit :: OnTheJob

for Disarming

T

here are many techniques you can use to restrain or disarm someone who is threatening you with a firearm... however they aren’t always based on a safe underlying strategy. So with that in mind I thought I’d offer everyone the opportunity to explore a simple set of principles that I developed as a Defensive Tactics Training Module.

They can be applied to a handgun, a sawn-off shotgun, an SMG, or a long rifle. However, at this point I must stress that you should only ever attempt to disarm a firearm threat if you feel that your life absolutely depends on it. It’s not like in the movies... things can go horribly wrong in a close quarter struggle against a firearm... and it won’t be just a black eye or few busted ribs you end up with.

8 : : Circuit

Mark James applying thumb-fold pressure in a disarm

Circuit :: OnTheJob If you want to improve your disarming skills, remember these Three C’s: Clear - move your body out of the line of fire Check - locate the firearm with one or both hands Control - immediately apply a limb-control or disarm.

Following is an example application that you could practice with a colleague... just to get an idea of what those three principles mean.

This first photo on the right shows a standard one-hand threat from in front, but it could just as easily be a sideways ‘gangsta’ grip : The photo below shows the first principle of moving out of the line of fire (clear). You can’t see my feet, but I’ve actually evaded to the right flank with my right foot, as my right hand comes up to locate (check) the weapon. I’ll immediately direct the handgun down to the ground so that no bystanders (principal or colleagues) get shot from an accidental discharge

The photo above shows me feeding the firearm back across the opponent’s face. This action will be in harmony with his natural response to pull back against the sudden loss of control of his weapon. And if there is an accidental discharge at this point, this feed-back action will ensure that any discharge will be into them, not into you :

The next photo demonstrates the application of a damaging outside wrist-twist (control) which can also snap the trigger-finger... so be sure that your training partner has their finger positioned safely outside of the trigger-guard when you rip the firearm out of his hand :

Finally, you could stun the opponent with a backhand strike across the head with the butt of the handle... which would give you time to move away and create a safe distance. Note that I am still momentarily holding on to the captured hand.

Circuit : : 9

Circuit :: OnTheJob Summary : All you have to remember is Three Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s: Clear - move your body out of the line of fire Check - locate the firearm with one or both hands Control - immediately apply a restraint, disarm or takedown.

Together those three principles create a safe strategy that will allow you to test or improve any firearm defence technique.

My thanks to Mark James of Panther Protection Services in Atlanta for some imagery. http://www.pantherprotectionservices.com/ And to Stephen Needham Photography in Australia for shooting the techniques : http://www.stephenneedham.com/

Wayne Roy is a C.Q.C. and I.P. Consultant with Savior Services in Australia, and also a member of the International Close Quarters Protection Operators Association. He is an Instructor with over thirty years experience in teaching martial arts, and specialises in the design and implementation of Defensive Tactics Programs for individuals and specialist groups.

High Performance Bullet Proof Vests

OV1 - OVERT

PPSS Body Armour

10 : : Circuit

CV1 - COVERT

EV1 - EXECUTIVE

Contact us today for more information on our ground-breaking products:

+44 (0) 845 5193 953 | www.ppss-group.com

B

Circuit :: OnTheJob

odyguards. Who employs them, what do they do and why do people actually need them?

Believe it or not these questions are asked an awful lot by many people outside the industry but where does the ambiguity come from?

What it boils down to on the most part is a lack of understanding by those outside of the industry on the reasons for security measured against the needs of those who are at risk. Naturally, there is a lot of mystique that comes with being a bodyguard as they are afforded an unparalleled insight into the lives of the rich and famous, a one which the general public don’t often get to see. However, whilst fulfilling the duties of a bodyguard you will experience the other side of the job, which isn’t all ‘glamour and Hollywood’ or ‘machine guns and bullets’ as is often portrayed in the media.

The role of a bodyguard takes years of hard work to perfect by constantly developing new skills, which are essential for your progression if you are to have a successful and professional career. It is a career that brings with it a great deal of responsibility. Likening it to the role of a surgeon or paramedic as there may be times when a persons life could quite literally be in your hands. This means that you need to be able to operate under pressure as people will be depending on you and the decisions that you make as and when a situation arises. The job, as you can imagine attracts many types of individuals, some suitable for the role and others not so.

Bodyguards come from a variety of backgrounds and the common perception that all bodyguards are ex military is most definitely not the case. Some of the best operators that I have worked with have never served in the forces, illustrating the point that people from different backgrounds bring different qualities and skill sets to the team. These can all be utilized depending upon the environment, the situation and the role of the operator within the team. A team leader should endeavour, wherever possible to put people in positions where the team will benefit the most from their strengths.

When considering the ideal shape and build for a bodyguard it is easy to default to the stereotype, the tall muscular framed guy. It is definitely the case that with this type of build he will be great in certain scenarios as his presence alone can be enough to ward off a would-be attacker. However, some clients prefer to maintain a more discrete and low profile presence so when employing a bodyguard (BG), someone with a slighter build would be matched well to this role. The most versatile BG would be a man or woman with an average build and stature, someone who can carry themselves well, move with confidence and remain alert. This will enable you to stand out from the crowd if a situation arises by pinning your shoulders back and gaining height but it will also make it easy for you to dress down and adopt a lower profile accordingly.

So who actually employs bodyguards and why do they need them?

There are many different people who fit this profile but the one thing

Shaun West on Understanding the need for Protection that they all have in common is that they have the money to be able to afford protection, either by their own means or on behalf of the governments and organisations that they represent.

Whether hiring an individual bodyguard (IBG) or a protection team you as the client are undoubtedly committing yourself to a considerable financial outlay. Many musicians, sports personalities and film stars who use bodyguards choose to do so on an ad hoc basis be it when visiting an important event, having a night out on the town or indulging in an expensive shopping trip. The cost of having someone protect you 24/7 is a luxury that many just cannot afford. From an outside perspective, many will think, “It can’t be that expensive to have a bodyguard?” However, by accepting that an individual cannot stay awake for 24 hours and remain effective, it necessitates a requirement to have at least two or three bodies working a shift system. To provide a full level of protection you will need more than just an IBG with you as one person cannot reliably provide 360 degree coverage when you are out and about. Also, who is protecting your home while you are away? Now add a residential security team to the mix and it is easy to see how the costs can quickly spiral and why only the super rich, very famous or extremely powerful can afford to have full time protection.

Where does the need lie for individual protection? There are numerous reasons as to why people employ bodyguards. To some it may be a status symbol but on the whole people employ bodyguards because they are concerned about their own safety or that of their family. There may have been a specific threat made or it could just be a natural consideration as they reach the point where their profile or wealth has reached such an extent that it is deemed necessary or prudent to re-evaluate their security arrangements.

Not everyone who has security wants it. Government officials, CEO’s of major corporations and the family members of the rich and famous often have security provided for them and not through their own choice. In many cases they may not want this security and therefore will not be receptive to having someone following their every move.

These types of principals can be difficult to contend with but so long as you remain professional and confident in your purpose there is every chance you will win them over. They will be much more ‘on side’ as soon as they realise how having a bodyguard can make their life easier.

In short, bodyguards play a vital role in protecting their principal whoever they may be. By creating a sense of security that enables them to go about their daily business with as little disruption as possible whilst projecting an image required of them by their employer. In displaying loyalty and discretion a committed bodyguard will make himself an indispensable commodity to his principal and ensure a long and successful career.

Shaun West www.shaunwest.co.uk

Circuit : : 11

Circuit :: OnTheJob

GETTING NOTICED FOR EXECUTIVE PROTECTION JOBS

W

by | Benjamin Alozie

hen I decided to write about this very important subject, I pondered long and hard over it, and even though I knew exactly what to articulate, I encountered some challenges as I began writing. My challenges started after having flashbacks to a darker period in my professional history when I personally experienced the frustration of this subject matter. In short, this is me speaking from experience. In writing this article on getting noticed, I want to examine the emerging job market of social media as well as focus on two very important doctrines that are ingrained into my professional and training philosophy:

Real World Vs Textbook Knowledge & Unlearn To Succeed In Executive Protection

By real world I mean proven tips that have helped other professionals with the goal of using real world experience here vs. textbook knowledge. I hope to bring some clarity to a subject that I strongly believe should only be presented or discussed by those that have truly experienced the pains of not getting noticed for executive protection jobs and, very importantly, have survived it. In the end, if you are prepared to the “unlearn to succeed” principle then you should be confident enough to freely apply some or all of the tips contained in this article by open mindedly dropping all your preconceived notions and applying other tested approaches.

First let me state clearly that getting noticed in itself is easy, the difficulty lies in the fact that you can get noticed for the wrong reasons. Getting noticed for the right reasons starts from accepting the fact that all true protectors must be schooled in history and motivated to action by the history they are schooled in. This means for you to succeed in getting noticed for executive protection jobs you must start by learning from history, some of the core virtues that drives the protective services profession namely: Trust, Integrity & Honour Learning the importance of these virtues from the history of protective services will help you understand and appreciate why getting noticed for a job in the protective services profession in particular is no cake walk and why it requires serious and thoughtful planning in advance. Additionally, a look at the important values, that the best paying clients and employers consistently look out for before employing protective services professionals, reveals that they almost always have employed CPO’s who have in one way or

12 : : Circuit

another demonstrated some or all of the above mentioned virtues.

Judging by the difficulty many face getting a job in protective services by the above premise, it becomes crystal clear why just having the perfect resume/Curriculum Vitae is a nonstarter for getting noticed for executive protection jobs. It equally explains why anyone spending all or more time and effort just sending and posting their resumes online and to potential employers traditionally won’t be getting the type of response they truly seek.

While the sending of solicited or unsolicited resumes and curriculum vitae may be a plus in other professions, reality is that this act is mostly frowned at and viewed differently in protective services profession because of the very important need to first get noticed and earn the trust of potential clients and employers.

PROVEN TIPS TO HELP YOU GET NOTICED Below are some proven tips that will help you get noticed for executive protection jobs. The beauty about following these tips is that it will help you establish Trust, Integrity and Honour because they say out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

By following these tips systematically your vetting process too has started. For all these tips to work you must be prepared like I suggested in the beginning of this article to be open minded enough to drop all your preconceived notions in other to freely try other approaches that are proven to have worked in the real world: 1. PLAN YOUR PROFESSIONAL FUTURE: This is the starting point and you may not see how it helps you to be noticed but by the time you start training you will see how quickly your advance preparation will be noticed by your instructors. Follow the steps below religiously to plan your professional future in protective services • Self-assessment - who am I, what are my values, what do I need and do I have what it takes?

• Assess the profession - What are the core values of protective services? Where can I get the best training for my needs? How does geography play a part?

• Decide your Career path - What area do I really want to specialize in?

• Start Training - Attend an academy that gives you the best chances to succeed in your career path.

• Plan for continued education - What other relevant training do I need to achieve my goal?

Circuit :: OnTheJob 2. CREATE A PRESENCE: You cannot be noticed if you don’t have some type of presence and to have this presence starts from creating awareness about yourself in key places that are relevant to the protective services industry. Creating awareness must start as soon as you have decided on your career path and you should continue creating presence throughout your professional career in one form or another.

3. FIND YOUR NICHE IN PROTECTIVE SERVICES: In order to develop a professional identity, you have to figure out what makes you special and unique in the security circuit. As trained protection specialist you have to develop your own unique message based on an area of particular interest and then use various mediums to communicate it. For some that means, blogging, social network profiles, magazines, advertising, and any other mediums that you know your target audience is paying attention to.

4. BE CONSISTENT: Choose what you stand for and talk about it regularly will get you noticed. For example as trained protection professionals, we all come from unique backgrounds that have a lot of relevance in our new profession; so are you from the following backgrounds: Paramedics, Martial Arts, Engineering, Weapons, Information Technology, Management, Finance, Fashion, Communications, Services, Media, Legal, Military, Law enforcement, Linguist etc Once you pick your niche, start discussing content that pertains to it consistently. Also, stick with that niche. Don’t send mixed signals because being laser focused is a more effective way to get noticed and very soon you’ll become the “go to” guy in that niche area.

5. IDENTIFY YOURSELF: You will get noticed by identifying yourself and you can do this by using your real name and images. Building your own unique image message requires authenticity because people can sniff inauthentic people even through the Internet. This again highlights the importance of the self assessment tip. Make sure that whatever image messaging you put out there must be true to whom you are. If this image messaging represents who you truly are then confidently stand behind it and identify yourself by it. With time this image will always remind people of you. The inverse of this is, remember not to go overboard.

6. SPREAD YOUR IDENTITY: Spreading you professional identity will easily get you noticed, but before you spread your identity you must have successfully demonstrated some expertise in that niche area from the different exchanges you will have had with other professionals. This expertise is what gives you the confidence to spread your identity remember you are not actively spreading your resumes but you are sending more potent information that will get you noticed for executive protection jobs. There are numerous online tools that can help you do so. Participate on Q&A sites, publish a blog and comment on other people’s blogs, and participate in intense and intellectual professional debates or exchanges in your area of expertise. Set up a personal Facebook Fan Page, Twitter, Google + and LinkedIn or create your own website.

7. COMMUNICATE YOUR PHILOSOPHY & MINDSET CLEARLY: Ask yourself a few questions: Who am I? Why am in protective services? What do I REALLY think is important in life? What is my personal philosophy? How am I a representative of my

philosophy? When you answer these questions make sure you communicate your answers clearly to the world. Your mindset is an important key to your success in protective services so letting the world know your mindset early not only gets you noticed but it lets potential employers start assessing you early.

8. BUILD YOUR PROTECTIVE SERVICES PRESENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Perhaps you’ll create a Twitter page and update it regularly with tweets relating to industry news, while simultaneously, following notable people in your industry. I’d recommend making sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date, and join online groups that are relevant for you, and be active in them.

9. LIVE YOUR PROFESSION EVERYDAY: You may not realize how important this tip is until you actually start doing it: Talking about your profession to family and friends, looking and dressing the part, using family occasions to practice some of the “soft skills” of the profession like planning family and other social. A trip to pick up a friend to the airport can be a chance to work on your route planning and driving skills.

10. GIVE BACK: This you can accomplish by doing any of the following, volunteering your services sometimes even pro bono, Sharing knowledge on security networks like the British Bodyguard Association /North American Bodyguard Association or participating in Alumni association’s of others you’ve trained with. Pass it on and it will come back around. Ok I promised to give you Ten Tips but tip Eleven is your bonus for taking the time to read all the initial ten tips promised.

11. UNLEARN TO SUCCEED: In order to build trust and an authentic professional image, you must unlearn and by that I mean you must let go of any preconceived notions you have of what is “acceptable”. Don’t do simply enough just to “get by”.

For example, online; many professionals have fallen into the trap of writing one liner tweets and even one-word replies to in-depth discussion posts. This only just makes them appear lacking a personality or that they’re tying to pose as something they’re not. Alternatively, if you are former military or law enforcement, keep in mind that CP work can be different, so don’t just barge into a conversation and get a reputation as a blowhard, because you’ve done something similar in the past.

So you may already be asking yourself will these tips mentioned above work? Well I know they did for one specialist who was born, grew up and schooled in a hopeless environment where success is only something you hear about, dream about or watch at the local cinema because the family couldn’t afford to buy a television at home.

This professional has learned from the school of hard knocks. These tip’s stated above are useful if the goal is truly to get noticed for executive protection jobs the right way. This agent has trained and worked in at least three different continents, speaks several languages and is still currently providing protective services globally at the highest standards possible in both low and high risk environments.

The tips will work because the individual I am speaking about is living proof of real world vs. textbook, and that individual is me.

Benjamin Alozie is the Global Director of International Operations for ICON Services Corporation

Circuit : : 13

SECURING LONDON

2012 Dangerously Neglected or Unreasonably Excessive?

A

by | M. Savva

C. Lopes C.Docherty

s the country rallies up assistants, stewards, hosts and security in preparation for the London Olympic Games, the excitement of being a host country to such a historical event overpowers the inner depth actions behind the glitz and glam of the prosperous six-week memorable moment. All over Britain, police forces, military, security and volunteers are partaking round the clock training sessions and operations to prepare for one of the most remarkable sporting events, the London Olympics 2012.

Assuming the amount of work is being put into the event provides reassurance to the citizens of London but is this type of preparation enough to protect the lives of paying spectators?

On the evening on Saturday 5th May 2012, it was made evident that

security within the park and building site itself was not as secure as previously expected, when a late night builder smuggled in a fake explosive to prove exactly how easy it would be for an explosive to detonate.

As cited in The Sun Online, on May 6th 2012, they devised the set up to follow up on the workers suspicions. The Olympic park has been a building site since 2008 with building contractors from all different cultures and companies working on the infrastructure. This in itself should be enough to ensure greater levels of security procedures- but this clearly wasn’t the case. The Sun passed the package onto the worker to test the procedures and security of the Park, after they were contacted about the ‘gaping security loopholes’ at the site in Stratford. It is Britain’s worst fear that during the Olympics terrorists such as Al Qaeda or activists would cause a terrifying scene.

He managed to go unnoticed just 24 hours before the opening of the Olympic Stadium in which 40,000 were attending. The man posed with the dummy Semtex device outside the athlete’s apart-

We take a health check on the present state of security for the forthcoming London Olympics.

ments, even the Olympic stadium. However some could argue that one isolated incident in an event of this size is somewhat to be expected yet with no great damages or risks to anyone.

According to The Sun, when showing the Home Office the evidence they said: “LOCOG (the Games organisers) are responsible for the security of the Olympic Park. We have asked them to look into this incident and report back to the Home Secretary urgently.”

Potential issues One thing is for sure, activists and protest groups have leaped into trying to cause disruptions and chaos to the forthcoming games.

Amongst taxi and bus driver protests other significant protests there is also a varying repertoire varying from feminist groups and anarchist groups.

One of the feminist protests that have occurred recently stands under the title of “’London Cheats’ Olympics” (Volume 2/Issue 11, 29 March -12 April 2012, CSARN: Security Risk Monitor. Led by UK Feminista). The march appeared outside Niketown in Oxford Circus. The rea-

son behind such a well cited protest was to object to the company supporting the exploitation of female textile workers in Bangladesh.

The aim of the protesters was to ‘cheat their way through Olympic sports’ as Nike was awarded a ‘very special medal’.

Campaigners from War on Want will also attach tags to Adidas clothing in stores as part of the protest to highlight the claims that the workers that are making these items are “underpaid and mistreated”. According to War on Want Adidas contracts companies that are supplying Team GB and other Olympic associated clothing, although Adidas Group have officially looked into this matter and commented on its findings.

Commenting on the video report posted by War on Want on the Adidas Group stated “The Adidas Group is fully committed to protecting worker rights and to ensuring fair and safe working conditions in factories throughout our global supply chain. However, we take all allegations about working conditions extremely seriously and will investigate any new claims immediately. But it is very important to note that we found no evidence to support claims made in a previous War

The Olympic park has been a building site since 2008 with building contractors from all different cultures and companies working on the infrastructure. This in itself should be enough to ensure greater levels of security procedures

on Want report about factory conditions in Bangladesh. In fact, the report contained several inaccuracies, including the suggestion that adidas manufactures 2012 Olympic products in Bangladesh, which we absolutely do not.” – Telegraph 7th June 2012.

Never the less this may present issues for general security staff, especially those who work within the retail sector during a very busy shopping season in London. The Olympics has drawn a media focus on London as well as the issue of sportswear used by the athletes therefore it is a concern that such objections will continue throughout the Games.

Along with the security there is a reputational threat and thus an early example of protests can only give distress and concern of single groups looking to hijack the event, in order to draw attention to their apprehensions.

There are other grievances, as well. Environmental groups such as Drop Dow Now are opposed to Dow Chemical‘s sponsorship of the games because of its alleged link with the Bhopal gas leak that killed thousands in India in 1984 — a decade ago, the company purchased Union Carbide Corporation, which was accused of negligence in the tragedy.

Others are protesting another sponsor, Atos, the largest IT services firm in Europe, because of its link with government disability benefit cuts.

Occupy London members have also joined residents in east London protesting the construction of a temporary Olympic basketball court in Leyton Marsh, an area of open land that many residents don’t want

16 : : Circuit

to be developed. “The occupy movement have kept security teams busy so far this year Olympic organizers have also been criticized after security guards have attempted to stop photographers and videographers from filming at numerous venues this year. One photojournalist, Mike Wells, who works for the Games Monitor, a website seeking to highlight the negative impact of Olympic-related development, was arrested in April for filming at the Leyton Marsh construction site. “I think they are operating under clear guidelines: if you see anyone outside photographing the Games, challenge them. They have no legal basis for doing that,” says his colleague, Martin Slavin. Afterward, LOCOG, the Olympic organizers, acknowledged there have been “regrettable incidents” involving private security guards not responding in an appropriate manner to photographers.” – As written in Anoosh chakelians blog for Time Magazine 6/12/12.

Finsbury Square become the focus for those supporting the Occupy London movement when the protest outside St Paul’s Cathedral ended in February, however on 15/06/2012 demonstrators who had been camping in a north London square since last October had been evicted. Protesters from Occupy London, left Finsbury Square in Islington after bailiffs set up metal fencing around the 130 tents. At the High Court Mr Justice Hickinbottom was told the Finsbury Square camp had caused £20,000 damage to the land and the council had spent £26,000 on security. The council said it also lost £12,000 in rent and income after restaurants in the public square closed. The eviction was “peaceful and low-key” said the council.

The games have yet to start but as expected many issues lie in what the main security body in control of the games will do to ensure

safety. The U.K. based G4S, describes itself as the “world’s leading international security solutions group,” and was selected as the “official provider of security and cash services for the Olympics.” According to a G4S representative: “We are contracted by the Games organisers LOCOG to secure 34 competition venues and about 100 other noncompetition sites”

tors will be banned from taking bottles of water into the Olympic Park in case they are used to conceal so called ‘liquid bombs’.”

A spokesperson for G4S has given insight publicly, into their roles and responsibilities during the Olympic Games. There are 10,400 directly employed G4S members to make up the security workforce at the London 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Yet with the current recession the country has been facing some would argue that the London Olympics are one in a lifetime opportunity to attend and amounts of money spent purchasing good from official stores on the ground will only be beneficial in the long run. – However, for the guys and girls on the ground on these search teams, they will have to prepare themselves for the eventuality of having some unhappy ticket holders.

“Our aim is to help, along with other security stakeholders (police, LOCOG, military and volunteers), is to help make the 2012 London Games safe and secure for the many thousands of spectators who will be coming to watch the greatest sporting spectacular ever. We want to help make the experience as enjoyable and rewarding as possible.”

As the largest security solutions group in the world their reputation is as important as their job requirements and experience in securing large events benefits them largely.

The main concern that G4S have, is to maintain order and control during the Olympic Games. G4S are following the instructions and restrictions set out by the LOCOG, the game organisers.

When asked about what the security force will actually do during the Games the spokesperson commented: “We will be checking spectators as they arrive to watch events, keeping guard over boundary fences of venues, checking vehicles entering venues, plus a host of other roles.”

As cited in the Daily Mail, on the 7th May, one of the measures imposed will be the ban of bottled water. The Daily Mail quotes, “Specta-

Visitors are expected to comply with airport-style security which means liquids of 100ml or more will be confiscated. Critics of such restriction lie on the argument that visitors will be forced to pay high inflated prices for water once inside the grounds.

‘Excessive’ amounts of food will also be banned and instead families will have to pay upto £40 to buy a basic lunch from the official food stalls. The Daily Mail also states that during some events at the Olympic Park “many visitors were disgruntled to find that bottles of water, alcohol, hampers, picnics and cool boxes were not permitted inside the gates.” The question lies to what extent does banning ‘excessive’ amounts of food promise security for its visitors.?

It is clear that these food guidelines are seen as controversial with organisers looking to confiscate ‘excessive food’. The Daily Mail quotes: “A spokesman for Games organisers Locog said taking a sandwich in a backpack, for example, should not be a problem, but that a picnic, hamper or cool box was likely to be an issue.” Bottled water will cost spectators £1.60 and a simple lunch of a sandwich or frankfurter hot dog and a drink could cost £10 each. Some see these practices imposed as a way to encourage people to buy over-priced food rather than a security measure. But a spokesman for LOGOG spoke to the Daily Mail and said: “We have gone to considerable lengths to find great tasting, top quality food, setting new benchmark standards for the industry.”

Safety for the 120 heads of state attending the games has also been looked into in detail. In a recent article in the Mirror it was said that VIP’s attending the games will get a personal police bodyguard. It quotes: “Each of the 120 heads of state or government will be met by a ‘volunteer officer’ provided by the Foreign Office who will have experience of the culture, politics and language of the country concerned.”

Official entourages must be kept to a maximum of four including VIP’s own security panel.

“These are the first games of the modern games to be held within a city.

Sydney, Athens and Beijing were actually based outside of the cities, so hosting it this way is a much more complex undertaking”.

However the extent to how appropriate this measure will be is questionable when looking into the fact that despite embassies being offered a limousine from the sponsor BMW, a report in the Mirror says that they have been encouraged to make their own ‘flag car’ available if possible. Not only has the Olympic Route Network proven to be a controversial issue due to many planned traffic restrictions and 30 miles of dedicated Games Lanes. In a recent BBC article it was said that an Olympic Route Network will be used on London’s roads aiming to ensure athletes, officials, VIPs and media get to events on time. Each head of state will receive two passes to ensure they get through the Olympic Route Network, but they will not be able to use them for the opening and closing ceremonies. Instead the Mirror reports that VIP’s will be transported to and from the stadium by a ‘secure coach transfer’ from Central London. The question here is, how safe are these coach transfers and comfortable for the client and what is being done to accommodate their own security teams?

Circuit : : 17

LOCOG warned: “There is extremely limited parking at all venues, and dignitary convoys will be kept of a minimum.”

The Olympic village has been subject to secure by design initiatives which have been carried through to the preparations for the next Olympic event to be held in Rio, Brazil in 2016.

Secure by design SBD has mainly focused on: External Environment: Natural surveillance; Reinforcement of boundaries; Use of landscaping; Lighting and CCTV; Access control; Parking facilities; Building Shell; Building lines; Recesses and climbing access; Doors, locks, windows and glazing; other access points; Public utilities, including pits and data risers.

Internal Areas: Target vulnerabilities and risks; Access control; Staff safety; Intruder detection.

David Evans, Project Director 2012 at the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) mentions more on this in the i-comply.co.uk’ s blog article “The Olympic Games is by far the biggest event in the world,” David begins. “And we shouldn’t forget the Paralympic Games – for, although they’re less than half the size of the Olympics, they’re still the second largest event in the world. These are the first Games of the modern games to actually be held within a city. Sydney, Athens and Beijing were actually based outside of the cities, so hosting it this way is a much more complex undertaking”.

David makes a pragmatic comment that “from a security point of view, you wouldn’t actually have sited the Olympic Park in Stratford.” With waterways, roads, railways and sewage systems running through the Park, a huge amount of work has had to go into the planning of venues and infrastructure to ensure the safety of participants. “The Metropolitan Police Service understood how important it was to design security into the plans for the Games and they ensured that they had a design team embedded into the Olympic Delivery Authority from the very start. Risk assessment and mitigation of those risks have been the fundamental principles which have guided the security design and the police, together with their colleagues in the LOCOG, ODA, OSD and other government agencies have been as one in ensuring that good security planning has been to the fore.

An example of this planning is the 17km security fence, complete with surveillance systems, which surrounds the Park, a significant investment but one which does create an ‘island’ site giving freedom of movement within” David gives an example of how secured by design is cost effective. “If you looking at bomb blast mitigation, retro-fitting that sort of mitigation following the build would cost about £100m.

Building it into the design, has achieved it for £15m.”

In a more recent report made by Russia Today, it was made clear that the British Ministry of Defence are considering placing surface to air missiles on rooftops or residential buildings. The rooftop of the Bow Quarter residential complex could be used to house the weapons during the Olympic Games.

Residents however were told of such news through posted leaflets and for many the news didn’t go down so well. Many are concerned about the safety of the system with some arguing they could become a target for attack. However the UK Defence Ministry says it’s all part of an effort to counter a terror threat during the London Olympics.

The last time similar measures were used was during the Second World War, leaving many to suggest how likely is an attack to happen.

Resident Brian Whelan told Euronews: “Yesterday my girlfriend brought home the leaflet. I was absolutely shocked. I couldn’t believe that this would be announced in such a flippant way. Just a leaflet put through the door – some posters put up. I don’t think that’s any way to tell people you are putting a missile base on their roof.” Residents question whether the missile system will make them feel safer or more of a target to an attack.

18 : : Circuit

Despite all the negative uproar in relation to the security partaking in the Olympics there are many aspects which need to be kept in mind.

One thing is for sure the Games will offer exceptional business opportunities for private security industry across the UK. SIA reported that private security companies will want to make the most of extra business opportunities created during the summer. These vary from security needed throughout the five Olympic boroughs and events taking place in places like Wembley Stadium and Lord’s cricket ground.

SIA urge private businesses to be fully prepared for the events they are partaking as well as making sure they comply with all legal requirements like getting all staff fully licensed.

G4S confirmed over 105,000 people have already been interviewed for positions at the various Olympic venues, and that over 3,800 have already been deployed, either working on the Olympic Park itself in Stratford, or across the country in other venues.

With Lord Prescott calling upon the Home Secretary to hold an enquiry into the conditions of employment of security companies following an incident involving a non-BSIA member company during the Queen’s Jubilee, the issue of employee welfare for security officers is well and truly in the spotlight.

The proactive action taken by BSIA member companies to ensure employee welfare will be maintained at current levels throughout the busy summer period reinforces the value to end users of choosing a reputable security provider.

Trevor Elliott, Director of Manpower and Membership Services at the BSIA, explains: “Given the opportunity for extra shifts, there is a risk that staff might be tempted to work excessively, breaching the Working Time Directive and Department of Health and Safety Guidelines. Such actions could leave them too tired to perform effectively, creating an obvious risk to their own health and safety.

The BSIA policy confirms that employees of member companies will sign a statement to declare that they are not employed by, nor will work for, any other company unless both employment and the shifts worked are declared.”

The BSIA has already provided guidance to members on steps to be taken in planning for the Olympics, and this latest development demonstrates a commitment to the health and safety of staff, and their ability to deliver high-quality customer service, regardless of high demand. – bsia.co.uk However, during an interview with David Rubens, leading figure in the UK SME security sector, Mike O’Neil said: “It is quite possible that there will not be as much extra activity as some people are predicting.”

He spoke about what he thought the opportunities for private security operators in the UK during the Olympics would be. “It is unlikely that small families groups would be looking for ‘security services’, and larger corporate groups may well look into having one or two security people attached to their group during their stay in London, but the idea of hundreds of security teams operating across the city is not something that I am particularly confident will happen.”

For Mr. O’Neil the opportunity in the market for private security operators during the upcoming Olympics lies in companies offering their services as ‘logical support’ or ‘facilitators’ rather than the simple security provider. Could this be where the future for private security operators lies?

With the Olympic Games looming round the corner it is essential that the main concentration is solely on the safety of participants, staff and spectators ensuring the events run as smoothly as possible. It will not be until after the Games that the security will be able to be accurately judged, so there are many hopes in tack for a hardworking team of security forces.

Circuit :: OnTheJob

INTELLIGENCE And Advance Work by | Fernando Figueroa

Protecting your client goes way beyond the actual shielding. This article will explain the importance of advance work, and how you can benefit using Intel methods to further the success rate of the advance.

Here some different methods of Intelligence that a protection agent can use.

What is Intelligence? According to the Clark Task Force of the Hoover Commission in 1955....

“

Intelligence deals with all the things which should be known in advance of Initiating a course of action.

“

And according to the Military:...

“

Information and knowledge about an adversary obtained through observation, Investigation, analysis, or understanding.

OSINT: Open source Intel, available to the general public. This will probably be the best Intel, and it’s rarely used. HUMINT: Human Intel, provided by human sources.

HUMINT is one of the best ways to get Intel besides OSINT. SIGINT: Signals Intel, with COMINT (Communication Intel), ELINT (Electronic Intel), FISINT (Foreign Instrumentation Signals Intel), and IMINT: Imagery Intel. Photography, infrared sensors, lasers, electro-optics, and radar sensors.

How can a CPP agent use these methods to protect their client? Let’s start with OSINT. OSINT is a good method of collection because it’s fast, flexible, dynamic, and cheap. Let’s say your client is getting death threat calls, or dead air calls. You can get INTEL on the caller by using reverse look up such as the website http://www. anywho.com/rl.html. It would give you the person’s name and address. You can also do cell phones search at http://www. find-cellphonenumbers.com/. What about websites? Let’s say your client has made a few enemies and there is a website dedicated on bashing your client, you can see who is the owner of that site by going to http://whois.domaintools.com/ there you will have his contact information. Now how can you put a face with the name you just received INTEL on? It seems now everyone has a MySpace or Facebook page, in fact as I write this article the news just stated that Queen Elizabeth now has a Facebook page.

Lots of people post personal photos on them, sometimes revealing street address,

gang affiliations, etc, that’s why the NYPD and plenty of other Law enforcement are using them as an Intel now. Go to the search option and place the person name or email address you received doing your Intel from anywho or whois, and there you go.

When doing advance work I like to take a photo with my cell phone of the place my client would like to visit whether that is a restaurant, a nightclub or whatever.

This is using IMINT. The next day when we arrive, I may take a look at the photo and see a trash can in front of the place that wasn’t there when I took the photo, this may be a potential threat. Maybe the owner put it there to keep the front clean to impress your client? You need to keep your awareness up and doing IMINT is a great way to do so when your mind is filled with other tasks and you might or might not remember if that was there or not.

When I took my first course in Executive Protection I was introduced to advance work. Mr. Sykes told me that advance work is the key to success in the performance of a protective agent’s mission. I learnt the importance of this new term. In the very beginning on the first day of class he split the class in half and said this half is the advance team and this half is Protective detail. I was on the advance side and was a little disappointed because I wanted to guard the principal and be in the mix of the action. I later learned that my team effort is what made the principal go from point A to point B without harm at the end of the course final test. I learnt little things like if you go to advance into a mall for the first time, the fire alarms usually have that floors floor plan which will show you where the exits are (OSINT) or even where there can be a temporary safe room for the principal. Remember that T.E.A.M. stands for Together Everyone Accomplishes More or as I prefer to say “Miracles”.

Circuit : : 19

“

RANSOM & NEGOTIATION:

a Piracy Advocate The Prime Minister announced during an international conference about Somalia, a plan to create an international taskforce to better understand the ransom payment cycle and how to break it. A preliminary evaluation of banning any ransom payments could prove to be an enormous gamble. At a glance, it seems logical to mitigate the banditsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; motivation of profiteering from such crimes. However the fate of the crew has to be considered as they potentially could pay with their lives and shipping companies will have to take a massive loss. If a ship owner is denied the one guaranteed way to reassure a safe release of a ship, then operation managers will opt to not sail in the area because the risk of prosecution or total loss will be unworthy. Bearing in mind that around 40% of the world trade for oil and gas passes through the Straits of Hormuz (now considered part of the high risk area). Consequently, this would mean uncertainty for energy supplies to countries like the UK, possibly driving up energy prices. by | Stuart J. Pagett

I

t may not even yield to discourage the profit motive as the militiamen involved claim to have no alternative to make money for a living. On land, commercial businesses have developed to provide service and support to the piracy criminal enterprise.

The piracy syndicates have proven to be savvy in their ability to adapt and a ban may reduce the amount of typical attacks. It will also push them to more desperate actions completely changing the nature of the problem. A change in piracy tactics could be an escalation of aggression on the main shipping lanes or unprecedented brutal attacks on international fishing vessels that most local Somali fishermen accuse of illegal fishing. A dire outcome would be hijacking ships and cargo, turning them into phantom ships to sell the cargo at a later date, leaving all crew members dead, just like on Mv Chang Sung in the South China Sea in 1998.

On a positive note, a ransom ban policy could do the opposite and de-escalate piracy attacks completely but this would not be a long term solution to the real issue. The criminal gangs in Somalia will find other forms of criminal activity and this undoubtedly could have an impact on the international community. Another reason to justify the ban would be pirates are getting greedy with an average ransom of $600,000 per hijacked ship in 2007, rising to $4.6 million in 2011. A combination of reasons best explains the rise in ransom payments. Yes, they want more money but it is becoming more expensive as piratical operations

enhance tactical capabilities at longer ranges. Sponsors facilitating control are spending more on logistics like bigger teams, weapons, equipment, extra food and fuel.

A reduction in success plus logistical expenses will cause a higher demand for more money. If they want to settle for more money, negotiations will ultimately need to take longer thus costing more to hold the vessel captive for longer.

With all the predictions put forward no one can be confident of the outcome and only time will tell. What stands clearly evident is since 2008 the international community have been cooperating in support of the United Nations Security Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (UNSC) resolutions 1814, 1816, 1838 and more recently 2020 in order to extend the leverage of multilateral state powers. These comprehensive UNSC resolutions are a combination of hard and soft state powers, intended to reduce piracy in the region making it less desirable with punitive consequences. Even with a global increase in suspected pirates being hauled before a court and sentenced, Somalian based piracy attacks have risen year on year and lucrative profits still outweigh the risk of punishment. A true analysis would conclude multinational projects have had some success on deterring Somalian piracy but they remain inappropriate to what is required for disrupting piracy strong holds on land.

The real success is the decline in hijacks, in 2010 it stood at 49, last year it fell to 28. This achievement is partly due to better intelligence allowing the naval task forces to intervene before a piracy incident can take place but international counter-piracy efforts are expensive, costing several billions in comparison to the estimated $150 million pirates made last year from ransoms. Most of the

“

Somalian based piracy attacks have risen year on year and lucrative profits still outweigh the risk of punishment

success of deterring hijacks is down to ship management companies and owners hiring armed protection teams or adopting effective anti-piracy measures hardening the ship’s defensive posture. The use of private security is by no means the panacea to the problem. It comes with its own set of expense and legal issues but it is a stable short-term solution if regulated correctly. As proposals to ban payments are considered and nations reduce their contribution because of budget cuts. The future shows no alternatives for a long term solution to disrupt the pirate’s sanctuary. This leaves private security the best option available for reassurance because no ship has ever been hijacked with an armed security team on board.

“

THE

Circuit :: ShopTalk

STATE UNION

OF THE

OBSERVATIONS ON THE U.S. CLOSE PROTECTION INDUSTRY

the aforementioned backgrounds. Somewhere along the late 90’s and new millennium there was a shift from those former LE/MIL personnel and the industry became populated by persons with no “formal” background. This is in no way a negative outlook; however the previous vetting process left the industry with an open unsecured door. The result is an industry suffering from an overflow of trained and untrained specialists looking for job opportunities.

S

by | Eric Konohia

ince my entry into the executive protection craft I have seen many changes and the craft evolve. There was a time when we had a client meeting; we had to explain to them what executive protection is. The unfortunate state of current affairs has changed that same client meeting to explaining what executive protection is NOT. What has caused this evolution? How did it get to this point without any substantial rebuttal? To many of you there has not been any change because you came into this industry in the state it is in.

From a quick historical perspective, in the 1990’s the executive protection industry was mainly populated by EP agents with a military or law enforcement background. Agents, as they were referred to at the time, were mostly hired first and then trained for the position. The idea of an independent contractor was foreign. There were others doing bodyguard services [unlicensed] however the crux of the licensed entities was comprised of

The industry client base was split into what was defined as corporate clients and celebrity clients. That split still exists even today with the addition of the industry’s newest brother-PSD. PSD made his appearance in the public eye during the horrific 2004 incident in Fallujah Iraq when four private contractors operating for Blackwater USA were killed. Prior to this incident, PSD and its affairs was a quiet family secret. Once the media grabbed the story it immediately was labeled as a PMC [private military company] doing security in a war zone. In as much as Blackwater’s owner Erik Prince denied they were a mercenary organization, the security moniker was branded and stuck. Now the industry was split into three distinct platforms: Celebrity protection, Executive protection and PSD or High threat protection. Old school purist refused to accept the celebrity protection platform as a pure bred EP brother due to their belief that many of the bodyguards were not professionally trained as executive protection specialists. In fact many of the bodyguards touted that they were employed straight off the streets and had no professional training. But that would soon change.

Out of nowhere came a group of specialists that were interested in that celebrity market but there was a twist to their interest- these were Trained Professionals providing executive protection to celebrity clients. Soon the image of celebrity protection would take a different footprint on the industry. These professionals legitimized that market share that most of the corporate executive protection

Circuit :: ShopTalk specialist avoided. To even the most staunch practitioners [including me] have found that the split between corporate and celebrity protection has changed. The professionals that deal with these celebrities have a separate list of concerns that their corporate and dignitary brothers did not have to worry about. The celebrity personality is drastically different than that of a Fortune 100 or Fortune 500 client. In the corporate sphere they have to deal with office personalities and CSO’s whereas with a celebrity client they deal with entourages that are populated by friends and family that often feel they have as much power as the client and in some cases, they are the client. After close review of this market share I have realized that there is a leadership that maintains a standard for others to follow and model after. When you think of celebrity protection you automatically think of certain individuals who have made their mark PROFESSIONALLY. If anyone would ever like my professional opinion on who are the GO-TO Experts in that field, free to email me and I’d be happy to share my candid thoughts.

From the corporate/dignitary specialist side of the industry there has been more of an affect from the constant negativity associated with the untrained bodyguard. Why you ask? There still exists an unethical culture of a mostly untrained sub culture that has felt it is their job to publish books about the secrets of their clients and principals. Unfortunately, this has bruised the celebrity market side of professionals who have to constantly defend and separate themselves from this unethical gene pool. It has damaged trust across the spectrum of the industry to the point that many professionals are painting a wide brush stroke across the celebrity protection market space, with a one size fits all outlook. Personally I have found a space within celebrity protection population that I interact with daily to instill a professional message. It is easy for me to sit on my side of the market and watch it happen, but isn’t that against the whole premise of what I do-Protect? Sometimes we have to protect ourselves from ourselves and that is what I have taken upon myself by PUSHING the message. I try to deliver small daily nuggets of knowledge to assist my colleagues in that market in an attempt to further assist their operational tool kit and mind-set.

Aside from the obvious unethical personalities that are decaying the industry, the next issue is poor training schools. There is an oversaturated emphasis on hard skills and the true principles of protection [protective advance work, protective intelligence, surveillance detection to name a few] has taken a back seat to single point slings with M-4’s, plate carriers and thigh rigs. There are only a handful of schools teaching the true craft. Brother PSD has caused a feeding frenzy amongst even the soundest professionals in the industry.

The overwhelming need to work in a non-permissive environment has changed the training approach and doctrines. Protective driving courses are viewed as an “add-on” training modules instead of a

prerequisite and has taken a back seat [play on words] to high threat protection courses, counter assault training, advanced tactical rifle and pistol courses. The fact is this; a car will be used on EVERY detail, even if you simply, drive to work, compare that to the use of a gun, yet the glamour of donning a plate carrier is far more alluring than a skill set you will most likely need.

The concept of networking is starting to catch on to the masses in the industry. I coined a phrase, “Your net-worth is only as good as your network.” Meaning, the more connected you are to valuable assets, leaders, experts and security company owners, the more you are called upon and the more you work. which raises your value to others. Full-time employees in the private sector are a passing fad and the majority of the industry is populated with independent contractors looking to be called detail after detail.

Social media has been the biggest change in this industry since the 90’s when I entered. The ability to brand yourself and a company has changed in leaps and bounds. With the advent of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube any individual or company owner can reach thousands of specialists and clients in a matter of seconds.

With this new technology also came a discretionary factor that can ruin anyone at light speed. The power to reach the multitudes can also ruin one’s reputation in this industry with one erroneous, flagrant, unprofessional and unethical post or tweet. It takes multiple posts or tweets to get labeled as an expert or leader but just one to brand you bereft of honor. Interaction through social media tools is powerful, yet dangerous at the same time.

Just as the dust was settling, alas, in the United States, a national certification is close to our door steps. The American Board for Certification in Dignitary and Executive Protection is at the final stages of having this process accredited. There will be criteria that specialists have to meet in order to send their request before an assessment board for review. If the board feels you have met all of the training and tenure requirements, then and only then will a specialist be allowed to take the test for national certification. I have spoken to one of the leaders in this needed process and I am comfortable that the work that was put in was fair and purposeful. There will be many that will not pass due to the fact that their training did not cover the true principles of protection. Existing schools will change their curriculum in order to insure that they teach to the certification and stay in business.

So where do we go? The leadership has to rise to the occasion. The industry is full of leaders; however they are refusing to lead. Many just sit back with no input which is failing to report to duty. Others have found their comfort zone and watch from their lazy boy chair which is sleeping on post. The worst of these are the ones that perpetuate the indiscretions to the industry which are attacking the craft. We have to protect ourselves from ourselves. The rise of the new leadership is coming forth to stand watch over our beloved Craft.

Eric Konohia – President BPISecurity.com

Circuit :: ShopTalk

SETTING YOUR SIGHTS ON JOINING MARITIME SECURITY? In April’s issue we saw our first MARSEC edition of the magazine and included in that several personal insights into the industry and touched on what it is like. So I thought for this edition I would attempt to go into more depth in case it had interested anyone. by | Scott D Rumour Control -

Before I start on this subject, I thought I should try and put some rumours to bed that have been circulating for a while now about Maritime Security (Marsec) and that it’s over.

As I mentioned previously in an article, shipping can be an unpredictable business and as such the industry is always searching for methods to reduce outlay, as is the rest of commerce. After all, it’s about profit and margins and as a result of that shipping companies will look to change their security provider on a regular basis if they are offered a more favourable rate.

So what appears to be a reduction in work, isn’t always the case, it maybe just that another Marsec company has now acquired “your” contract, this has always been the norm but with the recession I think we are seeing more of it as companies shop around, and I think it will continue for the foreseeable future. The picture in Iraq and Afghanistan is slightly different where the contracts are longer.

In some cases, maritime security contracts are written purely for

24 : : Circuit

a single transit and as a result Iraq and Afghanistan work is generally more stable and as a result some operators prefer to stick to that arena.

Over the past 3 years regulatory and governance environments have evolved, organisations have started to address the need for improved operational skills within global maritime security.

If we want to ensure the contracts continue our way it is a fact that we must comply with these regulatory bodies. Having these regulations imposed upon us is not bad and will separate the companies who are complying with the governance from the ones who cannot compete as they are sometimes cutting corners to gain contracts.

With the formation of these regulatory bodies, of which there are several but the main ones are the Security Association of the Maritime Industry (SAMI), which is based upon the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Companies (PSC’s). The Aerospace Defence and Security Association in UK have formed the Security in Complex Environments Working Group (SCEG) last but by no means least, The British Association of Private Security Companies (BAPSC), all these bodies are attempting to raise standards and embrace accountability. This is where training and obtaining operational skills is and will continue to impact on us all in the future. ADS are recently been commissioned with their mandate so that wont be relevant for until at least the end of the year, but companies want-

Circuit :: ShopTalk ing to sign up to SAMI who are formed and supported by the IMO have strict standards, and included within this criteria are instructions on operational skills and documentation that must be held by their operators.

So, you could ask yourself: “What are the necessary operational skills requirement and training standards for Maritime Security Operatives currently operating in the HRA?” Or more likely: “How can I get into Maritime Security as quickly and with the minimum outlay?”

When this article went to print there were 357 signatory companies signed up to the International Code of Conduct (ICoC) for PSC’s a large proportion of them, around 200, are specialising in maritime security and a large proportion originate from the UK. There is a composite signatory document issued by the ICoC that lists the companies registered and by that, agreeing to abide by its standards is very helpful in that it gives you details of the company, what they do, accompanied by a Directors name, the company’s registered address and also their website address. It also divulges how long they have been signed up to the standards, so you can see the companies who embraced the regulation from the early days or the new companies starting up on the back of maritime, or even possibly ones that weren’t interested and are now diversifying into maritime security.

Personally, if a company name were not on that list, I wouldn’t approach them for work, but that is only my opinion. These standards are set for a reason. The list can be found on their website (www. icoc-psp.org) Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI) is another organisation that I would expect companies to be signing up to.

So where do we begin: Who can do maritime, well depending on whom you work for, virtually anyone. I won’t be liked for saying this but I will defend it, I don’t agree with that statement and luckily most companies have strict guidelines on which operators they will take on. I have been offered positions with various companies and all have had similar strict recruitment policies on standards, experience and qualifications and I stand by that.

Firstly, Experience: All reputable companies should state they wish you to be Ex Military, some prefer a minimum service period as well.

Most companies prefer Marine, Commando, Paratrooper, SF or naval backgrounds, now some of you will be moaning around this point that these guys are not necessarily better than you or have even been to sea or know more about the job, and in some case I will concur with that, but unfortunately that’s the way it is, it is a commercial world and if that’s what clients want, that’s what they get. However, on a more encouraging note I have heard of one company who took on a former hairdresser, so it’s not all bad news!

Most, if not all employers prefer you to have had hostile environment experience, some state that it must have been within a set time period, it doesn’t necessarily have to have been whilst in the military though, but private security contracts or even seconded civilian police officers working in Iraqi or Afghan forces can sometimes be sufficient experience. Also on the subject of experience, some companies put age restrictions on their operators.

Secondly, Qualifications: This is the one that always generates a good groan as a lot of guys feel that some companies purely run courses to make money (and they do, it’s a commercial world) and

sometimes you can’t get employed without doing a specific companies own internally designed course.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) having designed their Counter Piracy Course (Or to give it it’s full title is: Actions to be taken in the event of Piracy or Armed Robbery) The IMO model course is being adopted as the recognised shipping industry standard and is now offered by some maritime security companies. It is also the envisaged that course that will be compulsory for all personnel going to sea on commercial vessels in the future.

The next course is the STCW ’95 Basic Qualification course; this really is just about basic safety at sea for seafarers and the dangers and responsibilities you may face on a commercial vessel. This is mandatory and gives you a good insight into the dangers that are on vessels.

For obvious reasons, and also insurance purposes, medical qualifications are always good to have and the First Person on Scene (FPOS) is likely to be the accepted as the minimum standard in the future.

The International Ship and Port facility Security course or commonly known as the Ships Security Officer course (SSO), or Port Facilities Security Officer, (PFSO) these courses have no bearing on your ability to operate as a Maritime Security Operator. However, what it may do is demonstrate that you have taken the time; effort and money to develop your knowledge base and that you are also attempting to raise your qualifications above your competition. As long as you are aware of that and can articulate that during an interview then it will not be seen that you have just gone and trying to fill up your CV with any maritime course to attempt get your foot in the door. Lastly on the SSO, some shipping companies, especially some American ones will stipulate that you must possess the SSO qualification, so regardless of our opinions on whether it’s unnecessary, if you want to work for certain clients, then you must possess it.

A Criminal Records Bureau check is should be mandatory and this can be applied for through Disclosure Scotland for a fee around £25 and can be obtained online and takes around 14-21 days to return to you. If you have recently obtained or renewed your CP licence then you will have automatically received a Standard Disclosure Level CRB from the SIA I would suggest using that to lower your outlay, especially as it is the higher level of scrutiny than if you apply yourself. There are other rival bodies now offering this service, but are all much the same. For any company signed up to SAMI, the above qualifications and documentations are all mandatory for operators so it’s in your best interest to obtain them and hurry along your recruitment process.

One of the main pieces of documentation you must hold nowadays is the Seaman’s Discharge books, you do need one but whether you will gain employment without one is down to the individual companies recruiting policy, most companies prefer you to possess it prior to joining them, that’s because they can deploy you into certain countries straight away, it also documents your experience. However, some companies will take you on and then assist you in applying, for details on the actual process please refer the article in last edition by Jock Condon. The negative side about the Seaman’s Discharge book is you should only be authorised to possess one if you are working or scheduled to work on a UK or Norwegian Flagged vessel. So depending on your employer’s client base and where their vessels are registered will demonstrate whether you are entitled to hold one or not or how quickly you can get hold of one.

Circuit : : 25

Circuit :: ShopTalk So what other documentation should you hold? -

Apart from maybe the Discharge Book, the qualifications mentioned above are the bare minimum you should endeavour to possess before you even consider applying for a position. In these current times where there are well qualified and experienced operators out there looking for work you have to demonstrate you have made the effort improve your operational skills. So in addition I would also suggest holding some other documentation prior to even approaching companies.

Some companies will ask you to go and obtain this documentation following your interview, but if you hold it before hand it again shows you have made an effort and may give you the upper hand and you may even get you deployed sooner. Some of the following information was mentioned last edition but to keep it altogether I will mention it again. You should hold a letter from your doctor confirming you are not or have not suffered from any mental health issues or are not on anti-depressants. They will normally charge for this privilege.

You need a Maritime and Coastguard Agency Medical for Seafarers, (ENG1), or national equivalent and must stipulate you are fit for Lookout Duties. Look for the list of approved doctors in your local area on the MCA website (www. dft.gov.uk/mca) and this examination has a standard fee, normally £85. If you are considering or have been offered a position on oil and gas platforms then will require the Oil and Gas Medical Certificate (UKOG), or national equivalent.

level of nautical knowledge. Some Counter Piracy courses have terminology and practical exercises included, so should give you some assistance (and may prevent you from attending such courses and thereby saving you money).

Speak to friends and colleagues in varied companies and get a feel what’s its like. Look on the Internet search engines and read up on the situation, there is a lot of information out there that will prepare you to carryout your day-to-day job on board the vessel. I will let you decide what you think you need. At interview you will be expected to at least have a basic understanding of the issues.

Everyone will always say their company is the best, and it may well be for them, (saying that I know guys who just complain constantly about who they work for, my advice is, go elsewhere then) but not necessarily for you. Many companies work in distinctive methods, some will suit you, some may not.

I will repeat Jock Condon’s advice, ask around and thereby make an informed decision. As I said in the last edition it’s a varied job, and at times monotonous but it also depends how much effort and enthusiasm you put into it depends what you get out of it.

There are far more opportunities now than there were 3 years ago for development and promotion, so you wont necessarily stay as a Team Member or even a Team Leader and this makes it far more gratifying and challenging career choice, and compared to the “Pit” a damn site safer. I haven’t discussed daily rates at all in this article as at present I think it’s fairly futile, companies are changing The Liberian-flagged oil tanker MV Sirius Star at anchor off Last but by no means least ensure the coast of Somalia. The Saudi-owned very large crude cartheir rates and expenses at such you have all the necessary vaccirier was hijacked by Somali pirates about 450 nautical miles a fast pace to stay ahead so from nations for the areas you’re likely off the coast of Kenya and forced to proceed to anchorage this article being submitted for to visit and you are up to date and near Harardhere, Somalia, Indian Ocean. publication and actually being disyou MUST hold a Yellow Fever tributed it will have changed, the card, and yes its all-more money. best advice I can give on rates of pay is ask your mates who are I seriously recommend ensuring you take Anti-Malaria tablets. Not already working here what they are earning now. much use fighting off pirates successfully if a parasite sends you west instead.

There are several other courses I could recommend over and above what I’ve already mentioned, but at this stage they would be costly So what else can you do? and unnecessary.

I would consider applying for a firearms or shotgun licence. (This So once prepared with all or some of these courses and armed with may well become mandatory in the future). the relevant information, the rest is really down to you to sell yourIf you don’t have any military or commercial experience at sea then self to the best of your ability. possibly attending a Royal Yachting Association course or coursGood luck for anyone who decides to take the plunge, not literally es. Powerboat level 2 is a very basic starter and possibly a Shore though! based Day skippers course for charts, and buoyage work. All the In recent years Scott has operated as a Team Member, Team Leader, InRYA courses are all aimed at the leisure industry, unless you are atstructor and Validator, In-Country Manager and is now contracted as tempting your Ocean Master with a Commercial Endorsement that an Auditor with MAST Ltd. He produces articles for various industry and is! Although nothing to do with security these courses will assist recruitment publications. He previously served in the British Army as a in broadening your knowledge base and offer you a very basic faCommando Trained Royal Engineer he latterly served as a police officer miliarity with the sea and nautical terminology that once you are the UK in a variety of specialist roles including CP before his move into on board vessels or even during interview will demonstrate some the private sector. www.mast-yacht.com

26 : : Circuit

Circuit :: Feature

Keeping Your Edge

“Faster than a speeding bullet” –Superman “Go ahead Make My Day” – Dirty Harry “Real World vs. Text Book”-Elijah Shaw

W

hile I’m no Clark Kent or Clint Eastwood, within the last couple of years the line above has become somewhat of a mantra for me. It stems from the fact that I often hear individuals, many with various degrees of knowledge of the industry, critique and criticize the practices of others because that’s not “how they were taught.” They then go on to cite page 126 of this book or that manual.

Oftentimes, the books and manuals citied are military tomes or police procedures, but sometimes they sit firmly in the realm of Close Protection, echoing US Secret Service or Department of State tactics.

The problem lies in the fact that there is a difference between the examples listed above and the vast majority of close protection operations. For most of us in the private sector, functioning outside of a conflict zone, we traditionally find ourselves restricted to a 1-2 man Detail. The overwhelming force of the military, or the near unlimited budgets of the government, are not at our disposal, so it would also stand to reason that the methods for dealing with a potential threat, or nuisance, have to also be modified. We can use the manuscripts as a solid framework, but it has to function within a living, breathing, dynamic, 3D environment, AKA the real world.

Nowhere is this more apparent than with some of the armchair quarterbacking I see occurring in social media. Don’t get me wrong, as many know I’m one of the biggest supporters of the value of the global social media movement (for more on that jump back to this very issue’s foreword if you haven’t

already read it), and the opportunities it’s created in making the craft more accessible to those with the desire to network, learn, and teach. But with that also comes the ability to jump to snap judgments and faulty assumptions. With the power of the internet at your fingertips, it’s now easier than ever to snag a subjective quote regarding the “best” firearm for EP work from a Blog. Additionally, a few key strokes allows you to review a military break contact drill on YouTube, and present it to others as fact; even if you haven’t spent one day on an actual live Detail.

The internet can be one big online college if you want it to be, but ask any mechanic worth his salt, and he’ll tell you, you can only learn so much by reading it in a book, you have to roll up your sleeves, pick up the tools, and get dirty. In addition, some things in the manual just aren’t practical in the real world WHEN TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT. Let me give you an example, and it’s one that I actually use on day 1 of the Executive Protection course at my training academy. I ask the class, “Who here thinks bodyguards should carry their client’s bags?” After a little bit of prompting for an honest opinion, as opposed to just the one they think I want to hear, the class gets dividing into two camps, those that think Protectors should always have their hands free, and those that think the client is the boss and as long as there is not a perceived threat at the time, doing what the boss requests is the right way to go. That usually prompts some back and forth discussion with those that feel having hands free at all times is the way, giving very

J

ELI AH SH AW compelling answers which usually start out, “what if (__) happens?” And, the other side, countering with “The client asked us to, that’s reason enough.” For my part, I tell them they are both right --and both wrong. The X factor in their responses, is what they rarely mention. They end up omitting the “real world” from the equation, when it’s exactly that which would influence a Protector’s actions.

Moving through an airport to board a flight, with a Principal whose profile does not reveal a high probability of risk? I have no problem grabbing the bag. Take that same situation and put us on a busy street, or a receiving line, and holding bags is a no-no. So what to do? Well instead of taking a firm stance in either of those camps, I recommend finding an alternate way to achieve your and your client’s objectives. In this case, the client doesn’t want to hold the bag, it’s not that he or she wants YOU the protector to hold the bag, they just want their objective met. So taking the bag and passing the bag promptly to an aide or assistant accomplishes the task, no harm no foul.

That’s not usually written in the text book, instead that’s learned from trial and error from individuals (myself included) being faced with that situation time and again and learning how to meet the objectives. Again, most of us don’t have the benefit of chase cars, pilot cars, and decoys on a regular basis so the tactics of how to effectively secure our Principal have to be modified. If we don’t bring the Real World into our analysis of a situation, we’re just living a fantasy as imaginary as Dirty Harry or Superman.

Elijah Shaw is the CEO of Icon Services Corporation and The National Director of the North American Bodyguard Association

Circuit : : 27

Circuit :: HardTalk

CLOSE PROTECTION

IN THE With the Olympics just around the corner, and with confusing –and often contradictory – messages about the future of security licensing in the UK, it is a pleasure to talk with Mike O’Neill, one of the leading figures in the UK SME security sector, a long-time leader of the industry through his activities in the Security Institute and BSIA (where he chairs the Close Protection Section), and one of the first recipients of the title Chartered Security Professional, which has been flagged up as the latest stage in the development of a truly professional status for the UK security management sector. Mike spent many years in the Parachute Regiment, where he commanded the Pathfinder Platoon, and has been involved for equally as many years in running Greyman’s, a well-known security consultancy specialising in corporate consultancy and high-value CP projects. He has recently merged his consultancy with Perpetuity Consulting to form Optimal Risk.

28 : : Circuit

David Rubens in an Interview with Mike O’Neill CPO licensing for the Olympics I started off by asking Mike what the situation was with the issues surrounding the licensing of CPO’s for the London 2012 Olympics.

He told me that the single most important issue that had been resolved was the matter of overseas guests bringing their own CP teams. ‘The SIA and Home Office briefly looked at the possibility of allowing overseas CP teams into the UK for the duration of the Olympics, given the unique nature of the event and the additional pressures on security providers in general. However, they came back to the basic principle that if licensing and registration are necessary on grounds on national security and public safety, then that argument would be completely demolished if we allowed hundreds of unlicensed, unregistered security personnel into the UK at exactly the time when the national security threat levels were perceived to be at their highest. This has meant that the decision has been definitively taken that anyone acting in the role of a personal

Circuit :: HardTalk security officer in the UK, even during the time of the Olympics, will need to be licensed by the SIA unless they are a bona fide in-house employed contractor’.

I asked Mike whether there were any plans in place to monitor and enforce such a ruling. ‘I don’t want to give anything away, but I think that it is clear that experienced CP operators would quickly recognise another person or team working in a CP capacity, and I think that it is fair to say that if CP teams are operating in the areas where we would expect them to be – around the major hotels, at the sports venues or in high-profile social events during the Olympics – then there is a fairly high likelihood that at some stage they could be approached by someone and told that given that they are operating as a personal protection officer, could they please show proof of right to work in that capacity. It is still early days, but I think that people who are working legitimately can be confident that we will have measures in place to deal with something that is, at the extreme end, a very real possible threat to national security and public safety’.

Just before this column went to print, the government announced that the military would be involved in the Olympics security programme, with up to 7,500 personnel being seconded to various support and front-line roles. I asked Mike for his opinion on this move. ‘I think that it is a natural step to take, given the nature of the Olympics and the fact that in the military we have a pre-formed set of trained, disciplined men and women who are used to being deployed on a moment’s notice. The government has made it clear that the security around the Olympics will be a ‘blue operation’ i.e. based on normal policing activities, but I think that it is only right and reasonable that military personnel are used as a stand-by reserve force, just as they were in other major national incidents, such as foot-and-mouth disease or in times of major flooding’.

Having got the technical stuff cleared up, I asked Mike what he thought the opportunities would be for private security operators in the UK during the Olympics, and whether it would be the oncein-a-lifetime business opportunity that some people seemed to think it might be. ‘I certainly don’t think that it will be something that will allow you to radically change your retirement plans!’, he told me. ‘At the end of the day, it is about six weeks work, if you look at the Paralympics as well, and actually it is quite possible that there will not be as much extra activity as some people are predicting. After all, we do not have a serious personal security problem in London, as might have been the case, for example, in South Africa during the World Cup. It is unlikely that small family groups would be looking for ‘security services’, and larger corporate groups may well look into having one or two security people attached to their group during their stay in London, but the idea of hundreds of security teams operating across the city is not something that I am particularly confident will happen. However, where I think that there is an opportunity in the market is for those companies that can offer their services more as ‘logistical support’ or ‘facilitators’, arranging itineraries, writing security reports and risk assessments, becoming the concierge rather than the simple security provider’.

SIA licensing in the future Having touched upon the issue of licensing during the Olympics, I asked Mike what the state of play was concerning the future licensing of Close Protection Officers, especially given that the SIA had announced that there would be a major review of how the sector was licensed and accredited once the Olympics were over. ‘The major change which will occur is the licensing of companies. Although there are going to be other changes made, they are more in the way that the programme is going to be administered rather than in a major shake-up of the individual licensing concept. Anyone

Circuit : : 29

Circuit :: ShopTalk wishing to work in the sector will have to undertake a training programme and complete the licensing process much as they do now’, Mike explained. ‘The main difference is that rather than individual CPO’s applying to the SIA for their license, a number of major players in the security industry will be accredited to handle the administration of the licensing programmes, and therefore anyone wishing to work will have to go through one of those bodies in order to get the necessary accreditation’. Mike went on to give me his own vision of how the licensing of the CP sector could change over the next few years. ‘Although there is no question that the basic framework that is in place is fit-for-purpose, I believe that the new licensing procedure could give us the opportunity to build even more professionalism, and the recognition of professional excellence, into the picture. We have a situation at the moment where the right to work in the security sector is a simple binary choice – either you have a license or you don’t. So what we have is that the entry-level requirement, which is by its nature the very minimum that we could expect from entry-level operators, has become the over-all industry standard. There is no place in the present system for recognised on-going professional development. For example, I think that there is certainly a place for additional value to be given to skills such as Advanced Driving or Team Leader skills, which would then hopefully become recognised by service-buyers as being value-adding to the overall package of skills that the individual and company brings to the client, though I am aware that there are also extreme cost pressures within the industry, which means that unprofessional and relatively unskilled operators are still being preferred over professional CPO’s with the full range of skills and capabilities, purely on the basis of price. And this includes major clients who should certainly know better’.

WHERE DO

YOU

READ YOURS? 30 : : Circuit

The CP sector during a recession To sum up, I asked Mike what he thought the CP sector in general needed to do in order to maintain its viability during the coming recession. ‘I think that there are two potential scenario’s. The first is that as pay rates are pushed downwards by increased pressure from clients, we will see a general drop in professional standards as those operators with the personal and professional attributes that would have allowed them to offer a strong professional service decide that there is no point working in what will become a low-pay, low-skill sector. On the other hand, and this is something that I am hoping will happen, it is equally possible that increased financial tension will see professional people from other sectors considering the security sector as one that is appropriate for them to work in, and they will then bring all of their previous skills, experience and general professionalism into the sector, which will have the effect of up-skilling the UK security and CP sectors in general’.

I asked Mike if he had any words of wisdom to finish off with, especially with the prospect of a tough 2012 ahead. ‘There is no question that we are in tough times, and moving into what might well be tougher times. However, I am a strong believer that there is always a place for the agile operator, someone who develops a genuine understanding of the clients’ requirements, who is flexible and adaptable, and who above all can provide the highest level of professionalism and customer service, across the board and on a sustainable basis. If you are able to provide that level of service, then you have at least given yourself the chance to develop the relationships with clients that will get you through the tough times’.

My thanks to Mike for taking the time out to chat, and I would like wish all readers well for the remainder of 2012.

‘The original version of this interview appeared in the December 2011 issue of Combat & Survival magazine’.

We asked where you read The Circuit and to send in your pictures from around the world. Thanks go to the globe-trotting contributor below.

Send us yours for the next issue!

It’s a brave man that takes a magazine with a Afghan cover to Moscow and John Dagklis is that man

Circuit :: ShopTalk

Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) and what is all the hype about?

PTLLS

serves as an entry point to teaching in the lifelong learning sector and is the first step to achieving DTLLS (Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector), which is the qualification required as part of qualified teacher status.

So how can this benefit you as a security consultant?

As a Security Consultant you will often be asked to conduct some form of training in various subjects which could include: • Weapons training • First aid • Team drills and skills • Report writing But more importantly you may be asked to instruct on accredited training courses such as: • SIA Door Supervisor • First Aid at Work • Conflict Management • Ship Security Officer • SIA Close Protection • Conflict Management Having the ability to show your employer that not only do you have the subject knowledge and the relevant certifications, but you also hold an internationally recognised teaching qualification to legitimise any course you teach will greatly enhance your employability.

There is an increasing demand for people with instructional qualifications across the security industry,

and that demand will only grow as more and more companies adopt an “in-house” approach to training.

There is also the possibility of freelance training inbetween deployments or work commitments, creating another revenue stream while gaining experience as an instructor.

So how does PTLLS work

To instruct on a level 2 door supervisors course you would be required to meet the following criteria: • PTTLS level 3 • Level 3 Delivery of Conflict Management Training certificate • Level 3 Deliverers of Physical Intervention Training in the Private Security Industry • 3 years relevant experience.

As you can see, by having PTLLS level 3 and the relevant Level 3 courses you are able to teach a Level 2 SIA Door Supervision course. This is just an example how having PTLLS could be used to your advantage.

So how do I get signed up and what does it require from me

PTLLS level 3 can be achieved via distant learning, this means that no matter what your work commitments, you will be able to study towards your PTLLS certification.

Assessments can be submitted via email and by putting as little as an hour a day into your study it should only take you about four weeks to complete. However, should you find yourself with more time to study; the qualification can be achieved much quicker.

Circuit : : 31

Circuit :: ShopTalk It’s the first question I often get asked, “Is there such a thing as a low cost night sight available on the market”?

My answer has to be yes, but do look carefully at where you intend to use the device operationally, because the price should reflect your expectations and capabilities.

by | Gil Boyd B.E.M OVERVIEW Your operational circumstances will always dictate the selection of the right device and generation. I will give a very basic overview of night sights or image intensifiers as they are commonly known, and how best to select the right one for you, and what all this terminology really means in an easy to understand format.

Night sights or image intensifiers vary greatly in their price range and are simply graded by prefacing the model by the word “Gen” meaning simply Generation, and where they sit in the history and evolution of night vision. The Generation number simply reflects the level at which the technology has reached to date.

Gen 1 night sights for instance, were the original concepts used by the Military in the 1960’s, and contrary to a lot of experts, do provide the brightest image if supported Representing the latest in by moonlight, starlight or digital NV technologies in street lighting. They have now its class the DNV night been mass produced to be vision scope is the more durable than those early most compact days and also produced a lot and versatile smaller too, therefore making unit ever made. them more cost effective, acIts performance cessible and manageable. and comfort However, the downside with is comparable Gen 1 image intensifiers is that with much more they cannot tolerate bright expensive professional lights, and irreparable damunits and appreciated by age occurs to the tube if used security professionals in well lit locations or looking worldwide. directly at car headlights. Gen PRICE: £199.00 1 units also have the tell tale (Including VAT at 20%) problem of “switching off” the tube when you think you

have turned the unit off. It does have a burn down time of approximately 30 seconds and the covers supplied with most Gen 1 sights should always be used when this occurs. Some also have a pinhole in the centre of the rubber lens covers that allows just enough light in, to operate in well lit areas without causing damage to the tube.

The cover can be removed when used in darker areas supported by moonlight or other illumination aids. In this way it protects the sensitive intensified tube and prevents “burning” of the tube itself.

Second Generation night sights or GEN 2 units are built in a similar way, but allow for the on/off switch to control the power to the intensified tube, and when turned off, the tube is off immediately, so no damage can be caused to it. GEN 2 units do have issues of honeycombing on the screen, which is caused by the manufacturing process, but can be very tiring on the eyes over long periods of surveillance.

Newton Sport Optics - Hornet 5x50 Night Vision Digital Monocular

32 : : Circuit

Dimensions:190 x 60 x 85 mm Magnification 5.0x FOV 4° Weight 400g Infra Red: Yes Lens: 50mm Battery: 1x CR123A PouchCase: Yes Generation: Digital

It must always be remembered that image intensifiers will only produce an image if there is enough ambient light present, to support them like starlight, so even if you buy the very best with the greater Generation number behind it, it will still need assistance when operated in no light areas.

For example, if you go into a basement in complete darkness, a Gen 4 image intensifier

Circuit :: ShopTalk or any intensifier will not produce any usable image unless supported by illuminators or infra red light. Many first generation night sights come with a basic infra illuminator attached to the chassis of the unit operating at between 715 and 840nm (nm- nanometre a unit of special measurement) which is a visible red light omitted from the front. These illuminators are normally short range and often use the same battery power used to power the night sight.

omitted from either a tell tale illuminator or laser attached to a night sight are a dangerous technology in the wrong hands.

HOW DO NIGHT VISION DEVICES WORK

I spoke about 715 to 840 nm earlier and its inherent visible issues, these issues surrounding illumination cannot be overstated especially if used in support of covert surveillance of a target who may “be aware”, and who may be employing counter surveillance techniques.

It therefore follows that this active “visible” infrared light frequency can be detected by night vision aids looking back at you, with an obvious risk of giving away your position or presence. There are alternative covert solutions to use in support of night vision in a different part of the spectrum of light. These can be found at around 940 nm providing effectively, covert light or illumination onto the target that cannot be seen by the naked eye.

Perhaps a short précis on how night vision works would help you to understand what you intend to buy and why.

What you are about to buy, is effectively an amplifier of light. Photons float around the atmosphere we occupy, and then enter the intensified tube at the front end normally where the zoom lens is found or the main frame of your night sight. This tube then converts the Photons into Electrons by magnifying millions of times the particles of light entering the tube by the use of the onboard power or electrical charge which then change them back into Photons so you can see the image on a Phosphor screen where the eyepiece is.

Lasers can be used in short bursts at greater lengths to provide illumination on a dark area, but one must always be aware of compromise if a beam is concentrated on a target. Many such lasers come with a variable focus adjuster to allow common sense to prevail.

Yukon Exelon 3 x 50 Gen 1+ Night Vision Monocular

This phosphor image can be Red or blue, or the most common used by manufacturers for the surveillance and Military marketplace is green except when used in Military aviation such as tactical helicopters.

Green has been found to be easier on the eye.

So this is the image you see through the eyepiece, which for parallax purposes also provided on a monocular for instance, a magnified adjuster.

This is to compensate for eye variations we, as humans have in both eyes, and it is normal for the unused eye to be closed whilst in use, to preserve an element of vision in night time operations.

The green phosphor green also assists in the “night vision” properties being retained in one or both eyes, as white light destroys the eyes capability to recognise images at night until the rods and cones making up the eye’s protection for light entering the eyeball have recovered.

DEVICES IN SUPPORT OF NIGHT VISION There is an abundance of overt and covert lighting available in support of night vision for use at varying distances. Clearly in covert operations a red glow

Featuring enhanced operating characteristics. Combination of a CFSuper tube and a highaperture 50mm R-Contact objective lens provides a distortion free, crisp and geometrically precise image on the entire surface of the screen. The CF-Super light amplification ratio of 1200 essentially exceeds a similar value of the gen. 1 tube. This feature gives the EXELON 3 x 50 a great viewing range and high degree of detailed recognition of observed objects. In field conditions (under natural night illumination of 0.05 lux) the unit can detect objects at a distance of up to 500 meters, and recognize them within a 230-270 metre range. Wide field of view perfectly describes the EXELON 3 x 50 as a monocular ideally suited for observing moving objects. Along with fine ergonomics, the EXELON 3x50 can be easily transported and is perfect for use in harsh field conditions.

Coupled with various accessories (IR flashlight, photo and video adapters), the EXELON 3x50 is not merely an observation device, but also an excellent means for image recording.

• Built-in Infrared Illuminator featuring Yukon’s PULSE™ System • Lightweight & Compact • Durable, RUBBER Body & Waterproof • Open Field or Long-Distance Observation & Photo/ Video Adaptors available PRICE £240 (including VAT@20% currently available at UK suppliers)

A simple 940nm black filter for instance can be used over powerful torches to illuminate an area covertly, providing support to night vision and many low light CCTV cameras or indeed camcorders with sensitive chip technology employed.

SUMMARY My low cost solutions to 90% of surveillance operations would be the GEN 1 units given as examples below, but as your ability and your professionalism shifts, so should your choice of image intensifier, and it is then you should look at for example the COBRA TITAN GEN 2 which many ex Forces employed on Maritime duties prefer costed at about £1600 RRP here in the UK. Gil Boyd formed the Home Office Hostage Siege Technical Requirements Group whilst serving in a UK Police Force for 30 years where he designed many specialist items of equipment still used today to counter Hostage/Siege and aircraft hijackings. He runs his own company Goodman Bentley Spec/Ops Design & Security Company: www.goodmanbentley. com He is also the Technical Director of the British Security Association and advises corporate businesses, blue chip companies and Royal Palaces on specialist personal and physical security and TSCMI measures: www.britishsecurityassociation.com

Circuit : : 33

Circuit :: Events

Welcome to our Events page Helping you with your networking needs, here we will feature some of the next quarter’s upcoming events, if you would like to list your event, please contact Christina@circuit-magazine. com

PTSD Resolution (charity No. 1133188) is organising a oneday course for managers in ‘Trauma Awareness Training for Employers’ – November 29th 2012, London (£199 plus VAT) visit www.ptsdresolution.org/tate

Emergency Services Show: If you would like to attend this event and review for us please get in touch!

CSARN Training – We will be giving a full review of the CP

Registration is now open for the UK’s leading emergency services event which takes place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire from Wednesday 21 November - Thursday 22 November.

Featured Events..........

PTSD Resolution Training: RECOMMENDED – This is a must attend course to help identify the risks and build awareness of PTSD. We recently attended the CSARN CP Networking event and PTSD Resolution were in attendance, I would strongly advise that if you get a chance to hear one of their talks you get yourself along, full of interesting and useful information that everyone in this industry should be made aware of. PTSD Resolution assists ex service personnel with no charge and gives them excellent support.

networking function that was held at the Cavalry & Guards Club on 18th June. We found the event itself very insightful and pulled in many experts from across the industry. Keep an eye on their website for future events and confirmed dates of these.

CSARN Cyber Security: risks in social media - half day Threats, risks and opportunities across social media to business (and the advent of countering fraud and terror funding through ‘wargaming’), are covered by our experienced cyber security trainer and adviser to UK and international police forces.

City of London and on client sites upon request October 2012

Date

Event

Type

Location

Aug 22 - 24, 2012

Secutech Vietnam 2012

Regional security

Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

Aug 24-25, 2012

Combining Piracy: West African Maritime Security

Maritime Security

Le Meridian, Piccadilly, London

Aug 28, 2012

ADI Expo - Philadelphia, PA

Company sponsored

Cherry Hill, United States of America (USA)

Sep 3 - 7, 2012

CBRNe Asia 2012

Conferences / seminars

Bangkok, Thailand

Sep 10 - 13, 2012

ASIS International 2012

Conferences / seminars

Philadelphia, United States of America (USA)

Sep 11, 2012

ADI Expo - Vancouver, BC

Company sponsored

Vancouver, Canada

Sep 12, 2012

Samsung Smarter Security Day Belfast 2012

Company sponsored

Belfast, United Kingdom (UK)

Sep 12, 2012

Security Canada Atlantic 2012

Conferences / seminars

New Brunswick, Canada

Sep 18 - 22, 2012

Prague Fire & Security Days 2012

International security

Praha 9 - Let?any, Czech Republic

Sep 19 - 20, 2012

Siqura Technical Training September 2012

Company sponsored

Amsterdam Zuid-Oost, Netherlands

Sep 25 - 28, 2012

Security Essen 2012

International security

Essen, Germany

Sep 27, 2012

ADI Expo - Santa Clara, CA

Company sponsored

Santa Clara, United States of America (USA)

Oct 2, 2012

ADI Customer Appreciation Event Ottawa, ON

Company sponsored

Ottawa, Canada

Oct 3 - 4, 2012

Integrated Security Solutions Expo

Technology areas Integrated Systems

London, United Kingdom (UK)

34 : : Circuit

$ Circuit :: ShopTalk

TERROR CHALLENGES IN ASIA:

THE TRILLION DOLLAR MARKET

G

lobal spending on Homeland Security now stands at about $200 billion annually. But with budgets in Asia now set to increase by 30-percent in its trillion-dollar-plus market, where China, India, Japan and Saudi Arabia are closely followed by the South-East Asia tigers, the message is clear: Asia is already almost as big a market as the United States, which accounts for one third of the world’s Homeland Security expenditure.

But unlike the US, it’ll be a mistake to look at the security situation in Asia as one constant. Asia has many geostrategic regions, each with its own peculiarities, presenting challenges that are either indigenous or insurgencies that survive on cross border support.

The indigenous insurgencies and sometimes conflicts with communal divides have their roots in poor governance and corruption, ethnic inequalities and sense of persecution by the State. In India, these can be seen in the Maoist movement across the centre and the tribal insurgency in the north-east, whereas in Pakistan it is the Shia-Sunni divide, the Balooch insurgency and the Pashtun disaffection in the NWFP (Af-Pak region). Russia’s Chechen problem and China’s battle against discontent in Xinjiang, as well as the Kurdish problem across Iran, Iraq and Turkey all fall in these categories. These require a combination of police cum military operations adhering to the minimum-force dictum to contain the problem, backed with imaginatively delivered packages that address the core grievances of the locals, employment, education, housing and roads.

The second challenge is posed by proxy wars and

by | Maroof Raza

trans-national threats. This is sometimes even used as an instrument of policy by certain countries, such as Pakistan’s support for cross-border groups that operate in Kashmir which has added momentum to the failures of New Delhi policies, or Islamabad’s support to the Taliban groups in Afghanistan.

Likewise, Israeli support for the Jundullah to undermine the Iranian government and the Iranian support for Hezbollah in Lebanon, or more recently the anti-Bahrain and anti-Saudi groups in the Gulf, are prominent examples.

Finally, trans-national terror groups either linked with or inspired by Al-Qaeda - from Philippines to Iraq have inspired their cadres with radical Islam. While Osama bin Laden has been eliminated and Al-Qaeda may be in tatters, his legacy continues to motivate suicide bombers from Pakistan to the Gulf States.

The challenge they pose is still not insignificant, and most difficult to counter.

A heady cocktail of these threats have made Asia the world’s fastest-growing Homeland Security market.

The Circuit will be reporting direct from Securing Asia 2012, a unique initiative to be held in London from 25th to 27th June at the QE-II Centre, which will not only showcase the technologies and training methodologies that Asian countries need, but will bring together, for the first time, the buyers and the suppliers under one roof, to equip Asian countries for their battles ahead. Look out for the breakdown of the action in the next issue of the magazine, and follow the other post-event information on the Securing Asia 2012 homepage. http://www.securingasia2012.com

http://www.securitywatchindia.org.in

Maroof Raza is a well-known commentator on military and homeland security issues, especially on television, appearing frequently on TIMESNOW, India’s leading television news channel. He also writes for the editorial pages of The Times of India and The Hindustan Times, and a regular column in the monthly magazine he publishes, “Salute”.

Circuit : : 35

Circuit :: ShopTalk

NEW TO THE CLOSE

PROTECTION BUSINESS? Here’s how you

Walk the Walk by | Doc Rogers Quiet Community As Close protection operators we don’t need to back our ‘talk’ with action.

The fact is we shouldn’t be talking in the first place, talkers are often not good doers. We are participants in the quiet community, we don’t need to talk the talk in our business; talk is cheap.

The trade is harder to actually perform, being our actions should speak louder than our words. This business of ours is not a job; it is a lifestyle, whereby we devote ourselves to a set of honorable principles. One’s that are impossible to fully achieve because of the lifelong learning disciples involved. This is our quest, to start working on making them real.

Smarter and Stronger We need to look deep inside ourselves, to determine if we really are practicing what we preach. Nothing we say matters and action is the only thing that counts. Are we truly devoting ourselves each day to the perfection of the close protection trade?

The physical and mental disciples that are seldom discussed in the field are to be stronger and smarter than the strongest and smartest potential foe we may face in our operational area. From the moment we wake, we must have these thoughts on our mind, that’s the discipline. Be obsessed, not enthusiastic.

Your Own Footsteps There are many wannabes in our industry, who seek the position of a Close Protection Operator, who may talk a good game. But when it comes down to action, they are useless and ineffectual. It’s way harder than they thought. These individuals would be better off enduring long hours of self-study through books, magazines, and the internet also team practice than talking the talk. If you meet these types of individuals guide them by your own footsteps. Teach them not to talk about it, but do it. If the opportunity presents itself invite them to a formal close protection training session. Show them the way.

Thoughts, Desire and Action To really walk the walk our thoughts have to turn into desire and our desire into action. We must be professionals and true to ourselves even when no one is looking. We should follow the ethics of “well

36 : : Circuit

Circuit :: ShopTalk done is better than well said.” Nothing just happens; it happens because you planned it to happen. As Close Protection Operators we must be willing to give ourselves daily to the physical and mental challenges for what seems to have become a forgotten word, honor.

effectiveness of the physical and mental stimulus of your workout as well as develop strength, stamina and power necessary for demanding Close Protection tasks. If you are out of shape; start out slow and check with your doctor first before beginning your new aggressive and dynamic exercises regime.

Pursuit of Excellence

Associate

To ensure we are devoting ourselves and walking the walk each day towards close protection excellence, the following suggestions will help us navigate these often uncharted waters.

Learn Set a career education goal to read a book a month, five articles a month and two magazines a month that help you progress as a Close Protection Operator. Stay current on world affairs and on the tools and methods that will help you in the Close Protection trade. Keep a learning mindset to obtain that elusive goal of “close protection perfection” and to keep you ahead of the industry learning curve. Your daily learning objectives should have clarity and purpose. Keep hammering away.

Exercise Develop career exercise goals that will assist you in the industry.

I’m not talking about a casual jog around the park. You need to engage in blood pumping and muscle aching workouts with bursts of adrenaline that duplicates the actions you will take on the job in worst-case scenarios with focused intensity. This will increase the

Get out and meet other Close Protection Operators and industry leaders in your area. Set these meetings up online. But make sure you have face-to-face, meet-and-greet and grip-and-grin connections. Know the importance of hanging out with the movers and shakers of the close protection world. By associating with other Close Protection Operators you will build good social skills, make friends, form strong relationships and build connections in the industry. Talk to the people you meet. Make them feel as if they are the only ones around. Show attention, interest, desire and action. Also be an excellent listener. Offer your assistance, help support and resources. Be a giver, not a taker. We are the results of the associates we meet. Follow these suggestions and throughout your career you will walk the walk of a true and honorable Close Protection Operator.

Keep Safe and God Speed, Doc Rogers About the Author Doc Rogers is the director of executive protection for International Corporate Executive Protection. He is also the author of a new book: How To Build Your Own Executive Protection Business

Circuit : : 37

M aritime Security Intel ... marsec Piracy theat continues in the worlds oceans At the start of June I had the pleasure of visiting the Triskel Services operations centre in London where we met up with the Deputy Maritime Operations Manager, Jordan Wylie and Senior Intelligence Analyst, Anthony Mensier.

The Triskel team were very accommodating and gave us an insight into the world of maritime security operations management. It was a very interesting and highly informative experience for which we were very grateful for the opportunity.

I was shown in depth, the complexity of a maritime security team’s deployment and all the issues that the management team face to ensure the task is completed to the highest of standards, ensuring legal compliance and always exceeding the client’s demands.

I had seen the various procedures which included vetting and selection procedures for consultants, visa application process for operators, weapon licensing issues, pre deployment briefs, continuation training programmes, the procurement and delivery of all specialist equipment to the security teams and much more.

It was fascinating to watch the operations team in action and certainly presented a different perspective from that of being at the sharp end of the industry.

It became very clear to see why having a very strong operational and logistical support team was crucial to the success of all maritime security operational deployments. It also

facts ...

38 : : Circuit

became apparent very quickly that everything in the international shipping world is subject to change last minute and delays and timings are never set in stone, so flexibility and prior planning are a key element of effective security management in

the maritime security sector.

Anthony Mensier who is one of Triskel’s senior intelligence analysts gave us an in brief overview of on the current threat and an intelligence update on the evolution of piracy and the changing tactics

All year incident pattern, offshore reach and types of attack - 1 May 2010 - 14 June 2011

In 2011, at least 3,863 seafarers were fired upon by Somali pirates armed with assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades in attacks, causing fear amongst the thousands of seafarers who transit through the Gulf of Aden each year

“A total of at least 1,206 hostages were held captive by Somali pirates in 2011. These included 555 seafarers who were attacked and taken hostage during the year, 645 hostages captured in 2010 who remained in pirate hands during 2011, and 6 tourists and aid workers kidnapped on land. “

which was informative and interesting to say the least.

I had learnt that it has become very clear recently that the intensity of Pirate activity has reduced significantly in recent months, with the number of attacks cut by more than fifty per cent in the first 4 months of 2012 than those of 2011 (from 120 to 58 attacks reported approximately).

Indeed, among other factors, the increasing disruption of mother ship operations and the neutralisation of pirate assets directly on the Somali shores will surely have hampered pirates’ operational capabilities. At this stage it is still too early to de-

clare that Somali piracy has turned into a new phase of its evolution, it remains very clear that private and international naval counter piracy measures are currently showing increased signs of efficiency.

One possible explanation for this phenomenon is that the successful combination of private armed security teams, passive protection measures and interventions from the coalition task force has proved a highly effective response to the increasing threat. Many pirate operations have largely been disrupted and this has prevented many hijacking attempts thus hampering a large part of the financial flow of ransom income, which is needed to support future operations.

The continued neutralization of their maritime assets and key equipment has contributed to accentuate this situation, as a consequence, remaining pirate groups have been forced to adapt to the new constraints and have responded with sporadic attacks which have been observed a great distance from pirate traditional areas of operations in the last few months, including the Straits of Hormuz and even off the Maldives to the East.

It should be highlighted that the assailants appear to have tested new tactics and operational procedures, pirate action groups have recently been keeping a low profile and identifying the different patrol areas of international navies and coalition warships before planning and mounting attacks on lesser protected and potentially more vulnerable targets. Another tactical innovation would be to remain stationed on isolated islands or beaches, waiting for a potential target to transit through natural choke points.

The South West monsoon will sig-

“The average length of captivity has also increased by 50% over last year, up to an average length of over 8 months. Often these hostages face systematic and daily psychological and physical abuse and were even used as human shields.“

nificantly deteriorate the weather conditions in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea and will restrict freedom of movement for many of the Pirate Action Groups. As we have seen for the last three years, this will more than likely result in a change of their area of operations and we will see increased activity in the GoA, Red Sea and Bab El Mandeb Straits or known as “Gate of Grief” in Arabic.

TOP: Attacks and Hijackings in the Red Sea - Gulf of Aden Jan - May 2012

BOTTOM: Attacks and Hijackings in the Aribian Sea - Indian Ocean Jan - May 2012

“35 hostages died during 2011: 8 were killed by pirates during an initial attack or after being taken captive; 8 died from disease or malnutrition while being held; and 19 died in crossfire while being used as human shields and during hostage rescue attempts “ Source http://www.icc-ccs.org

Circuit : : 39

H ostile Environment Intel ... hostile Current threats in the hostile areas Understanding of hostile regions informs how you operate The term hostile region is used so frequently in the PSC world one might expect it to be a widely accepted or defined term.

Hostility boils down to perceptions of different actors’ profile and intentions. Quite simply, what an individual or company may be viewed differently by those with different stakes, what they seek to gain or lose from this new influence, and this will affect whether they are received.

This is important to recognise for those involved in providing security, as it informs how you interact with the outside world and how you might mitigate these risks.

Types of threat?

One should always put risk mitigation techniques in line with the actual threat and not the perceived threat.

This naturally puts risk assessment and planning at the forefront of all good security management plans.

The different causes of hostility are too many to list here but of equal importance is how it can be manifested. Consider kidnap, criminality, civil unrest and terrorism.

Threats most likely Putting aside what grabs headlines, often low probability, high impact events (such as kidnaps) a good risk assessment affects the techniques that a person or a company uses to look after its employees. A nuanced approach to security is necessary

hotspots ...

40 : : Circuit

Sudan:

in terms of efficiency and costeffectiveness. In reality, business is slowed by medical and transit risks more than security risks, but all must be considered when putting together a security plan.

Libya Take Libya for example. The environment in some areas of the country has been seen to deteriorate in some areas over the past two months, with foreign government buildings and a convoy attacked.

This would appear to warrant the upper-armour on some convoys that many have deployed from the start, and with it the maintenance of a very high profile. But is a low-profile, locally-fronted approach more appropriate in certain situations?

The real point is that all of these techniques are better informed by looking carefully at the current risks in relation to the project or mission that is going on, and importantly, keeping the risk assessment adaptive to react to the changing environments.

Monitoring It is essential to monitor such a fluid situation and put appropriate security measures in place at the appropriate times, News that an “IED” was dropped near a US-run facility in June 2012 might suggest high profile, heavily armoured approach was right. But a look at the capabilities of Libyan groups making pipe-bombs; they are currently less

Recent austerity measures and increasing inflation have led to protests calling for the overthrowing of President Omar alBashir. Demonstrations reminiscent of the Arab Spring.

Libya:

sophisticated than Afghan IEDmakers who have been honing their skills on the battle-field for years (introducing non-metallic elements to make discovery harder). Then consider that an al Qaeda-affiliated group claimed the attack in revenge for the (alleged) killing of Abu Yahya al-Libi, and the tactics that they could import from other areas, evidenced most recently in Iraq and Pakistan.

Clearly a risk assessment should be an on-going process.

All-source approach With the proliferation of information now so easy for anyone with access to a computer and an internet connection there is little excuse to not do your homework ahead of deployments. Ad hoc, informal personal networks have long been the staple form of pre-deployment briefings and while valuable these can propagate mis-truths and provide operators with information from the ground that is out of date. As such, an ability to weave in information from a variety of sources and recognise different value in a variety of information streams, will allow for a better understanding of the risks, and ultimately, how best to mitigate them.

Identifying threats AKE’s Global Intake world risk map shows areas that we believe pose the high security risks based on a combination of war, external tension, civil unrest, crime and other internal

The militant takeover of the major highway connecting east and west signals internal insecurity regarding the upcoming national elections. More violence anticipated.

issues. Within these, threats such as kidnap are also included. Personnel seeking to trial the online product should email intel@akegroup.com

Conclusions The massive growth sector that is private security is currently looking for its next big commitment following reduction in demand in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many have mentioned the Middle East as a potentially lucrative market due to recent turmoil of the Arab Spring, while others consider Mexico a potential goldmine (presumably putting aside the government’s attitude to PSCs and concentrating on the extraordinary levels of violence there). Operators seeking to gain employment would benefit from a greater understanding of the particular risks that different regions pose in an increasingly crowded market.

Current and future hotspots

Global Hostile Threats

Iraq: improving security situation?

According to stats collected by AKE, the week of 11-15 June 2012 was the most violent seven day period since the March 2010 elections. There were over 100 countrywide attacks most of which were related to the security forces or either the Shi’ah or Kurdish community.

Afghanistan/Pakistan: kidnap on the rise?

Soft targets in Pakistan are increasingly being targeted by insurgent groups, some of which are using the tactic Mexico: armed conflict to spread to raise funds, with increasing to Mexico City sophistication. But while “soft” foreign The capital is the last bastion of safety targets are an increasingly at-risk group, middle to upper-class Pakistanis in some senses, but is increasingly are most at risk. under pressure from warring organized criminal groups. Protective Colombia: rising kidnap threat measures, both human and through amid new legislative challenges hardening of facilities, is already There is an increased risk of kidnap in underway but is likely to increase as Colombia, but at the same time the insecurity spreads. government is considering legislation that will make the payment of ransom North and central Africa: rising AQ payments extremely difficult. The threat? attitude of the government is mostly With increased pressure from drone hostile. attacks in places such as Pakistan and Yemen, groups affiliated with al Qaeda, such as Boko Haram and AQIM have gained an increasing foothold.

Airstrikes and drone attacks in Mali show that groups are increasing their influence amid unstable political climates and consequent security vacuums.

South China Sea: Choppy waters Increasing tensions in the South China Sea will increase, particular in areas where oil and gas exploration is ongoing. This will continue to pit ASEAN and the US against Chinese influence. Small scale skirmishes are likely, as is more threatening rhetoric.

Kenya:

Two Iranians arrested in possession of military grade explosives just before an attack at a bar in Mombasa. Believed they were targeting Israeli owned businesses and citizens.

Bahrain:

Bomb making factory discovered, foiling a major terror plot in Salamabad, with evidence that those involved were receiving logistical support and outside training.

Circuit : : 41

C ommercial Security Intel ... cpo/ep

CSARN (City Security Reliance Networks) will be assisting to bring you regular updates from their Intelligence wing. They have provided an insightful report with the view of Executive Protection in mind (specifically in this edition the Olympics) . They have expanded on some of the points raised in our Olympics - SECURING LONDON 2012 - Dangerously Neglected or Unreasonably Excessive report.

Please visit their website and keep up to date with Security updates. http://www.csarn.org/ This special report will provide an overview of threats and threat actors in summary: • Comparatively minor single issue protests are the main threats likely to emerge during the games • Terrorism is a serious concern, but undoubted intent is not matched by unbounded capability • More prosaic risks also exist, particularly from the weather and strain on infrastructure Key Dates / Critical Timing Points Torch Relay: 19 May – 27 July Paralympic Torch Relay (24hr Relay): 28 August – 29 August The Torch Relay is well underway, and has so far been without significant incident in the close security envelope of the TST (Torch Security Team). However, we are aware of at least one attempt to ‘get to’ the torchbearer (on 19 May near Land’s End), during which a man was tackled into a hedge. In one other case, a man was charged after threatening to ‘blow up’ his camper van as the torch passed through Taunton, Somerset – but there is no evidence that he possessed any such capability.

Games Opening Ceremony: 27 July Olympic Games (Competitive Period): 25 July – 12 August Games Closing Ceremony: 12 August Paralympics Opening Ceremony: 29 August Paralympics Closing Ceremony: 9 September As park and stadium security will be extremely tight, any protests or other activism will most likely take place outside the venues or elsewhere in London (i.e. will not affect the ceremonies themselves). The closing ceremonies may well offer similarly symbolic target dates: although no events or plans have been identified, groups may well wish to express ‘good riddance’ to the Games and Paralympics by staging protests or other actions/events on 12 August and 9 September.

opinion ...

42 : : Circuit

Diplomatic observations

A Libyan armed group called Sheikh Omar Abdul Rahman Brigade has claimed responsibility for the recent attacks in Benghazi, targeting the ICRC headquarters and the US diplomatic offices in the city, amongst others. The brigade is named after “The Blind Sheikh”, Omar Abdul Rahman, currently serving a life sentence in North Carolina for his alleged

During this event significant protest groups in the Counter Olympics Network, in connection with other groups including Occupy London, are set to stage a ‘mass mobilisation’ .

connections to the 1993 World Trade Centre bombings. The group is also responsible for the recent attack on the British Ambassador’s Convoy, on 11 June and for a second attack on the ICRC offices in the city of Misrata on 12 June which has led to the injury of a young Libyan, the son of the owner of the complex, and has caused material damage to the organization’s building. –CSARN

Men’s 20km Race Walk: 04 August, 17:00 Women’s Marathon: 05 August, 11:00 Men’s 50km Race Walk: 11 August, 09:00 Women’s 20km Race Walk: 11 August, 17:00 Men’s Marathon: 12 August, 11:00 Men’s Cycling - Road Race: 28 July, 10:00 Women’s Cycling - Road Race: 29 July, 12:00 Women’s Cycling – Ind. Time Trial: 01 August, 12:30 Men’s Cycling – Ind. Time Trial: 01 August, 14:15 Women’s Triathlon (Hyde Park): 04 August, 09:00 Men’s Triathlon (Hyde Park): 07 August, 11:30 Paralympics –Marathon Events: 9 September, 08:00 & 11:30 Paralympics – Cycling Time Trials: 5 September, 10:30 & 14:30 Paralympics – Cycling Road Races: 6 September, 10:30 & 14:30 Paralympics – Cycling Road Races: 7 September, 10:30, 14:00 & 16:30 Paralympics – Cycling Road Races & Relay: 8 September, 10:30, 14:30 & 17:45

All of these events feature open stretches that are essentially ‘public’, in that no tickets are required to spectate from many points on their routes. Any groups or individuals wishing to gain attention at a competitive event have the greatest chance of doing so at one of these competitions – as security cannot exhaustively cover every yard. The most publicity-grabbing ‘action’ would perhaps be to directly interrupt a race in progress, and we may well see attempts to run onto or affect the courses in a way that would achieve this. The impact of any such attempts will ultimately depend on the efficacy of race security – although more ‘creative’ actions (as previously discussed, including graffiti, throwing items onto the course or the use of remote control vehicles) may be very difficult or even impossible to stop.

We are aware of one specific event scheduled to take place on the day of the men’s cycling road race: “J28 – Whose Olympics? Day of Mass Action / Mass Mobilisation” Due 28/07/12

During this event significant protest groups in the Counter Olympics Network, in connection with other groups including Our Olympics, No UK Tar Sands, Coalition of Resistance, Occupy London, Save Leyton Marsh and Drop DOW Now are set to stage a ‘mass mobilisation’ – with most details yet to emerge. It has been branded by the Counter Olympics Network as ‘NO LIMOS, NO LOGOS’, which could imply plans to protest against LOCOG’s expenditure on high-importance guests (‘LIMOS’, provided by BMW) and the sponsors (‘LOGOS’, with Dow and BP being the most prominent targets).

Planned Protest Severe action is planned for 28 July – the day after The Games officially commence. The umbrella organisation, Counter Olympics Network (CON) has planned the protest to take place between Mile End and Victoria Park in East London in what another anti-Games hub, Our Olympics, hopes to become “the greatest act of non-violent

civil disobedience of our time.” The group is demonstrating against numerous Olympic sponsors for a variety of reasons including alleged use of slave labour. One of the most highlighted targets remains Dow Chemical, which currently faces a £1.1 billion compensation lawsuit by the Indian Supreme Court over the 1984 Bhopal gas leak disaster in India. – CSARN

Circuit : : 43

C ommercial Security Intel ... cpo/ep

Risk Overview - Terrorism Terrorism is quite clearly one of the most serious threats facing the games. There are four main possible threat groupings: • Actors formally linked to major jihadist groups, mainly al-Qaeda and its franchises • Lone wolf jihadist actors • Dissident Irish Republicans • Other political extremists (e.g. neo-fascists) Given the recent considerable attrition to al-Qaeda’s central core, and the fact that even franchises are struggling to recruit (and are more focused on their own local areas, plus targeting the US and Israel) We consider that the most likely jihadist scenario remains a lone wolf attacker – possibly from an unexpected minority - succeeding in using comparatively minor explosive devices in crowded places near, but not inside, major venues. In this regard outdoor areas where people are due to assemble – e.g. Hyde Park – are perhaps the most prominent potential targets. Transport infrastructure is also a proven and attractive target, although we expect a comparatively high security presence around hubs. Open source jihad, i.e. the publication of details on how to make explosives on the web, has helped promote such activity – although the quid pro quo is that the devices used are likely not to be particularly effective.

The threat from Dissident Republican groups mainly comes from the Real IRA and Oglaigh na hEirann.

Dissident Republican groups are known to have carried out reconnaissance in London and there is a large, itinerant Irish population to draw on for support.

However, capability on the mainland is assessed to be extremely low. The greater risk is therefore of an attention grabbing attack in Northern Ireland itself, aiming to capitalise on media coverage. In London, the main threat is probably a complex hoax, as was seen in May 2011, which brought some disruption to the West End. A hoax would have a significant impact on already strained travel resources, especially if aviation was involved The final threat segment – the single individual or small group motivated by other political issues, e.g. neo-Nazism – is perhaps the most worrying as it is the hardest to predict. It has also already emerged, in the form of the 1996 bombing at the Atlanta games, which was over abortion. Recent interdicted schemes of this nature in the UK have even seen the preparation of

latest ...

44 : : Circuit

An eye on the emerging threats There is not time to do justice to all of them here, but it is right to consider how far the economic crisis in the EuroZone area is likely to lead to a rise of political extremism. There is some evidence of this in the results of the Greek elections. Also, anarchist groups in some European countries have been active and violent.

ricin for use in genocide attacks. However, the same constraints of effectiveness apply as for other lone wolves. Targeting will of course reflect the single issue focus, and in this regard national delegations may be a significant threat driver.

Risk Overview – Environmental & Health It is likely to be hot, and queues outside venues and for transport could be long. Water is banned from being taken into venues due to airline-style “mag and bag” security measures, although it will be available inside.

This still has possible implications for those queuing and it is wise to plan accordingly. On a side note, only Visa cards will be permitted for payments inside venues and this could catch out the unwary, who may not be able to obtain food and beverages as a result.

As ever with a huge number of visitors disease transmission rates are expected to increase and this poses a collateral threat. Pandemic influenza remains a serious potential global issue and obviously gatherings on this scale offer a potentially ideal transmission arena, although the weather may well militate against that in due course.

Risk Overview – Criminality The games will also draw crime, with pickpocketing being comparatively likely. Other criminals may well also seek to take advantage of police distraction in order to mount more complex operations, e.g. against storage depots in the Thames Valley. This sort of tactic was seen during last summer’s rioting and so it is comparatively likely to happen again, presenting a notable threat to businesses. However, criminals are increasingly shifting to the cyber domain due to off-the-shelf availability of proven methods, higher returns and lower risk profiles, and this remains the area we are most concerned about.

Risk Overview – Single Issue & Political Activist Groups The range of nations attending the Games opens the competition up as a prime opportunity for many activist groups. Actions are likely to include protests outside the hotels or accommodation of delegations.

Athletes themselves will be safe in the secure Olympic and Paralympic villages, but the sites of other national representatives (especially heads of state) are likely to be targeted.

Traditionally, the British have been solidly unimpressed by political extremists of left or right and I suspect that any problems will come from lone actors attracted to extremism and violence rather than an organised political movement. Nevertheless, the Breivik case demonstrates how devastating a single individual can be if sufficiently determined and callous..” Director General – Jonathan Evans

The Informal Anarchist Federation/FAI (also the International Revolutionary Front) The collective has recently claimed responsibility for sabotage to railway signalling points in Bristol – and for the shooting of Ansaldo Nucleare (Italian nuclear engineering firm) CEO Roberto Adinolfi. The message is quite clear: they intend to use ‘guerrilla activity’ to disrupt the Games. Quite what form this will take is unclear, but critical transport infrastructure in London is likely to be a prime target.

Given the nature of the EDL, protests could be particularly inflammatory in the presence of international delegations, and could well flare up into violent and disruptive events.

UK Uncut are expected to proceed with targeted actions as usual over the period, and will likely also offer support for any unified actions (e.g. on 28 July) over the period. Games partners McDonalds and Lloyds TSB have been aggressively targeted by the group in the past (including picketing and ‘invasions’ of premises in order to force the businesses to shut down) and may well be focal points of direct action.

Occupy London are known to be allied with anti-Olympics groups, and are likely to offer support during protests or actions (for example, during the 28 July ‘mass mobilisation’). Occupy are yet to announce their own events for the Games, but plans may well surface closer to the competition in July.

Notable activist groups opposed to particular sponsors include AADCOS (Athletes Against Dow Chemical’s Olympic Sponsorship), Drop Dow Now, Greenwash Gold (campaign – against BP, DOW and Rio Tinto), London Mining Network (against Rio Tinto), Bhopal Medical Appeal (against Dow), UK Tar Sands Network (against BP), Playfair (against Adidas and other sportswear manufacturers), War on Want (targeting Adidas along with Nike and Puma) and CAMSOL (Campaign for a More Sustainable Olympics – against BP).

Risk Overview – Threats to Infrastructure Traditionally, the first weekend is one of the busiest days of the year for people travelling on holiday, usually resulting in congestion - even without the severe added factor of the Games opening ceremony. The men’s cycle road race on 28th July will travel across south-west London, as well as the city: the test for this event last summer caused large-scale disruption, so this day could be even worse. People travelling to Gatwick, Heathrow, the Channel Ports, Southampton, Portsmouth and the West Country could be most affected. 3-4 August meanwhile sees an anticipated surge of up to 1m people each day, as a host of swimming and athletics medals are due to be settled that weekend. Under these models, average traffic in the capital will be slowed to 12mph amidst a 33% increase in overall traffic. This implies a 20-30% increase in travel times, which is a major factor that visitors, travellers, business continuity planners or those few remaining at work over this period should bear in mind.

TOP: groups motivated by other political issues including neo-Nazism – are perhaps the most worrying as they are the hardest to predict.

BOTTOM: As happen during last summers riots, criminals may seek to take advantage of police distraction in order to mount more complex operations

Risk Overview – Cyber Another significant possibility is the targeting of people via corrupted apps for smarthphones and – potentially most worryingly – the placing of fraudulent WiFi networks masquerading as for example BT boxes, that can in fact act as data thieves for the unwary. Against, connecting to an unknown network can be a risky business.

Malicious activity in cyberspace “Britain’s National Security Strategy makes it clear that cyber security ranks alongside terrorism as one of the four key security challenges facing the UK. Vulnerabilities in the internet are being exploited aggressively not just by criminals but also by States. The extent of what is going on is astonishing, with industrial-scale processes involving many thousands of people lying behind both State-sponsored cyber espionage and organised cyber crime.

This is a threat to the integrity, confidentiality and availability of Govern-

ment information but also to business and to academic institutions. What is at stake is not just our Government secrets but also the safety and security of our infrastructure, the intellectual property that underpins our future prosperity and the commercially sensitive information that is the life-blood of our companies and corporations.

The threat to businesses relates not only to major industrial companies but also to their foreign subsidiaries, and to suppliers of professional services who may not be so well protected.” - Director General – Jonathan Evans

Circuit : : 45

Circuit :: ShopTalk

COLOMBIA

A New Way To Attack

W

by | Michael Baillie

hen we hear the term “Terrorism” or “Terrorist” nowadays the image that usually jumps to mind is one of a market place blown apart somewhere in the Middle East, or a bearded extremist with ties to Al-Qaeda. On one hand the media are greatly to blame for propagating shocking images that make us support our governments’ foreign policies. On the other hand only a few of us are really aware or even interested by the damage different terrorist groups create in parts of the world that we have no financial or emotional interest in ourselves.

An athletically built man wearing a white jacket and a long wig covered by a white hat casually crosses the street about twenty meters behind the convoy. The man, who is carrying a fairly large object in his hand, reaches the opposite pavement right behind the bus

10:59:53

46 : : Circuit

The BG jumps out of the car in a presumed attempt to either investigate the object or evacuate the Principal.

Within the next 30 seconds – The CPOs in the follow car pull apart the destroyed armoured car and managed to extract their Principal through the boot. He is rapidly led away under body cover of his surviving security detail through a gathering group of onlookers.

After having circled around the bus, the man advances towards the lead car and attaches the object that he is carrying right in front of the left wing mirror of the car, then breaks into a run back down the street where he came from.

11:00:20

11:00:17

10:59:40 The convoy is joined by a city bus on the left and a series of private cars, including a taxi, to its right.

Terrorist attacks by the FARC are frequent, with continuous clashes between government troops and FARC foot soldiers in the southern and eastern parts of the country, but it is rather rare to see attacks within the major cities. On May 15th this changed when an explosion left two dead and 48 injured in the centre of the capital next to the “Universidad Central”.

11:00:18

A convoy, with a black level 5 armoured lead car carrying ex-interior Minister Fernando Londoño Hoyos and a white level 2 armoured follow car stops at the red light at the intersection of Calle 74 and Avenida Caracas, leaving one free lane to its left and two to its right.

10:59:35

Colombia is mostly associated with drug, especially cocaine, smuggling and Pablo Escobar’s infamous Medellin Cartel who painted the streets red in the 1970s and 1980s. Since then the drug runners have changed. The flashy drug lords have been replaced by

paramilitary units who buy the coca leaves from the farmers, set up processing labs and transport the final product out of the country.

The Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – Ejército del Pueblo, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – Army of the People (FARC- EP more commonly known as FARC), apart from being one of the longest-active terrorist groups in the world, have become one of the leaders in this lucrative trade, and use it to finance their continuous acts of terror against the Colombian people.

The charge explodes and the front row of cars is enveloped in a black cloud of smoke.

About the same time – The bomber is seen running down a side street at high speed and jumps on to a waiting motorbike which disappears through a series of side streets.

Circuit :: ShopTalk Unusual M.O.?

The speed at which this attack was carried out is quite disconcerting as it took less than one minute between the arrival of the convoy and the explosion of a bomb that still had to be attached to its target. Also, that same morning, a car bomb was disarmed carrying 140 sticks of Indugel, a hydrogel type explosive most frequently used in mining, which was placed in front of one of the main police stations in the centre of the capital. According to the DIJIN (criminal investigation department), if the charge had been activated it would have levelled the whole block.

The BG opened the door – When the BG opened the passenger door he created an opening in the car. This would usually have been to the detriment of the Principal but in this case due to the positioning of the IED it lessened the rebounding of the shockwave inside the car by creating an opening through which some of the energy could escape.

The CPOs quick reaction – It took approximately 30 seconds between the explosion and when he was pushed through the crowd and put into an ambulance by his Protection Team comprised of ex-police captains.

“

Terrorist attacks by the FARC are frequent, with continuous clashes between government troops and FARC foot soldiers in the southern and eastern parts of the country

These two events should be worrying the Colombian government and should lead to immediate changes in security policies as well as the way law enforcement provides security in the major cities. Three points have to be taken into account: first, how is it that such a large amount of explosive can be transported through a nation’s capital without being detected; second, until that day Bogotá could boast that it had never been host to two attacks during the same day; and, third, the use of a limpet bomb to target individuals.

What saved his life For Fernando Londoño Hoyos, five aspects of the incident saved his life.

The level 5 armoured SUV – The most important instrument in the ex-minister’s survival was the level 5 armour of his car, even though the IED was placed directly onto it.

The positioning of the blast – The explosive was placed far away from where the Principal would have been sitting. Instead of positioning it on the door behind the passenger seat the bomber chose to secure it in front of the driver, who died.

The blast was not directional – The level 5 armoured car would probably not have survived the blast had the bomber designed the IED

“

As such, this sounds like what could be a fairly common attack but, in the case of Colombia, this M.O. had previously not been seen before. The type of explosive used is thought to be a C4 charge with a time-delay fuse similar to those found on hand grenades. Limpet bombs, which this was, had never been used by FARC or other violent groups in Colombia –to name just a few: ELN (left-wing), AUC (right-wing) and BACRIM (organised crime and drug traffickers).

The preferred M.O. to date is strategically placed car bombs left to the anti-bomb squads to disarm or die trying. The last one to date in Bogotá was the car bomb placed in front of the Caracol headquarters in August 2010.

Limpet bombs are rather associated with ETA and the 2009 Palma Nova bombings in Majorca, Spain.

like a shape charge focusing the blast towards the inside of the car rather than dispersing the energy in all directions.

Theories A few weeks after the attack, it was still unclear who had attempted on take the ex-minister’s life. Two theories were put forward: The first was that the planning and execution could only have been carried out by a right-wing group due to the political implications of the attack. Newly formed factions of the supposedly demobilised AUC, such as the Aguilas Negras (Black Eagles), had strongly opposed a new constitutional change which was voted that same morning. This amendment, named “El Marco La Paz”, was strongly supported by ex-interior minister Fernando Londoño Hoyos and would reduce sanctions against future demobilising FARC members.

The second theory was that the FARC were responsible for the attack. The police had already been able to tie the car bomb in front of the police station to the FARC, and files found on FARC computers during a raid that killed FARC leader Víctor Julio Suárez Rojas, aka “Mono Jojoy”, described a number of assassination attempts on Fenando Londoño’s life.

Recently, two demobilised members of the FARC recognised the attacker on video and identified him as “El Negro”.

With this attack Colombia has to take seriously the shift in terrorist behaviour around the country. Clearly the FARC are learning from other groups who have performed successful attacks in the past and most probably other armed groups are doing the same. Political ideals are sadly often supported by weapons on both sides of the coin. When paramilitary groups are not trying to dominate the landscape, the financial gap between the rich and poor tends to lead to corruption or the outlet into easy money through the drug trade.

Colombia is one of the most beautiful countries you will ever see with people that want to live life to the fullest but you only need a few ill-intentioned individuals to create a sense of insecurity within the rest of the nation.

Circuit : : 47

Circuit :: ShopTalk

EVIL DEEDS

and a Moral Dilemma After the fall of the Nazi party in 1945, and the years which followed, a large number of Nazi leaders faced court hearings for the despicable crimes they had committed against humanity. But to what extent were they acting upon their own fanatical beliefs. How much were they influenced by their obedience to authority and to what end does this obedience cause us, as humans, to compromise our own moral values. ?

Despite a large number of Nazi’s being captured and detained by the allies, a significant number had fled the west seeking refuge in countries such as Argentina and Peru. An infamous Nazi hiding from the world was Adolf Eichmann who had been living a somewhat ordinary life in Argentina, since his escape from Europe in 1950.

Understanding what influences the things which we do and the importance of moral courage. by | Matt Adey

Eichmann went beyond his call of duty. He invented more efficient methods of transporting Jews to the death camps. Also, Eichmann had continued his involvement in the mass slaughter of Jews after his superiors had ordered him to stop. Arendt’s conclusions were far from accurate; there was nothing normal about Eichmann psychological make-up.

His systematic actions resulting in the mass slaughter of Jews were purely evil. Needless to say, the conclusions made by Arendt caught the attention of many leading psychologists from that period. They wished to study and research the psychological mech-

A successful operation to capture and transport him to Israel was executed by Mossed in 1960. Following this operation, Eichmann was put on trial in Israel for his involvement in the mass slaughter of Jewish people in occupied Europe. A year later Eichmann was found guilty and hanged.

During his trail, a reporter for ‘The New Yorker’ by the name of Hannah Arendt attended a number of the court hearings.

The principle element of Arendt’s report focused on how normal Eichmann appeared to be. A common notion held by most people is that Nazi leaders, such as Eichmann, act and behave in a monstrous manner.

Surely a person that committed unspeakable atrocities against humans would have an evil demeanor, one would naturally assume. However, Arendt repeatedly stated that Eichmann appeared to be a polite, ordinary, bureaucratic and actually quite boring. In addition, Eichmann himself claimed that he was simply “doing his job “when questioned by the court.

In Arendt’s report she concluded that in some cases people do not need to be intrinsically evil to carry out Evil actions, but could simply be following the orders of others. If Arendt had stayed for the entire trail, she would have learned how Adolf

48 : : Circuit

Adolf Eichmann in Court, top left –Eichmann in Nazi uniform.

anisms that caused the holocaust, with the desire to help prevent such horrors from re-accruing in the future. (Philip Banyard, 2010, Discovering Psychology) One revolutionary psychologist from this era was Stanly Milgram, who’s most famous work was his ‘Obedience studies’. A large number of Nazi’s who were involved in the holocaust, and who later testified

Circuit :: ShopTalk Stanley Milgram, revolutionary psychologist and pioneer of the ‘Obedience Studies’

were played to make the teacher think that they were hurting the learner. During these tests the volunteers would seek reassurance from the experimenter in order for them to continue, whilst cries of pain were heard coming from the learner room.

The experimenter would give a response along the lines of “it is essential that you continue” or “the experiment requires that you continue”.

Of the 40 volunteers who fulfilled the role of teacher, 26 of them administered the maximum shock and all participants administered up to 300 volts with some dropping out within the next few switches. It was clear that the presence and role of the experimenter asking the teacher to continue was a major aspect of the study. Milgram continued the study with a few variations involving changes to the experimenter.

in court, stated that they were simply following orders. Milgram wished to study to what extent people would obey authority.

To study obedience Milgram devised a highly innovate and controversial experiment. The study was staged, and consisted of an experimenter dressed as a scientist (actor), a learner (also an actor) and a teacher (the volunteer). The true nature of the experiment was deliberately concealed and instead posed as a study of memory and to see if punishment influenced our ability to learn, however its real purpose was to see to what extent the volunteers would obey authority. The volunteer was then asked to sit in front of a shock generating machine that consisted of a row of switches starting with a low voltage switch, 15 volts (slight shock) and went all the way up to an extreme shock, 225 volts and then beyond to a potentially lethal 435 volts, increasing in 15 volt increments.

Before the volunteer started the experiment they were given a tester shock at 45 volts to make the experiment seem genuine. The learner was then sat in an adjacent room and given a series of questions by the teacher. When the learner got a question wrong the teacher would administer a shock starting at 15 volts. During this time the experimenter was sat behind the teacher in the same room. As the learner got the questions wrong and more shocks were administered by the teacher, a series of prerecorded cries of pain and distress

On one occasion the experimenter adopted the appearance of an ordinary man, dressed in plain clothes and in another instance the experimenter was in another room. Both variations caused a considerable drop in the intensity of shock which the teacher was prepared administer. This shows that the presence of a clear, concise authoritative figure was essential for the volunteers to continue giving the shocks.

After Milgram’s experiments on obedience it was clear that ordinary people were very capable of doing harm to another person so long as clear concise orders where given and a figure of authority was present. They also showed that the authority had to be perceived as genuine. As Milgram states “a substantial proportion of people do what they are told to do, irrespective of the content of that act and without limitations of conscience, so long as they perceive that command comes from legitimate authority (Milgram, 1961).

Driven by the disturbing events of the Holocaust and the Eichmann trail, Milgram wished to investigate ‘what kind of people would carry out evil actions’.

Another incident involving the Nazi’s which supports Milgrams findings is the story of ‘The reserve police battalion 101’.

In Christopher Browning’s book ‘Ordinary Men’ he studies the Battalions records as they were one of the most detailed and definitive accounts of the atrocities committed against Polish Jews.

The Police battalion was estimated to have killed 40,000 Jews during Hitler’s ‘Final solution’. Unlike other police battalions from that period, which largely consisted of Nazi fanatics, Battalion 101 was made up of ordinary men. These men were businessmen, old veterans at the end of their careers and

conscripts with no allegiances to the SS or Nazi party. In his book Browning highlights the extreme pressure placed upon these men by high ranking SS officers, who gave clear orders for them to kill thousands of Jews, which consisted of many woman and children. When the first orders were issued, the battalion commander, Wilhelm Trapp; briefed his men with much distress.

In that brief he gave the option for any man that felt uncomfortable with the order to step aside. Initially only a few conceded and accepted Trapp’s offer. However; as the horror of the killings took hold, more and more men dropped out. Burdened by the weight of their actions and with each man knowing that he had been given the choice not to take part, one by one they dropped out. Realizing that his force would soon be depleted and ineffective, Trapp revoked the ‘Opt out’ clause for the many further killing operations which followed in Poland.

Later, when questioned, the men of Battalion 101 stated that they found it much easier to carry out these heinous orders when they felt that they had no choice. In referencing the research of Christopher Browning I do not intend to offer an excuse for the horrific actions carried out by the Unit, as every individual is responsible for their own actions. However, the conduct of battalion 101 provides researchers with valuable material on the psychological mechanisms which accelerate man’s ability to inflict these horrific atrocities on others.

Milgram showed that in some situations involving authority, people can hold back their capacity to make informed, moral decisions and defer their actions towards those in the position of authority. In day to day life obedience to authority occurs in many situations. In a classroom, children almost instantly behave differently when the teacher leaves the room and then on their return they revert back to a better behaved manner. For social order to be effective we need to be obedient to authority.

This obedience allows systems such as airports, traffic and policing to run safely and efficiently. This model is equally applicable when operating as part of a high profile security team. In order for teams to run effectively the leaders and management need to be seen as sound and capable.

On the other hand when taking orders we need to be aware that ultimately we are responsible for our own actions. When making decisions based on orders of authority we need to ensure that these do not affect our moral standards and we should always seek to do ‘the right thing’ in life.

Circuit : : 49

Train Like A

E

lite Military and Law Enforcement professionals have known about the importance of dynamic training for a long time. Your son or daughter may have also experienced similar training playing paint ball. Words like simunitions and laser fired training weapons are not new concepts to our elite fighting forces. Where the goal is to help create a training environment that more closely resembles the real world experiences they may face in their actual working environment.

by | Mark “Six” James Force on force is a two sided training experience where one force plays the role of the bad guy, enemy or assailant. It is designed to be reality based training to simulate the speed, stress and engagement or survival skills of participants to a series of spontaneous assaults.

In the above photo agents from ICON Services Corporation - Advanced Executive Protection Training Course incorporate the use of force on force training responding to an attack on the principle.

This realistic training allows instructors to introduce stress in a scripted scenario, to allow participants to experience how they react to stress, and learn how to build upon and channel the body’s natural chemical responses as a result of fight, flight or freezing. These biological and psychological responses are automatic and uncontrollable in the ways it causes our bodies to react to a perceived or actual threat. When the body perceives a threat it releases epinephrine (adrenaline) throughout the body.

Kid

natural aversion many individuals have in pointing a gun at another human being and actually pulling the trigger.

• It allows you to understand your body’s reaction to stress and how fine motor skills are often compromised.

• This allows participants to develop realistic responses to attacks which increase their chances of prevailing in a deadly force encounter.

The most effective way to develop real-time survival skills is to enhance the way you train. Force on force training via airsoft is a small investment in your tactical development. In a close quarter engagement it will most likely be your tactics which keep you alive more so than your marksmanship. Go ahead, train like a kid. Your son or daughter probably has an airsoft gun in their room or on the garage shelf. It is often said that self-defense is often about a mindset; however the mindset in the absence of effective defensive tactics is hallucination. With your current training routine you may only be fooling yourself.

This often sends our heart rate from its normal 60-80 BPM to well over 200 BPM within seconds. This can adversely impact our decision making capabilities and cause or complex motor skills to deteriorate.

This type of training allows us to adjust our tactical responses to build upon our strengths and correct or minimize our exposure areas.

While many will never be afforded the benefit of training with simunitions we can effectively incorporate the use of airsoft training weapons into our dynamic training. Airsoft guns are replica firearms that propel plastic pellets by way of compressed gas or a spring-driven piston. They often range in prices from $40 - $175 based on your selection of spring-driven or compressed gas operated.

The benefits of airsoft training: • Airsoft training weapons provide users a cost effective way to train in the actual gear they wear for everyday carry or practice in the home environment in which they live.

• Participants develop a realistic sense how fast, the pace of the events are, in a deadly force encounter. FBI reports show 80% of civilian encounters take place inside of 7 yards. Most adult males can close 7 yards in 1.5 seconds. The majority of attacks often take place inside of 10 feet. Most victims of violent altercations often remark, “It all happened so fast. It was much quicker than I could have ever imagined.”

• Force on force training allows participants to better adjust to the

Mark “Six” James is the Executive Director of Panther Protection Services a full service protection agency and internationally published author. To find out more about Panther Protection Services visit www.pantherprotectionservices.com or www.facebook. com/pantherprotectionservices .

Circuit :: Feature

Working Girl by |

JACQUIE DAVIS

I

’m writing this whilst waiting at yet another airport to go through security, I am wondering how our airports are going to cope with the Olympics when here I am on a Saturday morning at 0500 and the queue is stretching outside the airport, hopefully another half an hour and I will have been searched and the baggage x-rayed.

My phone goes off and again it’s a request for a female CPO; the third call in as many hours, I speak to a female colleague and we go through the CVs we have received from females over the past few months, some of the pictures attached are scary, short cropped hair, clearly overweight and looking more male than female.

I once had a client tell me that “if she wanted a male CP she would have asked for one” (As the girl that had turned up was big butch and acted like a man) she sacked her and rang me asking “Please can I have a woman, who can blend in and not stand out from the crowd” Come on girls get your acts together, I’ve said it before and I will repeat it we do not have to compete with the men, we are a valuable commodity to the industry.

I have now arrived with my team to a North African country and we go through the airport and in to the searing heat. I have bought a newbie male CPO with us, he has worked for me in the UK and is fully aware, that as the new guy abroad he is team gofer.

I always believe in giving new people a chance, it’s no good to the industry if we don’t; after all this is the next generation which will take up the reigns once I’m sitting in my rocking chair, cat on lap, wrinkly stockings and smelling of wee.

Newbie is obviously trying to do the right things; I hear him asking the team members various relevant questions which are a joy in itself. So hire cars paid for off, we trot to do our reccee of hotels and routes two days before the principal’s arrive. I have planned and booked various hotels in advance but our luck is about to run out when we discover that there are various conferences going on in town at the same time. I get an Intel update that one of our hotels has just had a bomb go off outside the front door, off I go to beg another hotel manager to give me rooms even though he is fully booked, several dollars and smiles later I get three rooms, problem there are seven of

us, never mind newbie can share with me. I open the hotel room door to see a giant bed, yes just the one; I call down for a roll away as I don’t mind sharing a room, but object to sharing a bed.

Poor newbie has walked in the room behind me and I can see the look of panic on his face as he sees just the one bed. I go down stairs and tell the rest of the team about the bed situation and of course they decide to wind newbie up. He apparently is begging other team members if he can sleep on their floor, he doesn’t know I’ve ordered the roll away bed. We let him panic for another half an hour before he gets put out of his misery.

We convene in the lobby for a cup of coffee and see several other CP teams from around the world, we all do that knowing nod and go off to our respective jobs. I come across another English CP team in another hotel, they are loud and I can hear them shouting at the receptionist “fooking foreigners”, it’s so embarrassing we decide to leave the hotel and do this recce at a later date.

Principals arrive, I brief them on the current situation and they immediately agree to cooperate if their CP team member tells them to deviate from their planned itinerary. We arrive at the hotel and the embarrassing CP team are still in the lobby swearing and shouting at each other, we glide by them pretending we aren’t anything to do with the same profession. Principal’s delivered to their rooms, CP team in rooms either side; we have put up tiny cameras so we can monitor the corridor from our room instead of showing out with RST in the corridor.

As the days go on, the principal’s itineraries change and so we have to be fluid and go with the flow, this is the part that is important, all my team members just adapted, they were extremely flexible and very helpful to me and this is what makes a great team.

We can plan as much as we like in advance but sometimes things don’t go to plan and we have to find solutions in a heartbeat, whether it’s because the principal wants a different car or the intelligence coming in says we are in a bad place and need to get out.

I hope you all have a safe and great season, good luck for those of you working at the Olympics and I look forward to seeing many of you on the circuit in the next few months, and remember if you come across another team wherever you are in the world, professional courtesy is the way to go.

Jacquie Davis is Director of Protective Services at Optimal Risk. www.optimalrisk.com Circuit : : 51

Circuit :: ShopTalk

SURVEILLANCE S

ince the announcement of the ‘Leveson Inquiry’ in 2011 the topic of ‘investigations’ has been catapulted into the limelight; as a consequence future investigations at government level will change, and the impact to commercial enterprise will be equally challenging.

Post inquiry [expected the latter part of 2012] one fundamental element of surveillance will remain unchanged regardless; the profile of those best suited to surveillance which is far from the image of James Bond, Jason Bourne, fast cars and technical gadgets.

Surveillance can be lonely, boring and excruciatingly tense. Those who enter the field of surveillance need to possess more than tenacity and patience. Natural inquisitiveness and a memory for detail are intrinsic to the profession. There are those who opt to learn the craft through literature, avidly reading books written by ex government; police or Military personnel but without practical appliance it is very difficult to develop distance appreciation, natural movements or specialist skills. Operatives trained to police, Military or government standards are more likely to enter the commercial world with highly developed skills essential to work in hostile environments; spatial awareness will be honed along with experience in anti and counter surveillance measures.

This probability can be lessened by wearing clothing to suit the environment and having the ability to change appearance throughout the surveillance serial via ‘Scrubbing’. This practice allows the operator to have several identities in one day, which is particularly advantageous as a force multiplier within a team environment. This enables a team of four, with three changes of appearance [per day] to increase the team capacity from a four to a twelve man team keeping a surveillance aware target on their toes. However, mitigating factors created by the environment, the target and the client can influence the composition of a surveillance team.

The final requirement maybe as basic as one operative with a covert camera placed discreetly within a jacket, bag or a prop commonly known as a ‘Hide’. A single operative may also use a small cyber shot camera hidden in phone case or the capability of the android/smart phone makes them ideal to take imagery to forward to client and/or the team with immediate effect. Particularly advantageous should third party counter surveillance be detected.

Back to Basics A conscientious operator will prepare well for deployment, simultaneously conduct reconnaissance and Open Source Research [OSR] against the target. OSR may include the use of Internet mapping to obtain an aerial or street image of the ‘Pickup’ location. Land Registry sites and databases enable an operative to check residential addresses and the occupancy and the use of social media can assist to establish a Pattern of Life [POL].

The intelligence feed is ongoing and the dedication to collate information is essential and should not distract from operational skills.

On the ground an operative should ideally be 75 -100 yards behind the target on the opposite side of the pavement using street furniture or the shadow of buildings for cover. Retaining control of the target from a distance takes confidence. Good training, regular practice and awareness prevent an operator ‘showing out’ as abnormal. The use of parallels’ when mobile or on foot should be employed especially when it is not possible to be directly behind the target. This method allows an operative to get a head of the target allowing the team to drop back or let the target ‘Run’ to the next operator. This enables an operator to minimise their exposure to the target, prepare a cover story and props should their presence be questioned.

52 : : Circuit

So far gender identity has not been discussed although it is worth mentioning operatives are commonly typecast as male, mid to late thirties and small to medium in stature, rarely is a female profile offered. Yet female operators can become that ‘grey’ person far easier than their male counterparts. Females tend to have a natural ability to ‘own the ground’ and blend with the surroundings. Cover stories tend to be more believable and two females sitting in a car is more likely to go unnoticed without question than two males. Female operatives are few and far between and good female operatives are a rare commodity hence the high male to female ratio.

Remember it is normal for an operator to experience a paradigm shift when working with an infusion of backgrounds, skill sets and assets. So ask yourself could I? Would I? How? And remember a good team should always deploy with the attitude that “A loss is better than a compromise”.

Contact details: M: + 44 (0) 7412224200 +44 (0) 7840005823 E: angela@lawsonassociates.co.uk W: www.lawsonassociates.co.uk Lawson Associates will provide BBA members 10% discount on courses during 2012 QUOTE: LABBA/2012 and Membership Number

Circuit :: ShopTalk

THE THREAT UNSEEN “

“

They reluctantly told me they had seen bruises, covered in makeup

I was asked to do a high threat detail in an affluent suburban area. My services were needed immediately by a family, the wife, Olivia, in particular. Olivia’s best friend, Jill was living in another state, seeking a divorce from her abusive husband.

The abusive husband had just shot Jill in the face, with a shotgun, killing her in front of her young children. He had vanished, leaving word with his attorney he was going to finish the job and kill Olivia who had helped Jill seek the divorce.

The suspect was smart, wealthy, and now nowhere to be found.

by | Katherine Friese

The police met and briefed me, giving me a description and a blurry picture of the suspect. My client Olivia was pale and shaken. Her doctor prescribed Valium. She was a socialite, giving and generous, with a very demanding schedule. I was chosen for the assignment because she did not want anyone to know except for her house staff, which I was. They thought I could blend in.

staff was sharp and extremely capable.

I was to be Olivia’s constant companion.

I had asked her to wear a bulletproof vest, she refused. I wore one. I studied her physical movements, her expressions, her moods. She was slow and methodical about everything. She did not work out but she was very petite I didn’t think she could move quickly if her life depended on it, and it did. I carried a gun and thought I saw him everywhere. I constantly played out the “what ifs” in my mind and of course varied our routes.

Weeks passed, the suspect was not in custody. During those weeks, I witnessed some very loud, on the verge of physical arguments between the husband and wife.

I questioned the staff, had Olivia ever been hit by her husband? . The husband was a bully to all in the house, he drank too much and his eyes looked me over as only an unfaithful husband would do.

I was told by my employer that I would be working alone on this detail, with no time off, after all, how long could it possibly take to find him?

One night, I heard the argument get out of control, I interceded. Olivia asked him to leave the house. He packed some bags and left. One threat down, one to go.

The police had offered to make many rounds through the night. We were running out of daylight, I wanted to survey the house and the grounds. It was a historic mansion, built for beauty, not security.

There were many weaknesses and no alarm. I would be staying in the main house.

Months passed, the husband wanted a divorce, and he found someone new. A second agent was added for relief. Olivia became depressed and the true enemy showed itself to me, the third and unseen threat, Olivia had a drug problem. I did get her proper medical help.

Two down, one to go.

I am a light sleeper. I patrolled the house, got used to the “house noises”, checking doors and windows, and saw the police search lights shining on the grounds and windows throughout the night. The next morning, I rounded up the staff, told them what had transpired and how they could help me. They were very loyal to their employer and would do anything to help. I ran criminal and credit checks on them and they all had clean records. Many hours of prep work had started.

Nothing dramatic ever happened the thousand different ways I pictured it would. There was no shoot-out, no racing away from the crazed suspect. He was captured years later, far from Olivia’s home.

He was tried and sentenced to a psychiatric hospital. I moved on to the next detail.

The houseman would accept all packages at the gate, no longer letting anyone drive up the driveway, write down any car license plate numbers he did not recognize. The maid, cook, and personal secretary would monitor the doors and windows, making sure they were always locked. No one allowed in, unless I could supervise. The nanny was also looking for the suspect around the school and was watching who might be following her as she ran errands with the children. All the

I had been hired to protect Olivia and I did, just not from what I expected. As in almost all protection details, we never use our 2% skills, the 2% percent we train hours a day perfecting. It is the 98%, the planning, prevention and observation that makes a successful detail.

This was an account of the facts. Names will always be changed to protect the innocent and the guilty.

Katherine Friese is the founder of the ‘Women In Protection Group’

Circuit : : 53

Circuit :: BoyZone

GET YOUR

KIT ON Kit reviews by Doug Smith and opposite, Christina Docherty

I

have had a dilemma when it comes to work and footwear. I like shoes. I like well-made shoes. I like traditional shoes. I like handmade leather soled shoes. I pay a lot of money for a good pair of shoes.

I also like work. I like to look smart at work. One pet peeve I have is that I can’t wear the shoes I would like to wear when I work because they are not operationally sound. The leather soles are slippery and they are uncomfortable with hours of

WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES standing. They are made to be worn when going out or in traditional office jobs, not standing for hours and being ready for action at the drop of a hat.

My choices when shopping for comfortable, practical footwear have been one of the following – a) a modified sports shoe b) a clumpy old mans style walking shoe c) something resembling a work boot To my mind, none of these options cut it when wearing a suit. It’s not as bad as the guy with the white sport socks, but your choice of footwear with a suit can really make you stand out to a casual observer.

I was walking past a shop window the other

day when I saw that Rockport had released a wingtip brogue shoe with technology such as ‘adiprene’, ‘truwalk’, ‘adiprene +’, and ‘geofit’. I have no idea what that all is, but it is a classic looking leather wingtip brogue with a comfortable Adidas sole.

With a RRP of AUS$220, it was a pricey option for a new work shoe if it didn’t pay off but I was up for the gamble. And boy am I glad I did. I have never known a more comfortable shoe.

A close up look at the sole may give it away as not being a traditional dress shoe, but it is definitely not so outlandish as to draw attention. The tread is very grippy with a very natural walking style. I usually wear Vibram Five Fingers for training in and really feel the difference with a traditional shoe with a non-natural tread. This has a slanted heel which discourages heel strike and is actually connected to the forefoot which gives a more natural roll when walking.

They definitely have the comfort and feel of a sports shoe. The sole is a fairly soft rubber compound, which is great for flexibility and traction, but I wonder how long they will last over time.

It has the looks of a classic business shoe, and the comfort of a sports shoe. Its like two worlds have collided and the winner is us. If brogues aren’t your thing, there is also a captoe, smooth toe and slip-on in the range.

Rockport Dressport Wingtip Shoes 54 : : Circuit

All in all, they are not a cheap shoe but if looks and practicality are your thing they hit the nail on the head. Time will tell about the durability.

Circuit :: BoyZone

PUSH MY BUTTONS Review: The Eyewatch app for the Smart Phones Free to download.

E

Eyewatch is an easy to use mobile application designed to aid personal safety. It allows you to trigger an emergency alert instantly to your trusted contacts, informing them of your predicament by means of location, audio and visuals of situation along with other critical data.

Main Application Features • Send SOS Alerts even if you’re not connected to the GPRS • Track your location even if you’re inside a building or your GPS isn’t working • Capture audio visual information of the emergency to share with your contacts • Track your family when required in case of an emergency • Confirm safety to your family without raising an SOS alert Getting Started Before you can use Eyewatch you must first go to their website and download and register the app. What immediately stands out is the high quality website and materials which are provided and explain the purpose and uses of the app. There is a large social following on facebook as It’s one of those applications that could be used within a variety of different industries. Concentrating on security, it could beneficial to get it on activated on your clients phone or to share amongst the team. There are versions available for the majority of smartphone platforms and it has a wide choice of download options.

Registering As part of the registration process you are required to select the mobile numbers of two people who you would want to contact in the event of an emergency, so it’s always good to have these details available beforehand, especially if you’re using your phone to register. We tested the app on a Nokia and a Blackberry and found it simple and straightforward to sign up and download (bit.ly/eyewatch). However, due to an accident involving coffee and the blackberry, a premature end was brought to the BB test and a quick switch to a symbian Nokia was required. The Blackberry install was fine though and it was quite well presented on the screen - very clear and simple to use.

Going through the process of installing once more on the replacement handset it highlighted how much easier it would be to register on a computer as opposed to using the mobile version via the phone as timeout problems were an issue. Once logged into the newly created account all worked fine and operated without any problems. The menu screen comes loaded with useful features, we particularly liked the ‘I am safe option’.

The Details section is great and it prompts you list such things as employer details, medical information, insurance particulars and residential information.

A word of caution: if you do input this sensitive information into your phone and if you chose to have the app running in the background it may be prudent to have some form of security active on your overall phone in case it is lost or stolen. Options include; passcode entry, remote wipe or more advanced biometric access features which are appearing on the latest handsets.

Start Alert Pressing the big green button starts the alert and it quickly springs into action taking photos using the phones camera. In all it took around 14 pictures and then proceeded to dial the two numbers listed on my phone ERC’s. A point to note here is for you to make sure that you have international dialling enabled on your handset as the app uses the countries default dialling code. If there is no answer with the first number it then switches to the second that you nominated on the ERC list and calls that. To turn off the Alert system you simply press ‘stop alert’ and enter your designated password.

For all you Apple aficionados out there, unfortunately the app is currently unavailable on the iOS platforms but we’re assured that it is in the production pipeline.

In conclusion, I found the app itself to be very good and it looks like it has the potential to grow into a useful security aid and resource. It is available as a free download and can be used with a paid credits option.

Definitely worth checking out.

Circuit : : 55

Circuit :: Feature HERE’S SOMETHING YOU DON’T SEE EVERY DAY - A FREE FINANCIAL

worker could provide a replacement worker in his or/her absence. This is usually referred to as a right of substitution. on substitution.

Mutuality of obligation The minimum obligations that are necessary for a contract of service are the obligation on the part of the worker to give personal service and the obligation on the part of the engager to pay the worker for that service.

An employment contract will often also indicate that the engager will provide work for the duration of the contract during the agreed working hours.

Right of substitution and engagement of helpers

SESSION

Q: I generally work for 1 Limited Company over the course of a calendar year, perhaps only submitting a handful of invoices elsewhere - is this going to affect me in anyway? I have heard people say that in this case the primary company becomes responsible for you by default? I wish to remain self employed but have an excellent flow of work from this 1 company.

A: HMRC will consider your employment status based on your working relationship with this client. In order to do this a number of different factors are considered the main ones being as follows: Personal service It is a necessary condition of a contract of service that the worker is required to provide his or her services personally.

Consideration must therefore be given to whether or not a

Provision of own equipment Financial risk Individuals who risk their own money by, for example, buying assets needed for the job and bearing the running costs and paying for overheads and large quantities of materials, are almost certainly self-employed.

Employees are not usually expected to risk their own capital.

Opportunity to profit A person whose profit (or loss) depends on the capacity to reduce overheads and organise work effectively may well be selfemployed. People who are paid by the job will often be in this position. Length of engagement By itself, the length of a particular engagement may have little importance in determining employment status, although it is more likely that an employee will have an open-ended contract.

person becomes ‘part and parcel’ of a client’s organisation can be a useful indicator in some situations. For example, someone taken on to manage a client’s staff will normally be seen as an integral part of the client’s organisation and this may be seen as a strong indicator of employment.

Employee-type benefits The presence, in a contract, of benefits such as paid leave, membership of firm’s pension scheme, right to car park space, canteen facilities and so on is a good indicator that an employment relationship exists. A contract of employment may also contain access to a grievance procedure and the worker may be subject to disciplinary procedures.

The absence of such benefits may be viewed as a pointer to self-employment but the lack of these is usually as a consequence of the intention of self-employment. It may be necessary to consider whether employees of the engager, who do similar work, have access to such benefits. A comparison might also have to be made between the rates of pay of those employees and the ‘contract’ worker, as the latter may be paid a greater rate in order to compensate in part for the absence of such benefits.

Right to terminate contract A right to terminate an engagement for a reason other than serious breach, by giving notice of a specified length, may be viewed as indicative of a contract of employment, but, at best, would only be regarded as a minor factor. Such a provision is unlikely to be found in a contract for services, which usually ends on completion of the task, or if the terms of the contract are breached.

Part and parcel of the organisation At one time this was considered to be a test of employment or selfemployment, but it is now viewed as one factor to be considered with all the others.

Establishing whether a

Send your finance questions to Jason Cheesman ACA, Partner at Mitchells Chartered Accountants specialising in delivering accountancy services to people working within the security industry

0191 416 4820 JC.mitchells.ca@btconnect.com

56 : : Circuit

Professional Development Directory DRIVING

com Telephone number: 1 651 6958778 Web address: www.Industry-Icon.com/ training

Course Details: Seven days of intensive advanced defensive driving training equipping professionals with the skills, knowledge, and understanding to excel as professional security chauffeurs and protection drivers. Successful students achieve a RoSPA advanced driving qualification and a coveted Bespoke certificate. Optionally, these qualifications provide sufficient evidence for applying for a BTEC level 3 award in driving.

Course location: Worcester, England Price:£1469.86 (inc. VAT, but excluding accommodation and meals) Length of Course:7 (consecutive) days Benefits of attending the course: Learn how to achieve your driving ambitions, what it takes to succeed as a professional driver, and where the work is.

Email address for further information & telephone number. help@bespokedrivertraining.co.uk. Tel: 0845 602 2065

CLOSE PROTECTION

Course Provider: Bespoke Group Course Name:Combined Chauffeur and VIP Protection Driving course

EXECUTIVE PROTECTION ADVANCED LEVEL

Course Provider: ICON Course Name: Advanced Executive Protection

Course Details: This intensive 10-day class is an excellent tool for Operators sharpening their skills with a focus on conducting close protection assignments with a potential high threat level. Work with experienced professionals who are not teaching “theory” put practical applications developed from many years of doing the job on an international level.

Course location: Minneapolis, MN – Scottsdale, AZ (USA) Price: $2,500 Active NABA/BBA Members $2,200 Length of Course: 10 Days Benefits of attending the course: Heighten your skills in the area of continuing training from instructors active in the industry, not teaching from textbooks.

Course Name: Celebrity & VIP Protection

Course Details: If you are new to the CP industry or a current operator looking to refresh and polish your skills, this course will offer excellent instruction into the professional side of Close Protection work.

Taught by industry veteran Elijah Shaw, who in addition to his corporate clients, has travelled the world as the personal bodyguard of international public figures such as musical giant Usher, supermodel Naomi Campbell, and rap megastar 50 Cent, the course will offer real world problems, scenarios, and solutions from instructors that are currently active in the industry.

Course location: Minneapolis, MN – Scottsdale, AZ (USA) Price: $1,500 Active NABA/BBA Members $1,200 Length of Course: 5 Days Benefits of attending the course: Develop your skills in a highly sought after niche market in the industry.

Email address: Training@Industry-Icon.

Course Provider: UCP Group Course Name: Close Protection

Course Details: Btec level 3 by Highfield awarding Body, passing this 14 day course will give the student a BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Close Protection supplemented by a 3 day First Aid at Work certification enabling the student to apply for their SIA Close Protection Front Line Licence to work anywhere in the world for British companies or indeed in the UK. Course location: Ashford (South East) and Saltburn (North East) Price: £1995 Length of Course: 14 days Benefits of attending the course: Training with UCP in Close Protection gives you a real opportunity for work afterwards through the UCP Group of companies.

Email address for further information & telephone number. Web. www.ucpuk. co.uk contact. jemma@ucpgroup.co.uk

FIREARMS

Course Name: 3 day Hostile Environment Firearms training

Course Details: Advanced Firearms Course location: Hartlepool North East England Price: £599 Length of Course: 3 Days Benefits of attending the course:The course was designed for Close Protection Operatives who deploy overseas in Hostile Environments or the Maritime Security Industry.

Contact: booking@associatedrisksgroup. com

Course Provider : Panther Protection

Course Name: Executive Protection Firearms Training This course is designed for serious agents looking to enhance their firearm and combative skills while protecting a client. It is taught by executive protection specialist and firearms and combative instructor Mark “Six” James. It will introduce the participants to reality based situations they may face in their day to day protective environment. It focuses on enhancing your protection skills in an urban, suburban or rural (non military/para military environment). Some of the topics we will potentially cover are Running the Gun, Enhancing the draw, Natural Body Indexing, Dynamic Fighting Positions, Movement, Cover and Concealment, Fighting with one hand, Pre Incident Indicators, Locating and Neutralizing the Threat, Extreme Close Quarter Engagement, Protective Strategies and Distances, Formations, Engaging the Threat with a Client, Evacuating your client under fire, Team Engagement and Weapons Retention and Disarming.

Course Location: Atlanta, GA (USA) Price: $225 Active NABA/BBA Members $200 Length of Course: 1 day Benefits of attending the course: This is up close and personal training designed to enhance your ability to survive a deadly

force encounter and increase your ability to defend the life of a client or team member.

Email Address: info@ pantherprotectionservices.com Telephone Number: (404) 349-9117 Website: www. pantherprotectionservices.com

HOSTILE

Course Provider : Perseus Risk Management Course Name: BTEC Level 4 ‘Professional’ Award in Hostile Environment Close Protection Operations.

Course Details: Qualification gained: BTEC Level 4 Professional Award – The ONLY one of its kind on the circuit today!

Our HECP (Pre-Deployment) Training Course comprises of ten intensive days of realistic ‘ground-truth’ training. This invaluable training package takes place at our highly regarded 1300-acre training facility that allows us to incorporate realistic scenarios including enemy and friendly forces simulation. We utilise the use of military spec (soft-skinned and armoured) vehicles and a static Lynx Helicopter to simulate; Immediate Action, QRF, Medivac and Casevac drills. This adds unparalleled realism to our practical exercise scenarios, which are based on actual incidents our Instructors have experienced in a variety of hostile environments around the world. We also take into account the current MO’s of terrorist organisations being practiced in Iraq and Afghanistan. All students will have the opportunity to display both their individual and leadership qualities along with their mission planning capabilities throughout the course with everyone taking the role of Team Leader at various stages.

Course location: Our Training Academy in Dunchurch, Warwickshire.

Price: £2,240 inclusive of ‘on-site’ 4 Star rated B&B accommodation.

Length of Course: 10 intensive days Benefits of attending the course: All successful candidates will learn the essential skills needed to pursue a successful career as a Hostile Environment CPO.

Course Name: BTEC Level 4 HECP course and BTEC Level 3 Course in Close Protection Operations.

Course Details & Qualification gained: BTEC Level 3 Award in Close Protection Operations BTEC Level 4 Professional Award in Hostile Environment CP Operations

First Aid at Work (HSE)

AED (Defib) and Medical Gases

This unique opportunity for Service Leavers offers both our BTEC Level 3 and BTEC Level 4 courses for the hugely discounted price below. Successful candidates will gain two highly coveted qualifications that will enable them to apply for their SIA license as well as prepare them correctly for a career as a Hostile Environment CPO. Both courses combined are 25 days in total at our academy and are laced with the immeasurable historical and current ‘groundtruth’ experience of our Instructors.

Course location: Our Training Academy in Dunchurch, Warwickshire.

Circuit : : 57

Professional Development Directory Price: £3,500 inclusive of ‘on-site’ 4 Star rated B&B accommodation, FAW course (AED & Med Gases) representing a huge saving of £1,240 Length of Course: 25 days of learning in total with a 1 week break between courses.

Benefits of attending the course: All successful candidates will learn the essential skills and gain the qualification needed to pursue a successful career as a CPO in both permissive and non-permissive environments.

Email address for further information & telephone number: info@perseusrisk.com +44 (0)203 358 0222

INSTRUCTOR BASED LEARNING

Course Provider: The-Training-Wing Course Name: Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) Course Details: Understand your own role, responsibilities and boundaries of the role in relation to teaching. Understand teaching and learning approaches in the specialist area. Session planning skills and understand how to deliver inclusive session which motivates learners. Understand the use of different assessment methods and the need for record keeping.

Price: £295.00 Length of course: Distance Learning Course location: Distance Learning Benefits of attending the course: To provide the attendee with the knowledge and skills to carry out their role as a teacher or instructor in accordance with the standards set by Highfields as the awarding body for PTLLS.

MANAGEMENT

Course Name: Security Coordination & Management Course Details: A comprehensive introduction to the essentials of corporate security management, designed to equip security practitioners with the knowledge and confidence to manage a successful loss prevention operation.

Course location: Thames Valley, Berkshire Price: £2490 + VAT fully residential - nonresidential option available Length of Course: 5 days Benefits of attending the course: Successful completion of this course will earn delegates an Edexcel- BTEC Level 4 Professional Award.

Email: janetward@arc-tc.com Tel: +44 (0)118 984 1040. www.arc-tc.com

MARITIME

Course Provider: The-Training-Wing Course Name: STCW95

Course Details: Personal Survival Techniques (STCW A-VI / 1-1) - preparation for sea survival, lifejackets and life rafts, principles of survival, survival craft ailments, raft management, search and rescue. This takes place in Poole, Dorset.

Fire Fighting and Fire Prevention (STCW A-VI / 1-2) Elementary First Aid (STCW A-VI/ 1-3) – DRABC of medical emergencies, CPR, recovery, bleeding, hypothermia. Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (SCTW A-

58 : : Circuit

VI/1 – 4) Price:£650.00 Length of course:5 Days Combined route offer: SSO + MSO + STCW95 + Accommodation = £1200 Course location: Ludgershall, Wiltshire Poole, Dorset Benefits of attending the course: It will give the attendee basic induction training in safety procedures, accident prevention and familiarises them with employment & working conditions aboard a ship.

Precautions to be taken to minimise the risk of fire on board a ship, the causes of fires and the first means of extinguishing them. Includes theory & training in the practical use of fire extinguishers, hoses & other fire equipment. It also covers the use of breathing apparatus for fire fighting and rescue purposes. Live fire training is undertaken. There will be a mixture of theory and practical sessions covering basic first aid and basic life support skills. Finally, there will be theoretical and practical elements regarding personal survival techniques which teaches the attendee the actions how to protect themselves in the event of ship abandonment and emergency situations. It includes a practical swimming pool session with immersion suits, lifejackets and inflatable life raft drills.

Course Provider: The-Training-Wing Course Name: Ship’s Security Officer (SSO)

Course Details: ISPS Code background & introduction, Maritime security threats , ISPS duties & responsibilities, The ship security assessment , The ship security plan, Maritime security levels, Security verification & certification, Interaction with vessels, authorities & ports, Training, drills & exercises, Training the trainer, Suspicious persons & behaviour & circumvention of security, Weapons & explosives, Practical protective measures & contingency planning (including anti piracy procedures & drills), Documents, records, communications & confidentiality Price:£395.00 Length of course:2 Days Course location: Ludgershall, Wiltshire Benefits of attending the course: It will give the attendee the knowledge and skills to carry out the duties as a designated SSO in accordance with the International Ship and Port Facility Code. In particular, the attendee will be able to monitor and manage ship’s security systems & processes, motivate and train the crew to perform security duties and supervise the implementation and maintenance of a ship security plan.

Course Provider: Sentinel Training Course Name: Maritime Security Operators course

Course Details: Successful candidates will achieve an internationally recognised Ship Security Officer certificate, approved by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Qualification gained: SSO AND MSO Course location: THROUGHOUT ENGLAND VENUES AND NORTHERN IRELAND Price:£495 Length of Course:3-4 DAYS Benefits of attending the course: The course is required as a professional bench

mark for operators currently on anti piracy ops. Taught by current operators with the latest info on the industry. www.sentineltraining.com info@sentineltraining.com 02893349182

MEDICAL Provider: The Medical Wing Course Name: Hostile/Hazardous Environment Medics © course

Course Details: IHCD/Edexcel FPOS-I Award Recognised by The Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, the Ambulance Service Authority and the SIA. Also the Medical Wing’s extended skills certificate and inclusion on their exclusive data base from which they solely recruit and recommend from Course location: The Medical Wings Training Centre at the Fire Service College at Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire Price:£795+vat food and accommodation can also be provided (when available) Length of Course: 6 very full days including a live scenario day with input from former SAS training wing instructors.

Benefits of attending the course: It is now a requirement to have an extended medical course on your CV to gain employment.

Course Name: Paediatric First Aid

Course Details: HABC QCF Level 2 award.

This is also approved and recognised by OfStead.

Course location: The Medical Wings Training Centre at the Fire Service College at Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire Price: Variable as this can be combined with other courses Length of Course: 2 very full days. This also includes exclusive extra modules from The Medical Wing.

Benefits of attending the course: This is a requirement for anyone working with or around children and is ideal for those on RST duties etc Email address for further information & telephone number. info@the-medicalwing.com 01608 670017

SURVEILLANCE Course Provider - NIBSSS Course Name - The NIBSSS Surveillance and Investigation Course Course length: 5 day and the advanced 10 Day course

Course Details - This course is designed for anyone thinking of becoming a Private Investigator and surveillance operative.

Cost: £1000 5 day course. £2000 10 day course Course location. Lisburn and surrounding areas Benefits of attending course: The course is designed for anyone wishing to improve their CPD and to enhance their skills to a higher level. We have also trained individuals so that they may open their own Private Investigation Company

Circuit :: ReadersWrites

Your Comm’s to I’ve finished my SSC/CSO plus STCW95. I’m now looking to do a good MED course/package, apart from the normal FPOS-I, could you recommend any other qualifications or courses that may make me stand out from the crowd?

Steve J

There are many courses and qualifications out there, within the medical field MIRA, EMT etc etc Your best bet is to research your chosen field of expanding upon in detail and think where these courses will lead you and how will they improve your employability. It may be worth speaking to fellow operatives in the industry to see what courses they have done and who with, also speaking to those who have positions in HR or would know what courses certain companies require for different contracts and how these may apply to you. Have you thought about obtaining your PTLLS qualification? We have featured in this edition an article about PTTLS and how it can help .This will allow you to instruct on various courses in a subject that you have competency in. Also you will find an insightful article about the Marsec sector in this edition and this goes into detail about what other qualifications may be of assistance. Also advanced driving is good to have when being a CPO. Is there a necessity to have a Hostile Environment certificate at all? I have been told by a few people some of whom are currently in Iraq that the course is just an added extra and not really needed!

Can you still get work as long as you are SIA qualified?

Ray W

HI, there is definitely no necessity to have a hostile environment certificate, no mandatory requirement; although it certainly wouldn’t do you any harm if this is an area that you are looking to operate in. If you are from a military background and have operational tours under your belt I’m sure these will suffice. If your background fits into what the company is looking for then you should

have no problem. However more and more companies expect you to hit the ground running once on the contract and being confident in your own abilities for your own and your teams safety is essential, if you have left the forces and want to direct your attention to working as a CPO in Hostile Environments then this type of course which are specifically aimed at this arena can give you more insight, contacts and understanding of the operational role due to the establishments directing them this way.Think about what can improve you personally, make you more employable and what are the requirements for the type of CP work you wish to operate in and decide if will help build what experience you have I am looking to work during the summer, unfortunately due to the Olympics I am having trouble finding suitably priced accommodation, do you know of anywhere that maybe suitable or any suggestions?

Anonymous

It would be to speak with any guys/girls on your team to see if they would like to share the cost, however I think accommodation will be extremely hard to come by when the Olympics comes so you might find yourself having to stay outside the capital and travel in. Try to think outside the box and use google as a start looking into house shares, room shares in private accommodation and possibly thinking further outside the box caravan sites and hostels, although your own pre requisites and realities of staying anywhere need to be met so that undergoing the contract is going to be feasible.

Do you think in the aftermath of the Olympics, that there will be an influx of personnel in the market place due to the government having a surge in the qualification of SIA trained staff? What do you think these people will do after?

Sam T

We like to hear all of your comments and suggestions, and welcome the opportunity to answer your questions or offer advice so please send them in to: info@circuit-magazine.com It depends in which area you operate, however I do think the whole security industry is saturated at present and that is unlikely to change in the short term. A lot of people were drafted in under the LOGOG requirements meaning that they have not been given their SIA but have been given permission to work only the Olympic events. The SIA’s that have been funded have been funded to DS level currently although some CP over the years have been funded this way. It could be that they return to their previous line of work since they do not see it as a career choice. Investing in yourself and seeing CP as a career choice, may make you stand out from any influx and remain employable. There is a need for DS level SIA at many of the events and static guarding positions outside the Olympics also, so possibly in the future they may fill these roles in future years ahead.

Can you suggest any locations or regular events of which may assist with networking, with regards to meeting up with professional likeminded individuals?

James W

Spreading yourself across a number of networks will work better than keep visiting one regular meeting as you will have more chances to meet new people. Depending on your background there are regular events held by the forces that promote this such as training workshops and employment fairs that are worth considering. Please see our Events section which lists some of the larger events.

Linked in and some of the social network sites and groups are a good place to start.

We endeavor to post up anything of interest to our members on our Facebook page. Also we are continually building relationships with event providers to have members review and attend for free; these larger events are a brilliant place to network and get the latest news and developments in the industry. So keep an eye on this to see what opportunities may arise.g

Circuit : : 59

Classified United Kingdom 3D Security Ltd Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1TG T - +44 (0)1823 253 001 Based in Taunton 3D Security provides security services for a wide range of clients. Whether you need a security guard in Somerset, event security in Leeds or Close Protection in London we will provide a solution for your needs.

W - www.3dsecurity.org E - enquiries@3dsecurity.org.uk A.B.I. Solutions A.B.I Solutions is a dynamic, forward thinking company, specialising in surveillance, security and investigations with local, national and international experience.

A.B.I provides a wide range of services to the corporate sector and individuals alike. www.abisolutions.co.uk Amanda Campbell A highly motivated and experienced female operative both CP and Surveillence training T – 07596542249 www.amandacampbell.org.uk ac@amandacampbell.org.uk Ambassador Security Management ASM MK Lions Arena, Grafton Court, Snowden Drive, Winterhill, Milton Keynes, MK6 1AJ, GBR T: 08458335750 After successfully gaining ACS (Door Supervision and Manned Guarding) along with ISO 9000, we here at ASM have a dedicated management team with hundreds of years combined experience in the security industry.

W: www.asmsecurity.co.uk E: scott@asmsecurity.com Ark Personal and Asset Protection Ark, 2b Crow Lane, Rochester, Kent, ME11RF, GBR T: +0044 01634 845526 A small, efficient, highly descrete company employing ex special forces and detectives for all civil and corporate covert needs.

E: Office@arkprotect.com Argus Europe County Durham, T:+44 (0) 8456 123 843 Argus Europe has been providing specialist training for high-net worth clients and their families for close to 20 years, worldwide. Argus Europe now offer accredited training for CPO’s, Surveillance Operators and Private detectives. Argus Europe is an operational company working globally with an extensive variety of contracts. www.arguseurope.co.uk

60 : : Circuit

Atlantian Business Solutions Group Rutland, LE15 6SD, GBR Atlantian Business Solutions has been designed to help both individuals and New Companies build for the future as well as support others with training needs T: 07725970954 W: www.atlantianbsgroup.com E: info@atlantianbsgroup.com Briareus Security Our aim is to give a complete, discreet and professional service to all of our clients, be they large corporations, small businesses, local authorities or private individuals, all tailored to meet their individual needs. www.briareussecurity.com info@briareussecurity.com Alastair Christie Advice on site security, perimeter fencing, lighting, CCTV and manning requirements.

Monitor and advise on guard force setting up site procedures and guard SOP’s.

T : +44 (0)7736 328112 E : ally.c9496@yahoo.co.uk Control Risk Management Solutions - CRMS Ireland Executive Close Protection Operations & Training (B Tec Level 3 Diploma Edexcel) Threat & Risk Assessments, Consultancy Services.

W: www.crmsinternational.com E: martin@crmsinternational.com Crest Security & Surveillance Ltd 51 The Crest, West Heath, Birmingham, West Mids, B31 3QA, GBR T: 447977071427 Highly experienced Security Consultant with a proven record of accomplishment in the field of protective security. Skilled in all phases of risk assessment, operational planning, logistical organisation, implementation of security measures, security team leadership, project coordination, and delivery of security advice to a high profile clientele.

E: info@stephencahill.co.uk CSI Protection Ltd International, GBR A well established security consultant and personal protection operative providing high or low Key protection to high risk and prestigious clientele. Specialising in the maritime industry as a consultant for private vessel protection on super yachts world wide.

W: www.csi-protection.co.uk E: gary@csi-protection.co.uk Custodia Custodia is an independent client focused Specialist Security & Risk Management Company, specialising in Risk consultancy and Security project management.

Providing a comprehensive portfolio of Risk mitigation solutions to assist Businesses and individuals to plan for, manage and mitigate risk.

T - 01432 277693 www.custodia.co.uk DF Risk Management Solutions Telephone : +44 (0)7837642686 / +44 (0)7758743918 DF Risk Management Solutions N.I. is a modern, professional risk management company, with a diverse range of global strategic experiences and a team of executives who possess dynamic but complementary backgrounds. www.dfriskmanagementsolutionsni.com Executive Protection Officer Worlwide CP services www.executiveprotectionofficer.com First Class Executive Security Nottingham, UK, Tel: 0115 9266466 Nottingham based, full-service company specializing in Bodyguards and Security Consulting services. Extensive experience in VIP security, also caters for public and private sectors. www.firstclasssecurity.co.uk G6 Global T - +44 (0)1454 610050 G6 are specialists in all types of radio, telephony and satellite communications for both voice and data with particular emphasis on covert communications installations in both vehicles and fixed locations. In addition, our range of personal covert radios and bespoke accessories is extensive. info@g6-global.com Gordon Russell Highly trained frontline Close Protection Operatives available for UK and International contracts. Our experienced CPO’s can offer bespoke packages to meet all clients needs, including a variety of language skills. All SIA licenced, BBA member Email - Bodyguard-cpo@Email.cz Tel - +44 (0)7917 281 004 Janice Gurney Proficient and diligent Security Professional gaining extensive knowledge and experience within the security sector.

Proactive individual who has a logical, flexible and conscientious approach to all challenges undertaken, ability to work as a member of a team or as an individual willing to work anywhere.

T : +44 (0)7885 793061 E : janice382006@gmail.com International Centre of Special Training T: +44 796 736 55 65 International Centre of Special Train-

To place a classified lineage or box advertisement telephone our sales team on: +44 (0) 191 6450 865

ing is an international training and security company based in the United Kingdom. Its priority objective is to provide services to the highest level.

W: www.icost-team.com

IPSS Security Northfield, Aberdeen, AB16 7EX Tel: + 44 (0) 1224 69455 Security and protection services - UK and overseas. BBA Member. www.ippssecurity.co.uk ISS Training Ltd Riverside Cottages, Nidd Walk, Pateley Bridge, Harrogate, HG3 5NA Tel: + 44 (0) 1423 712265 ISS Training Limited are providers of specialist covert surveillance training courses and publications to the security and investigative industries, enforcement agencies and specialist military units.

Formed in 1990, we are the longest established surveillance training company in the United Kingdom. Our credibility and reputation is widespread and we offer nationally recognised qualifications. BBA Member. www.intelsecurity.co.uk Jason Morris Security Hertfordshire, UK Providing a wide range of Door supervision/security for V.I.P and prestige venues, Concerts, Functions, Corporate and Personal Security, Weddings, Private Parties, Gala Dinners, Business Awards & School Proms, Close Protection and Body Guarding Static Guarding and Stewards.

T: 01462 478900 W: www.jasonmorrissecurity.co.uk E: agosselin@jasonmorrissecurity.co.uk John Featherstone 24hrs : +44 (0)7702 740722, john@ johnfeatherstone.co.uk Security professional with operational experience gained in a variety of theatres.

Main specialities close protection and surveillance. www.johnfeatherstone.co.uk K9 Support Services Ltd T: 0845 643 6393 K9 Support Services UK Ltd is a supplier of specialist drugs and explosives dog/ handler detection service (which includes arms & ammunition) to individuals, businesses, and the public sector. info@k9support.org.uk Logas International Tyne & Wear, SR1, GBR Front line SIA, International CPO. Private Investigation and Surveillance operator.

Email: wscarr@logasinternational.com MLK Security and Protection Services

Classified Swindon, UK Close Protection Officer and Door Supervisor E - mattleekane@hotmail.com T - 07917654978 LJE Security Services North Yorkshire, HG1, GBR Close Protection, Residential Security, Asset Protection, VIP red carpet Security and Private Investigation.

E : leanneedmondson@yahoo.co.uk One Events Grantham, UK, Tel – 0870 974 6779 One Events offers you a stress free solution in the organisation, putting together and running of an event. This is accomplished by having a group of specialised companies from different industries working together for a more complete service for you. www.oneevents.info PPSS Group T: +44 (0) 845 5193 953 F: +44 (0) 1765 603 512 Body armour and stab vests provide a functional solution to individuals who require extra protection in their chosen vocation. All PPSS (formerly ASEO) body armour and stab vests are certified by the UK’s Home Office (HOSDB) and offer unrivalled protection from blunt trauma caused by a punch, blow or kick. Based on our professional frontline experience and extensive research we can confirm that an impact based assault is a more likely event than an attack involving an edged weapon or firearm.

E: info@ppss-group.com W: www.ppss-group.com Presence Security T: 0800 002 9734 Presence Security (“ PS ”) is a bespoke security company providing protection for private individuals and VIPs, as well as security services for businesses and organizations.

E: info@presencesecurity.co.uk Prestige Risks LTD 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3AX, GBR Close Protection Secure Chauffeurs Surveillance Residential Security Executive Protection Security Guards Asset Protection T : +44 (0)207 5588182 E : info@prestigerisks.com W : www.prestigerisks.com Prometheus Medical Ltd T - (+44) 1568 613942 Prometheus deliver unrivalled bespoke emergency medical support in the form of specialist equipment, training, strategic advice and de-

ployed clinical care. www.prometheusmedical.co.uk Prosec Consultancy Ltd 10 Oakfield business park Westbury, BA13 4WF, tel: 01373 228055 Prosec Consultancy Limited are dedicated in providing a professional service, which covers a whole range of security services throughout the security industry. www.prosec-ltd.co info@prosec-ltd.com ProTouch Security T - 01724 279 522 ProTouch Security is one of the UK’s key providers of event safety, event security, crowd management, door supervisors, stewards, event management and health and safety.

W - www.protouchsecurity.co.uk Python Security and Protection Ltd Providing Close Protection Officers and Door Supervisors for Events and Venue Security.

E : mattleekane@hotmail.com RSM Security UK Ltd London, UK RSM Security UK Ltd offers the experience and expertise necessary to provide security personnel of the highest calibre when you need them.

T - 07850091979 or 07792948523 W - www.rsmsecurity.co.uk E - info@rsmsecurity.co.uk RWSSI E - rob@rwssi.co.uk T - +44 (0)7818 220985 Rob W is a professional security consultant with world wide experience and capabilities in Security, Surveillance and Investigation; I can support you to overcome any problems and enable you to achieve your goals SDS Solutions T: 01453 887815 SDS solutions provide our clients with protective solutions that are second to none, our consultants will discuss every aspect of the problems that you are facing that dictate the need for a protective solution, we promise our clients a tailor made service to meet individual requirements. Whether based in the UK or abroad our protective service E: info@sds-solutions.org Shadow Close Protection A leading company specializing in Executive Protection as a professional sector, with participation in high and low risk missions , providing global security solutions and consultancy to individuals , corporations and national agencies

worldwide .

W: www.shadowcp.gr E: info@shadowcp.gr T: + 30 6948539664 Shaun West United Kingdom, E: sw@shaunwest.co.uk T: +44 (0)7830 109 601 SIA licensed, Highly Experienced Frontline CPO. Ronin SA trained. Providing security for both corporate and hostile environments. www.shaunwest.co.uk Spotllght Protection Services Essex, T - 07870560208 Essex based business which provides a broad and growing range of security services to businesses and organisations large and small.

E: info@spotlightprotectionservices.co.uk W: www.spotlightprotectionservices.co.uk VIPA Tactical Training A specialist training academy dealing with four specific areas of combat: VIPA Civilian Self Protection Program, VIPA Close Protection Combat System, VIPA Police Defence Tactics and VIPA Military Close Quarter Combat. BBA Member. www.VIPAtacticaltraining.com

Europe & Africa International Security Academy P.O.Box 5833, Herzeliya, 46000, ISRAEL Tel: + 972 9 950 0969 Our graduates are more recognized, respected and sought after by Distinguish Protection service “consumers” and by most of the “Providers” of Protection services worldwide. Organisers of the 2008 International Summit of Protection Officers. BBA Member. www.SecurityAcademy.org.il Javier Galan Spain Security specialist available for operations around the world.

E: oejju@hotmail.com T: 34.637080771 Military Grade Encryption Phones PO Box 52310, Limassol, CYPRUS Tel: + 357 7777 7276 Built-in encryption software which converts your voice to encrypted data using a constantly changing mathematical formula. It uses a dual layered RSA/AES combination and a changing session key which modifies the encryption algorithm every second. € 1,398.00 + VAT. All prices include new Nokia N73 phone. BBA Member. www.protechcy.com/new Security Concierge Group SCG Special Projects Ltd, Avenida

To place a classified lineage or box advertisement telephone our sales team on: +44 (0) 191 6450 865 Bartolome Vicente Ramon No 10, B16, Ibiza, 07800, ESP T: 00 34 600 665 275 Security Concierge Group is a privately owned and fully independent provider of exceptional security services to an interesting and varied range of cl... Read More W: www.securityconciergegroup.com E: joe.buckle@securityconciergegroup.com Veritas Group Romania, Hungry, UK Head of Security, WS Carr +44 73 50 50 967 Operations, M Gray +40 73 50 50 971 wwwvamsrl.com

Americas Bodyguard Careers Bodyguard Careers is an informational site with the purpose of providing bodyguards with all the information and tools necessary to succeed in the Close Protection Industry Info@BodyguardCareers.com www.BodyguardCareers.com Canadian Use of Force Systems 7975 Yonge St. # 7124, Innisfil, ON, L9S 1L0, CANADA Tel: + 1 705 456 4333 A professional Use of Force and Defensive Tactics organization teaching a full range of controlled response options for SelfProtection and Use of Force considerations in public and professional environments.

BBA Associate Member. www.canadianuseofforce.com Contact Front Photography +1 (612) 369-6134 Contact Front Photography is the world’s 1st photography studio dedicated to the Close Protection Professional. Stop putting generic or pirated photos on your website; instead commission custom shots to best represent you or your agency.

Info@ContractFrontPhotography.com www.ContactFrontPhotography.com Decisiones Estratégicas Buenos Aires – Argentina Tel: +54(911) 6415 1941 E: jbenitez@d–estrategicas.com Executive protection specialists we have experienced in all Latin America, for multinationals companies, also providing support in project throughout Latin America to consulting first the US. and UK. We have a team of specialists and psychologists in assistance and crisis negotiation. www.d–estrategicas.com Detective Lacerda

Circuit : : 61

Global Bear Protection PO Box 11488, Jackson, Wyoming, 83002, USA T: 307 413 3619 Provision of British and US Ex Special forces security/medical specialists.

W: www.globalbearprotection.com E: bear@globalbearprotection.com Icon Services Corporation 1043 Grand Ave. #312, St. Paul, MN 55105, USA Tel: + 1 651 695 8778 A full service security and investigative agency specializing in providing high-level security and bodyguards to international celebrities, public figures and corporations. Licensed, bonded and insured, our diverse roster of clients reads as a virtual who’s who in the corporate, motion picture, fashion and recording industry. Entering into our 10th year, Icon has been the hand picked choice to provide Executive Protection to everyone from Superintendents to Supermodels.

BBA Member. www.Industry-Icon.com Imperial Protective Service, LLC 15849 N. 71st Street, Suite 100, Scottsdale , Arizona, 85254, USA Tel: + 1 480 281 1588 Imperial Protective Service’ (IPS) is a security consulting and services firm founded in 1978. IPS provides both national and international corporate, executive and celebrity protective services. BBA Member. www.executiveprotect.com Panther Protection Services 3695F Cascade Road Suite 2207 Atlanta, GA 30331 (404) 349-9117 Panther Protection Services is a full service protection agency offering such services as threat assessment, executive protection, self-defense training, firearms instruction, and high risk tactical protection. Our executive protection specialists have over 75 years of experience. Panther can handle your protection needs whether around the corner or around the world. Member: BBA and NABA www.pantherprotectionservices.com SILVER STAR PROTECTION www.silver-star-protection.com Executive protection, site and event security with global experience. Serving southern Minnesota with integrity and professionalism. Former USSS, ICON Alumni. available for domestic and international travel.

62 : : Circuit

Robert E. Jones Manager/CEO rejones@silver-star-protection.com

TWENTY ELEVEN

TSICS (T6) Miami, Florida, USA TSICS (T6) provides the following services in Central America: Executive Protection, Individual Bodyguard, Close Protection Training, Corporate Invest... Read More W: www.security-professionals.org/ members/saldrix E: tsics.t6@gmail.com T: +502 6645 6822 Tony Scotti’s Vehicle Dynamics Institute 1162 St. Georges Ave, Suite 277 , Avenel, NJ 07001, USA Tel: + 1 732 738 5221 The first name in advanced driver training, offering our highly acclaimed Protective/Evasive Driving Programs.

Designed specifically for today’s executive chauffeurs, executive protection professionals and others who are responsible for providing safe and secure transportation services. BBA Member. www.vehicledynamics.net Vindex Personal Protection & Investigation Inc. 497 Hooksett Rd #365 Manchester NH 03104 603.289.3161 / Full service Private Investigations & Executive Protection.

10 years combined Law Enforcement, Private security, close protection work, & security contracting. NY Mayors, U.S. President’s, NFL owners, and VIP’s are some of the protection work I’ve gained experience with. ICON alumni, NABA member. vindexinc@aol.com /vindexinc.com

Asia Pacific

“SMART WAY TO MANAGE YOUR RISKS” T: +44 (0) 207 8162620 Find us on:

Asia Protective Group Ltd Asia Protective Group (APG) is a Hong Kong based risk management company, specializing in executive protection, overseas travel security and security consultancy services. APG has an extensive network of security specialists operating throughout the Asia Pacific region.

W - www.asia-pg.com E - jim@asia-pg.com E - yvonne@asia-pg.com

Circuit The

October

The Magazine for Security Professionals

#13

P.O.BOX 25996, São Paulo, 05513-970 , BRAZIL Tel: + 55 (11) 3452 4388 Providing the full range of security and investigation services throughout Latin America.

BBA Member. www.detectivelacerda.cjb.net

Travel Security

For the International Businessman

RELAX

Recognising and avoiding the symptoms of PTSD

TRAINING

Why is it so important?

SURVEILLANCE IN SOUTH AFRICA UNDERSTANDING COVERT BULLET PROOF VESTS

+

Book Reviews & Author Interviews Where do you read your copy of The Circuit Gadgets Galore How your Smart Phone may be giving away more than you think

A Quarterly publication from the British and North Bodyguard Cover: TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS - The CPOAmerican and their PrincipalAssociation

HQ

editor: shaunWEST managing editor: jonMOSS international editor: elijahSHAW design & production: kalWILKINS marketing executive: christinaDOCHERTY

Contributors: mattADEY benjaminALOZIE michaelBAILLIE gilBOYD jasonCHEESMAN jacquieDAVIS scottD. katherineFRIESE fernandoFIGUEROA markJAMES ericKONOHIA c.LOPES

mikeO’NEILL stuartPAGETT johnPLAYER maroofRAZA docROGERS wayneROY davidRUBENS m.SAVVA elijahSHAW dougSMITH shaunWEST

Our Sincere Thanks to all those that continue to contribute their wisdom and experience for the enjoyment of others The Circuit is compiled, edited and published in the UK and US quarterly. www.circuit-magazine.com info@circuit-magazine.com Tel: +44 845 519 2538 DISCLAIMER While every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this magazine is both accurate and up-to-date, The Circuit accepts no liability in any part for loss or damage incurred by reliance on information contained in this magazine through omissions, errors, howsoever caused. © COPYRIGHT Copyright remains with the authors and contributors at all times.

No part of this publication can be copied or reproduced in any way whatsoever without permission from the publisher AND the author / contributor.

Wherever you work in the world…

Mortgage & insurance advice for UK security professionals

0843 557 0347 enquiries@bhbrokers.co.uk YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE Our typical fee for arranging your mortgage is £495. Depending on the work required we may charge up to 1.5% of the loan amount and we may receive commission from the lender.

www.bhbrokers.co.uk

Photo courtesy: Keith Maude