ASK THE NABA NETWORK

You are assigned to a recognizable female Protectee who while department store shopping goes to the bathroom. Moments later you see a woman breeze past you and enter with what looks like a professional-style camera under her coat. What is your next course of action?

*Female Protectors, please reverse the genders.

Ralph Jefferson

Call out. Alert your principal to the photographer (potential anyway). I’d rather he embarrassed for yelling it out than to have her caught off guard.

DC Korenek

Early warning is always appreciated, gives client time to react.

phatty76

I believe in California it is against the law to have a camera in a public restroom.

Monica Duperon Rodriguez It depends on the status of the protectee. I was at the New York Public Library with a male client who was the keynote speaker for an event. First, I will say I had a great working relationship with my client. In this case I cleared the men’s bathroom and made sure he was the only one inside. I then blocked the entrance advising others the bathroom was unavailable and I would point them in the direction of another bathroom. That bathroom is on lockdown.

There is no time to be shy when you have to get the job done. In the specific scenario described above, I’m going in. Again, no time to be shy the camera person will be uncomfortable before I am.

Aaron D Roberts

I would call out to alert them, then likely go in.

Shawn Cooper

In Murphy's world, hopefully the client would mention that she wants to make a stop and just not veer off.

Firstly, I would want to clear the washroom before she enters. If I'm not able, I would take a quick look inside as my client was opening up the door.

Is there another access point from a different direction? Could I get the assistance of a female sales associate if needed?

I then would position myself accordingly to screen. If I saw a person approach with something concealed under her jacket I may stop, identify myself as security (not saying I'm store security) and mentioned that items not paid for are not allowed in the washroom.

I would also speak loudly so the client could hear me and prepare herself accordingly.

Mark James

During the security briefing I would advise whenever possible we seek the family restrooms it gives me enhanced access in providing coverage with minimal embarrassment for all, client or other restroom patrons.

If I saw the person approaching with the camera under the arm, I would announce ladies please prepare yourself male entering if she is in the standard women’s restroom.

If any ladies became offended or uncomfortable, I would inform them I entered for all of their safety and privacy to reduce the potential for negative exposure by embarrassing shots by the paparazzi.

Fernando Mata

Part of the work involves knowing the location of the bathrooms, in this way we can restrict access to that particular bathroom and channel the flow to the other bathrooms claiming some repair or other gadget, it applies the same for the ladies as for the gentlemen.

Benjamin Alozie

Well, am reading some interesting comments and asking myself the penalty of a male entering into a female restroom in other countries. I’m not sure but in some countries they'll give at least one of the legs you used to walk into that female rest room a short knicker cut, call it leg amputation if you prefer.

Anyway Hopefully my P has their cellphone always as usual on their person so I'll just send them a message advising them accordingly and avoid too much drama.

If the rest room is manned, I'll tip the cleaners or attendants and have them help me keep an eye on the activities of that individual with a camera in the rest room.

If I really feel they are a threat, I'll just stop them from entering the rest room with a camera and with valid reasons. Usually, they will understand it's wrong to enter that place with a camera I hope

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