Circuit The
January TWENTY TWELVE #14
The Magazine for Security Professionals
HERE COME THE GIRLS
Who said there’s no room for females in the Security Industry
AFGHAN ENDGAME
OEF, why it failed and what next?
THE REVOLVER
A new look at an old friend
GUN TALK
It won’t get you a job
CTX 2012 SHOW PREVIEW
Counter Terror Expo returns to London Olympia 25-26 April 2012
TRAINING
Choosing the right course
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Book Reviews Free Financial Advice Essential Kit Reviews
AFGHAN ENDGAME - OEF, why it failed and what next?
TWENTY ELEVEN
October
TWENTY ELEVEN
TWENTY ELEVEN
#13
STAYING FIGHT FOCUSED Enhancing your firearms training
An introduction from Shaun West & Elijah Shaw
� readerswrites 5]
Your Comms to HQ
� ontheJob 6] 9] 10] 12] 15] 16] 18]
19]
22]
Equipment Selection Professional Image Medical Training - Tactical Support Piracy - The Elucidation Gun Talk - It won’t get you a job Selecting the Right Training Course Firearms - The cost of carrying A Tale of Two Attacks - An Objective Look at Recent Vehicle Ambushes Recognising People from Photographs - Pitfalls and Tips
� shoptalk 24] 26] 28] 34] 40] 46] 44] 48]
The Revolver - A new look at an old friend CTX 2012 Show Preview - Counter Terror Expo returns to London Olympia 25-26 April 2012 How Geoint is Winning the Fight Here Come the Girls - The growing popularity of female security operatives How Can You Lead with a Poor Attitude The Close Protection Career More Bang for Your Buck Break Out the Big Guns - Selecting a tactical shotgun for executive protection
� Features 21]
39] 43]
Where do You Read Yours? - Members pics from around the globe reading our favourite magazine Working Girl - with Jacquie Davis BooKlub - This month’s reviews Financial Q&A Advice Keeping your Edge - with Elijah Shaw - Respecting those that have come before
51]
Get Your Kit On - Gadget Reviews
31] 32]
� boyZone
Travel Security
BE PREPARED! For the International Businessman We review ICON’s Advanced RELAX Executive Protection course and the Recognising and avoiding the Viper First Person on Scene course offered by Prometheus Medical symptoms of PTSD HYPOTHERMIA IN TRAUMA How to keep your casualty warm
� Foreword 4]
The
July
The Magazine for Security Professionals The Magazine for Security Professionals The Magazine for Security Professionals #12
#11
Contents
Circuit Circuit Circuit The
The
April
TRAINING
Why is it so important?
COMMUNICATIONS PLANNING SURVEILLANCE IN SOUTH AFRICA BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS
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Books to read on those long summer evenings
COUNTER TERROR EXPO EDITION
UNDERSTANDING COVERT BULLET PROOF VESTS
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Boys toys and more Go Bags
Book Reviews & Author Interviews
Elijah Shaw tells us why working with a VIP doesn’t make you one
Where do you read your copy of The Circuit
and Jacquie Davis has been travelling around the UK
Gadgets Galore
How your Smart Phone may be giving away more than you think
A Quarterly publication from the RANSOM BritishA and American Bodyguard Association Cover : HOSTAGE KIDNAP AND - North The risks of being taken asBritish a hostage Quarterly publication from the and North Bodyguard Cover: TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS - The CPOAmerican and their PrincipalAssociation
HQ editor: shaunWEST operations editor: nickMCCARTHY managing editor: jonMOSS international editor: elijahSHAW design & production: kalWILKINS copy editor: julieHUNTER
Contributors: tonyANSELL josephAUTERA deanBATEMAN adamBENNETT amyBURRELL amandaCAMPBELL andrewCLARK jacquieDAVIS tonyHOOD markJAMES justinJOHNSON
nickMCCARTHY jonMOSS stuartPAGETT; russSAUNDERS anthonySCOTTI elijahSHAW larrySNOW geneSTRATTON dougSMITH shaunWEST
Additional photography by nickMCARTHY 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.
Circuit : : 3
Foreword
T
he appeal of the security industry seems to be spreading like never before, it is an evergrowing industry with new entrants joining daily! Growth is fantastic but problems occur when supply outstrips demand. No matter what industry you are in at present, the wise thing to do is to hold on to what you’ve got with both hands as sadly unemployment is currently well documented and at an all time high! The holiday period tends to bring with it lots of extra
work so we will be keeping our fingers crossed for all of the guys and girls whom have been out of work that they may pick some up over the festive period. For those that have been flat out we hope you enjoy some well-earned time off with your families and for those of you deployed in distant lands looking after your principal keep your heads down, stay safe and I promise all of us at the Circuit Magazine will raise a glass for you!
2011 has been another huge year for us at the Circuit Magazine. It still amazes me the feats that can be achieved by such a small team by producing the magazine whilst all continuing to hold down full time careers within the security industry. It is not only the producing of the magazine that impresses me but its the continued growth and advancement that has been achieved by so few! Check out our latest advancement of the magazine which is now
available in the iPad store via Newsstand, if you’re currently already reading the magazine on this medium it looks good doesn’t it? We will be looking to make more developments in 2012 but this can only be achieved if we keep receiving articles for the magazine and the continued support all whom read the magazine. Earlier in the year we seen many members and subscribers whom come to visit us at our stand at the Counter Terror Expo, we have now just confirmed we will be in attendance once again at CTX 2012 so we look forward to seeing you there! Until next time from all of us at the Circuit we wish you a safe and prosperous 2012, stay low and move fast Shaun West
W
of the internet, particularly with the social media platforms, we get to stay up to date on the latest, pretty much whenever we have a Wi-Fi connection. With that said, a lot of the information is also bite-sized, so while you get your hunger temporary sated, your stomach is grumbling again shortly. That is why I think there will always be a need for periodicals. It’s good to dig a bit deeper and get the “rest of the story” and with The Circuit Magazine, we aim to do just that.
Quarterly we conceive, develop and produce the pages you are laying your eyes on for the benefit of the close protection and related communities. Our aim is to not just talk about “guns and ammo” but discuss topics that are equally as relevant to the life of a Protector. Medical, driving, global hotspots, heck even accounting (very important come tax time!),
Editor
ow, it’s 2012 already. I don’t know about you, but it seems like time is speeding up these days. Perhaps it’s the culture we live in. Everything is immediate. Now. Now. Now. Instant coffee, movies “on demand” and of course that’s also how we like our news and information. We want to be plugged in and with the rise
those are just a handful of the articles The Circuit makes available. Now how do we bring this closer into alignment with the immediacy we mentioned earlier? Well, did you know that you can order current or back issues of The Circuit in electronic format with just a few clicks of your mouse? Also by the time you read this you should also be able to hop over to your friendly Apple iTunes store and download an issue customized for reading on your iPod or iPad. In short, “instant” just combined with “substance” to create the best of both worlds. Enjoy.
Elijah Shaw International Editor
Circuit :: ReadersWrites
Your Comm’s to Is there ever a reason not to social network? I am due to leave the army, have attended several resettlement courses where it has been discussed, but there has never been a conclusive answer to this? What is the Circuit Magazine’s opinion? Dave C
Dave, often discussed, often asked within these pages and in our opinion, yes, there is a time not to do it. OPSEC and PERSEC must be at the forefront of your mind. You must be responsible and accountable for your actions and the affect that they could have on others. We embrace social networking, it suits our business model but it is an area that must be approached in a professional manner and with a little bit of common sense.
I have heard on the grapevine that the Circuit Magazine will soon be released on the iPad? Can you confirm this is the case? Adam S
Adam, hopefully you are reading or at least able to read this and previous editions on the iPad now! We felt that this was the right time to move the publication forward and offer it in a more usable digital format. Do you agree? The feedback and growth of apples Newsstand has been phenomenal and something we very much felt that we needed to be involved with. Let us know your thoughts once you have had the opportunity to have a look at the production on an iOS5 device.
That is a good question Mark and one that we cannot answer with any certainty at all. If licensing was to improve standards, maintain good rates of pay for well qualified and experienced operators and help improve the image of the security industry then it would be a good idea. Most companies are asking people to have certain ticks in boxes so there is already some form of self regulation in place but nothing set in stone across the board. Let’s see what 2012 brings.
Will the gap in operators for the 2012 London Olympics be adequately filled by the UK Military or is this a poor show? Mandy T
The shortfall in operators does seem somewhat of a disaster and a missed opportunity for the commercial security industry. The use of the military in this role was perhaps always going to happen (to a lesser degree than currently suggested) due to the specialist equipment that they have and the obvious terror threat. Talk of fighter jets over London and a helicopter support ship on the Thames are perhaps as much a media opportunity for the government than anything else. One thing is for sure, the gap will not be bridged in time so expect to see the military on show at the event and if you are still serving do not make any plans for attending the events themselves!
Do you think that Maritime Security sector will become a licensable activity? Are you in favour of it?
Dear Sir, I have had my CV done by a professional CV writing service. Although pleased with the results myself I was questioned at interview as to why I had not done the CV myself? I was not sure what to say? They seemed to view it as a bad thing and that I was somehow cheating?
Mark S
Paul F
Well Paul, as ever, we cannot please all of the people all of the time. If you are a regular reader of these pages you will know that we support the use of professional CV writers. Next time you are asked, why not say something along the lines of “I paid to have my CV professionally written as I am serious about my career in the security industry and wanted to create the best possible impression upon potential employers. I feel the fee involved shows my commitment to professionalism and my aspirations”. Why would they bring you in for an interview, if after viewing your CV, they were somehow offended by you having it professionally written? Seems odd but try what we have suggested, we feel people would find a response along those lines hard to knock.
I have been struggling finding UK based work since qualifying in early 2011. Do you think 2012 will be a better year? I am becoming disillusioned to say the least. Marie C
The state of the economy is one thing Marie, that is obviously having an impact on our industry just like it is on others. Without actually speaking with you about your specific situation it is impossible to offer advice for your particular situation. Many people blame the economy for their lack of progress but do not look within to see if there is something more that they themselves can do and this is the place to start. Speak with your training provider, if they are a decent sort they will have a post course service and will help you out. Speak with colleagues, network within and outside of the industry, do research online, join a quality association such as The BBA, be proactive and positive and make yourself an asset. Best of luck Marie.
Does your Close Protection course provider matter? Karl P
We think your chosen training provider matters regardless of the course. You will have to make your choice based on many factors, some will be more or less pertinent to you but consider: reputation, recommendations, experience of instructors, cost, location, value for money, post course support and duration. Ask the provider themselves questions and compare the answers from the providers that you have chosen. If you have time then visit them.
Circuit : : 5
Circuit :: ShopTalk
I
by |
ANDREW CLARK
n a previous article we took a high level look at some of the communications options available to operators on the ground. We also covered some of the aspects that need to be considered when making the appropriate selection of a communications capability for a specific task. In the coming issues we will look in more detail at the various types of technology and at the equipment manufacturers; what they have on offer, what works and what doesn’t.
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T
Circuit :: ShopTalk
The logical place to start this journey is with the simplest and most widely used form of communications; two-way radio. I can already hear some of you raising an eyebrow at that statement, and thinking that mobile phones have to be simpler and more widely used than radios. And that is an understandable assumption to make, but statistics show otherwise. Whilst mobile phones are essential for certain aspects of strategic command and control, at the tactical level two-way radio is by far the simplest, most reliable and most commonly used medium. So what are the options we need to consider when deciding on the right equipment for the specific scenario that we face? Within the past three years, two-way radio has undergone a significant transformation. I am talking about the transition from analogue to digital radios. It happened a long time ago in the mobile phone industry and the radio industry has taken much longer than it should have to catch up. But now it has happened it is moving with incredible momentum. There are currently four major manufacturers offering digital radios with many more in development. So the first and fundamental question you need to address is ‘Analogue or Digital’? In my opinion there is only one answer to this question – Digital. There are a whole bunch of technical reasons supporting this view but this isn’t the forum to go into those. From a purely practical point of view, the features and capabilities that digital radios already offer, make them the obvious choice for forward looking operators and teams who want to be ahead of the curve. For example, all of the current digital offerings come with some form of enhanced voice privacy, ensuring that your conversations remain private. Digital signals are far more difficult to intercept and decode than analogue signals, requiring expensive and complex equipment to achieve the task. Advanced features such as text messaging and private calls between radios on a network, are also standard features. Another huge benefit is that all digital radios are ‘backwards compatible’. This means they will work in analogue mode with any existing or legacy networks that you may be required to interface with in the course of your operations. With this in mind, and the fact that the price differential between the two isn’t huge (digital is currently somewhere in the region of 20% more expensive), what is the incentive not to embrace the new technology and go digital? One thing I haven’t mentioned is coverage. There is a popular conception that digital radios provide greater coverage than their analogue predecessors: this is not true. Side-by-side coverage trials indicate little, if any difference in actual coverage; so why do people think this is the case? The reason is one of voice quality or ‘readability’. The farther two radios are apart, the weaker the signal becomes. With analogue radios this manifests itself by increasing distortion, interference, hiss and noise, to the point where the signal is so weak that it can no longer be understood.
Circuit : : 7
Circuit :: OnTheJob Digital radios are no different. They are subject to exactly the same interference as analogue radios. However, because the signal is digital, and because the technology employed uses complex error correction techniques, even as it fades over distance, the digital signal can be ‘re-built’ at the receiving radio. Any inherent errors introduced in the transmission path can be eliminated making the received audio constantly clear and readable, where the analogue signal becomes weak and distorted. There will come a point where the signal is so badly distorted that even the digital radio cannot recover it. At which point the link will be lost. With the analogue radio you will know this is happening as the signal becomes weaker and less easy to understand. Whereas with the digital signal one minute it will be there and the next it won’t, with little or no indication that you are reaching the edge of your usable coverage. The next question to be asked is of frequency; UHF or VHF? This very much depends on your physical environment i.e. the type of ground or terrain in which you are operating. As a rule of thumb UHF is preferable in an urban or built up environment, whereas VHF is better for rural operations where longer distances between users are likely. The technical reasons for this are complex but can be relatively easily characterised. UHF frequencies are more subject to an effect known as ‘diffraction’ which causes the signals to be bent by sharp edges such as buildings and other structures more commonly found in an urban setting. VHF signals, being lower in frequency, are more prone to be absorbed by buildings and other structures, thereby weakening them considerably. On the other hand in the more open rural
environment, a VHF signal is more likely to follow the curvature of the earth’s surface and, therefore, operate beyond the visual horizon giving you a greater operating range. So we’ve addressed two of the main considerations so far; Analogue vs Digital and UHF vs VHF, but there is still much more to consider. What about power output, how much does this affect the distance over which you can operate? What about antennas, what are the different types and when would you use them? Licensing is something that is often overlooked but very important, both in the U.K. and when operating overseas. It would be very embarrassing indeed if your equipment got confiscated and someone ended up being fined, or worse, prosecuted, simply because they hadn’t completed the correct paperwork and obtained the correct operating licence. What are the options when mounting radios into vehicles and what are some of the major mistakes made? Finally, and possibly most importantly, which brand or manufacturer to choose? At the end of the day they all have their positive and negative points, often it is down to personal preference, but being able to make an informed choice is always helpful. All of these we will be covering in the coming months. Choosing the right communications strategy, including equipment selection, for your specific circumstances can seem like a very daunting task. But remember, you are not alone! As with any other aspect of your job, never be afraid to seek expert advice. We are always available to discuss your particular situation and there is no such thing as a ‘silly question’! Pick up the phone or drop me an email; it doesn’t cost anything to talk and it’s often the quickest way to get the answers you need! Andrew Clark is MD at G6 Global Communications: www.G6-Global.com, +44 (0) 1454 610050
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Circuit :: OnTheJob
by |
GENE STRATTON
You never know who is watching..... Be a Positive Influence I saw these words on a poster recently and considered them carefully. It’s not a bad idea for those in the security and EP (Executive Protection) professions to reflect upon. Using myself as an example, allow me to set up the following scenario which may help you apply this. It was a hot day in July of 2010 and our convoy of vehicles was heading to a destination that was unknown to me to do training in ICON’s “Celebrity and VIP Protection” training course. While our driver demonstrated that he was most likely trained by Tony Scotti himself, I being a passenger, occupied myself wrestling with my radio, seat belt, clothes and the frustration of not knowing what was on the agenda for the evening. As we eventually came to a refuel/rest stop, I exited the vehicle in the most disheveled condition imaginable, not fully mentally reeling in the fact that my shirt needed tucking in, my tie was askew, blazer was off and I looked more like a vagrant than a VIP protection professional. In a moment of clarity I hurried back to the car even though I was still somewhat unkempt, because it dawned on me I didn’t want to walk to the upcoming training exercise. This was just the sort of bitter lesson that could be tossed into the day’s agenda. Can you imagine a spoiled, self-centered Principal waiting because “Agent Stratton had to go, Ahem...secure his equipment?” Being keenly observant, the ICON staff quickly pointed out that this was simply unacceptable. At all times, we are a reflection of the company we work for, the Principal we are charged with protecting, and are representing the EP and security professions, and most certainly our very own professionalism. They were right, of course. They simply caught me at an inopportune moment but they held me accountable for it! Appearance is always a major factor in whether we work or we stay home. Good haircuts, shoes clean and shined, dark or blue slacks and jacket are almost always acceptable, and ties should be silk. Pony tails make nice leverage handles for those who would do you harm. “Jewelry” and body art are popular in many circles but may not send the right message to your clients. Avoid white socks, tennis shoes, and keep fragrances to a minimum. Never smoke or chew gum in an EP setting. It goes without saying that partying with your client is a bad idea. Polo shirts may be acceptable in some settings, so check your SOP’s if applicable. Footwear is a crucial choice as exhausted feet make for an exhausted, ineffective agent. If this isn’t apparent as early as your first
assignment it will be afterwards. Ear plugs are great to have on the gun range and when I’m helping secure a venue with loud music (Is there any other kind?). The space in your pockets and on your belt is precious so use it wisely. Never fail to take advantage of an opportunity to recharge equipment and visit necessary facilities. Check and secure equipment before you set foot in the field! Be completely professional in all your daily activities. Those last few nuggets are worth the price of this publication and more. This can also be applied to our social networking posts, the language we use and subjects spoken of in public and among clients and potential clients, and yes, co-workers. Security is an incredibly diverse business from those of you who put down insurrections to those of you who observe and report, but the one thing that binds us all together ultimately is making the world a better, safer, and more sane place for our families. Our networking isn’t about who can drop the most boisterous F bombs and expressing our individuality as free spirits but about common goals of educating each other, getting work, and doing what we can along the way to enhance the perception of our profession. Such an endeavor does indeed begin with each one of us. Good Luck, and as always... Stay Safe! Gene Stratton is a security professional in the Kentucky area and a graduate of ICON’s 2010 “Celebrity and VIP Protection” course. For the majority of the past 26 years he has worked in the Fire, EMS, Police and Security industries. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Morehead State University. genestrattonbg@gmail.com
Circuit : : 9
Circuit :: OnTheJob
tactical SUPPORT
W
hen operating in a hostile environment, it is essential that team members are capable of delivering a good level of medical care in the pre-hospital phase where up to 90% of combat deaths occur.
by |
However desperate the medical provider is to treat the casualty, especially if he/she happens to be a friend or colleague, the safety of the scene must always be assessed before rushing in and becoming another casualty. Remember the 3 S’s of scene safety:
S S S
ELF - safety to yourself (am I going to become a casualty myself?) CENE - is the scene safe? Look for hazards; fire, collapsing building, sniper etc
URVIVOR - is the survivor safe? Is he in immediate danger; fire, sniper, chemicals etc
Gold standard medical care will undoubtedly be delayed until the casualty can be removed to a place of definitive care, however, before the casualty can reach that place he needs to be successfully extricated from danger, have immediate life threatening injuries recognized and treated, then adequately packaged and evacuated. These pre-hospital interventions can be broken down into 3 phases;
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DEAN BATEMAN
Safety and Care under Fire -immediate intervention -
This is a non-permissive phase in the face of enemy action or other factors such as fire, risk of explosion, hostile crowd, building collapse etc. The safety of the medic, team and surviving casualty are of paramount importance. The priorities are to extricate the casualty from the killing zone or the threat. Do not remove the casualty’s body armour or helmet, if the casualty is conscious with life threatening haemorrhage encourage him to self apply a dressing or tourniquet, you may have to throw one to him from a place of safety. If unconscious with airway compromise, rolling the patient onto his side or front allowing postural drainage or inserting a basic airway adjunct such as a nasopharyngeal airway may be the best option. Rapid extrication should be carried out at this stage using the casualties’ clothes, drag harness, specially designed stretchers like the “Team-8 Stretcher” or whatever means possible. Rapidly extricating this patient to a place of safety is more important than worrying about a potential cervical spine injury. The medic should take minimal kit to the casualty during this initial phase, opening a medical bergan is both dangerous and unrealistic. A
Support Airborne Forces personal trauma pouch is far more useful in this situation and should contain a good haemorrhage control dressing like the Olaes modular bandage, airway adjuncts and a tourniquet.
Tactical Field Care
A B C irway
reathing irculation
D
isability-neurological examination
Casualty Packaging, Evacuation and Handover There is always a significant period of risk for the casualty and sometimes the rescuers during extrication, especially in a hostile environment. It is vitally important to reassess the casualty and the treatment you have provided during the packaging and extrication phase, paying meticulous attention to dressings and torniquets, which can become loose and difficult to notice when the patient is covered. Keep the patient as warm as possible, especially if there has been significant blood loss, hypothermia should be avoided at all cost as it weakens the body’s ability to clot blood leading to increased bleeding.
D
PA R A C H
UT
Be aware of the time and distance it takes to extricate the casualty to definitive care, the severity of the casualty’s injuries, the environment and team resources all have to be considered.
E
Upon handover of the patient for further medical intervention an accurate in depth medical handover should be given using a MIST format: M - mechanism of injury I - injuries found S - signs and symptoms T - treatment given In the next issue we will cover Catastrophic Haemorrhage - both compressible and non-compressible, and its recognition and management. Dean Bateman is Prometheus Medical’s new Chief Instructor and has 20 years of experience of responding to medical emergencies in ambulances, fast response paramedic cars, physician supported units and helicopters. In addition to his work in the UK, Dean also has experience of teaching in immediate medical care and providing medical cover in hostile environments across Africa, including Somalia and Kenya. Over the next few issues, Dean will be writing a series of articles covering the cABCD of trauma care. www.prometheusmed.com : :Tel: +44 (0)1568 613942
UR
HA M
BRA
NC
H
AT I O N
Catastrophic haemorrhage
CI
It is essential to bear in mind that the environment is still hostile and resource limited so the medical interventions need to be fast, appropriate and effective addressing:
Durham Branch of the Parachute Regiment Association is a thriving Airborne Network for former & current Airborne Soldiers. Why not come along and join us? We hold our meetings on the 1st Saturday of every month and have a licensed bar on site. We have serving members from across the Battalions, members who have recently left and those that have been out for many years. • We all join the PRA in the Depot but how many of us support our local branch? • There are over 100 PRA Branches - there is one near you! • We support Airborne causes each and every month, year after year • We keep up-to-date with the Battalion’s activities • We attend events and organise our own • The PRA will be there for you in your time of need, why not help us support others who need YOUR help NOW
RE
SO
- initial resuscitation -
Once the casualty has been moved to a permissive or semi-permissive environment he can be fully assessed and treated by the medic with the highest level of training available.
S G I M E N TA L A
The Durham branch of the PRA accepts donations no matter how small. Details on the website. www.durhampra.org.uk info@durhampra.org.uk +44 (0) 07595 021 683
Follow us on
@durhampra
We are a registered charity, NO 1125554
Circuit : : 11
PIRACY The Elucidation by |
STUART J. PAGETT;
Plundering the high seas has not been this fashionable for centuries. The infamous sea criminals have evolved through time to what is called modern day piracy. As demographic districts change in wealth and power, piracy remains in formidable force, worldwide pirate attacks have been increasing. According to the International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre, attacks on the world’s seas totalled 266 in the first six months of 2011, up from 196 incidents in the same period in 2010.
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Sometimes nature itself can offer the best deterrent against pirate boarding parties
O
ver the last five years, piracy in the Indian Ocean region has increased, chronically and now represents a substantial threat which must not be ignored. It cannot be eradicated by reactive counter-piracy missions either. The worlds super powers need to act and take the initiative. Presently, the majority of the merchant shipping industry seems to be turning to private security contractors to implement anti-piracy measures in self-defence. As such, in May 2011, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) produced guidance on the use of armed security. This would appear to be a step forward after such a long time vehemently opposed to the use of armed security. However, without the implementation of a considered, long term strategy, piracy will remain an existential threat that requires military style operations to combat it. The execution of carefully planned anti-piracy procedures is proving effective but what are the real issues?
Threat: What is the definition of piracy? Piracy is defined in article 101 of the 1982 United Nations Convention of the law of the Sea (UNCLOS) but in simplified words it can be considered as; any act of aggression by individuals making use of a private ship (non-naval force) making attempts to, or succeeding in; boarding, hijacking or looting any property or the kidnap of persons from another ship in international waters. It is important to note that attacks taking place in territorial waters are not classed as piracy and instead fall under the category of armed robbery. What are the factors which allow for piracy to develop and prosper?
Political or Religious Instability: States with domestic turmoil tend to be weakly governed and unable to create law enforcement agencies which are capable of policing their own coastline and apprehending individuals involved in piracy. Geographical or Territorial Complexity: The form of crime specific to a region is dependent upon its geographical attributes such as in littoral states. Criminals are able to use certain terrains to their advantage, giving the pirate the ability to hide between jurisdictions to avoid prosecution.
Water cannon are are an effective means of fending off a small pirate skiff Circuit : : 13
Circuit :: OnTheJob Economic Disparity: Social deprivation is a common factor contributing towards widespread criminal activity within a state. Populations which suffer poverty will harbor an element that are desperate and resentful, which, in turn, breeds the temptation that leads to crime. The propensity towards piracy is exacerbated by a combination of all the above. The situation spirals out of control when citizens become inspired by the thought of large monetary gains for little risk. Legally, states with coastlines susceptible to piracy have an obligation to provide vessels safe passage but in reality this may not always be achievable as some states just don’t have the capability. History shows that piracy will prosper in lawless states that have a large population under the poverty line and are situated on a coast line near to a main shipping route. Undoubtedly maritime crimes reduce when one of the three underlying causes can be resolved.
Who are they?
Quite often they are desperate fishermen or regional natives trying to make financial gains to feed their families by attacking vulnerable vessels with an intent to hijack. Sometimes operating to a certain “code of conduct”, where they do not intend to harm but to hold for ransom. However, these supposed fishermen, organised into Pirate Action Groups (PAGs) are coordinated by someone or some organization. It is believed by some that most piracy is controlled by hard-line splinter terrorist groups, such as Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahedeen (HSM) or the Ras Kamboni movement or the moderate Alliance for Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS). It would seem hard to believe that they aren’t financially benefiting from these endemic misdeeds occurring right on their door step. It is also highly plausible that disaffected neighbouring states trying to deal with the domestic restiveness of a population tired of fiscal hardship could see the opportunity as good business. Yemenis, Kenyans, Ethiopians and Omanis are some of those who could be inspired to conduct copycat style attacks, believing that the risk of reprimand is acceptable when considering how well piracy ransom pays .
What tactics do they use and what is their capability? Various set ups have been used by PAGs to move around which vary from, a couple of skiffs to an open whaler with many fuel towing skiffs for short to medium range attacks in deep waters. The use of a mother vessel (sometimes a vessel already hijacked complete with the hostage crew still on board) towing skiffs or alternatively hiding their attack boats on the open deck of the mother vessel allowing them to operate out at longer ranges and for a greater duration . The majority of attacks have been carried out by two small, high speed boats or skiffs targeting the vessels stern quarters and using light weight ladders or grappling hooks to board. Once boarded the armed pirates usually move straight to the bridge to seize control of the ship and stop for more pirates to board. The common modus operandi is to attack by day or at first light, night at-
tacks have been known on clear nights but are rare . It has recently been assessed that the pirates ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance) is poor with an average surveillance distance of seven nautical miles . Even though PAGs have limited surveillance they still have an advantage due to the size ratio of the average merchant vessel. Attacks are sporadic and conducted across a wide area of risk. With no discernible way of continually knowing a PAGs whereabouts, targeted ships are left guessing. So, instead of being diverted away from a known pirate location, a vessel could sail straight into the vicinity of a PAG. A ship has to detect and react to attacks at the earliest stage possible to avoid hijack. PAGs have been known to use bona fide fishing boats to conceal their position and then launch a surprise attack at the Closest Point of approach (CPA). For all your efforts in planning, there are some factors which remain out of man’s control, such as the weather. It is likely to be more difficult to successfully hijack a vessel in a sea state of three or above . As mentioned, attacks tend to be mounted from small speedy crafts, limiting their range of attack to moderate sea states. It seems plausible to think that if you are sailing in rough sea states like those seen during monsoon season, you are less likely to be hijacked, however, this does not mean that you are imSmall fishing craft mune from pirate activity. Rough offer the ideal seas push piracy operations into calmer areas, i.e. further North cover to close the in the Red Sea and once adverse distance to a target conditions subside they are usually followed by an upsurge in attacks . When navigating around the Somalian coast a vessel should be very wary of certain ports such as: Boosaaso, Hobyo, Eyl, Haradheere and Garaced as they are all pirate strongholds and known locations where vessels have been taken after being hijacked. Greater concern to the shipping industry is the threat of abduction. There has been a substantial increase in the average ransom payment for the release of kidnapped crew members in recent years . A Kidnap and Ransom (K&R) policy is essential documentation for any merchant vessel. Insurance premiums are calculated by taking account of the perceived risk to the vessel, its crew and cargo. The underwriter considers a multitude of variables when deciding on the price. Cover is then purchased in line with current rates being paid for release. If an insurer pays out soon after the date when a policy was taken out then it will be absorbed by the premium. However, negotiation to payment averages seven months and by which time the demand price is likely to be more costly than a vessel’s premium cover due to the increasing greed and success of piracy recently. This was the result when the SAMHO DREAM case set a world record $9.5M USD payout only to be overshadowed a few months later by the IRENE SL claim which paid $13.5M. The pirates are still exploring the upper limits of the “market” and they will know they have reached it when shippers opt for the total constructive loss.
Talk
Circuit :: OnTheJob
gun
Won’t Get you a Job by |
LARRY SNOW
I
know this might be hard for some in the Executive Protection and security industry to take, but I’m going to say it loud and clear ‘outside of a conflict zone, - A Gun Can’t Get You an EP Job.’ Yes, I know it might be hard to swallow. I like guns, I like shooting them, holding them, wearing them in a nice Blackhawk holster - guns and apple pie, it’s the American way - I get it, I really do. But the reality is, they won’t get you that assignment, it’s just one part of a well-rounded operator. You can have all the gun training in the world, spending tens of thousands of dollars, come out with all the superior marksman, super galactic sniper badges and titles but it still won’t land you a new client.
The EP niche is saturated with freshly new “certified” personal protection agents all competing for a finite number of positions. Do you think firearms are what get you to the top of the resume/CV heap? I will share with you this, for little to no money, here is what can get you a job and new clients. Networking - specifically SOCIAL networking. Joining sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Making connections with the right people to grow your business and developing leads to garner new clients. Let’s examine a few: LinkedIn When you make a connection on LinkedIn send them a friendly email. This is an example of what I send to someone I connect with: Hi, thanks for connecting. My company helps companies like yours succeed on the web through internet marketing and social media. If you need our services or want some free advice please give me a call 1-718-xxx-xxxx or email me at lawrence. snow@sjcwebdesign.com. Thanks, Larry Snow Additionally, a few more tips including making sure you complete your LinkedIn profile 100 percent and lastly get a few recommendations! Think about it, recommendations from reputable businesses in the EP industry can and have gone a long way to help people get jobs and clients. Facebook On Facebook, create a business page whether you own a business or not. Put your curriculum vitae on there, pictures of you on the job
(without a gun), post recommendations or testimonials. You have now created a single page website - for free, even better it’s search engine friendly and available to anyone in the world. Along those lines, if you plan to tie your business page to your personal one, it goes without saying that you should remove any images or status updates you wouldn’t want a client to see. Twitter Sure you can follow your gun buddies, family and friends but are they going to get you a job or clients? Probably not. You should follow the right people to grow your business or get you a job. Follow the companies that hire, as well as people in the industry that you emulate and learn from them. Start an ongoing dialogue with them. YouTube Create a short promotional video about who you are and what your business does. Pictures are worth a thousand words - video, even more so. Over 3 billion videos are viewed a day on YouTube. More video is uploaded to YouTube in one month than the 3 major U.S. networks created in 60 years with 800M unique users visit YouTube each month! Blogs If you’ve got a $100 eating a hole in your pocket, register a domain name, buy some hosting, and set up a WordPress website. Write blog posts and articles related to the industry and about your experiences. Or if that sounds like too much of an undertaking, ask if you can guest write an article for other protection-related Blogs, newsletters or magazines. All these go a long way at establishing yourself as an authority. In short, if you are in the industry to make a living, scale back on the gun talk, and grow the conversations about communicating who you are as a total package to a wider audience. Larry Snow is a social media expert and designer of several business pages and Blogs to help security corporations and individuals market themselves in the information age. Reach him at lawrence.snow@sjcwebdesign.com.
Circuit :: OnTheJob
SELECTING THE RIGHT
TRAINING
COURSE
Training is important and should be an integral part of everyone’s professional development plan. However, with a wide variety of training courses available how do you select the course(s) that are right for you? This article aims to provide you with some advice about how to choose.
by | Always link training to your aims and objectives First and foremost, always link training to your aims and objectives. What do you want to achieve by completing the course? Which skills are you planning to develop? Often people receive a list of courses, look through the list, and select the one that sounds the most interesting. This may not sound like a bad way to select training courses; however, it does then raise the challenge of trying to shoe-horn your newly acquired skills into your working life. It is much more productive
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AMY BURRELL to work the other way round – i.e. identifying the key skills you want to develop (and why) and actively seeking a training course that will teach you these skills.
Concentrate on developing real skills Most of us have attended a training course that was not very applicable once we returned to work/duty. Thus it is important to choose a course that focuses on developing knowledge and skills that can be directly applied in a real world setting. Learning must go beyond theory to include practical application otherwise the value
of the course will be limited. For example, it is not enough to be told vehicle searches are important. We must also know why vehicle searches are important, in what circumstances we need to consider their use, and what factors might be indicative of a suspect vehicle. It is also important to learn how to search a vehicle safely and what to do if the search uncovers a security risk.
Think about the qualification level It is important that the qualification matches the aims and objectives of returning to study. For example, if you are returning to education to gain a qualification to increase your chances of promotion or build upon your existing skill base, it is important to ensure that your employer recognises the qualification as valuable and that it enhances your skills. Furthermore, there is no reason to think that it is necessary to go straight into a higher qualification. Foundation degrees and certificate or diploma courses
Circuit :: OnTheJob are quicker to complete than traditional degrees - and can often be ‘topped up’ at a later date. On some courses students can build up credits at their own pace, until they have enough for a formal qualification.
Ensure you have the time to do the course (including homework!) There is no point registering for a training course if you are not going to be able to commit to completing the necessary hours of learning. It is important to be clear about the level of commitment needed to complete the course from the outset (this
includes assignment obligations) and then build in time to work. Having said this, it is recognised that the close protection world can present challenges to studying if you are working abroad and/or not in a routine that allows you to allocate a regular time to study. However, there are still plenty of options to train with a wide variety of part time courses available. In addition, a good training provider will be willing to work with you to help you build in the flexibility to complete your qualification (e.g. by allowing you to defer for short periods or extending deadlines).
Benefits of distance learning
The single most notable benefit of distance learning is flexibility. Distance learning allows students to study wherever they choose, at their own pace without the need to attend a college or university. As such it allows learners to join courses delivered in different cities, regions, or even countries facilitating access to the top quality courses in their chosen field. Quick and easy access to learning materials and flexible means of submitting coursework (e.g. via online learning environments or email) are just a few features that add to the flexibility of distance learning. Furthermore, the nature of distance learning courses means learners can continue to work alongside studying which is a big advantage.
Benefits of face-to-face learning
Some people learn more effectively through hearing and/or seeing rather than reading. Although some distance learning courses have interactive elements, sometimes people simply prefer to be in the room, with a group of people, having a discussion rather than interacting with the group remotely.
It might also be useful to consider how the topic you are interested in might best be delivered. Whilst some topics are well-suited to online learning, some skills are harder to teach without face-to-face contact. For example, it would be very difficult to learn to deep sea dive without getting a diving suit on and jumping into the sea. This is not to say that diverse and challenging topics cannot be taught through web-based distance learning (perhaps with a face-toface element attached), but it is important to ensure materials are up to standard and learners receive adequate support. This is where selection of the training company is important.
Check the credentials of the training company We are fortunate that there is a wide range
Consider the method of delivery Training can be delivered using a range of different methods including face-toface classroom teaching, correspondence courses where you receive learning materials in the post, and interactive online options. So, how do you choose the option that is right for you? The Box bellow offers a brief overview of the benefits of distance learning and face-to-face learning. This will hopefully help you to start to think through which kind of training might be best for you.
Attending a face-to-face training course allows you to separate training from your day-to-day activities helping you to concentrate on what you are learning without the distraction of daily work commitments and deadlines. Motivation is a big factor too. It can be difficult to remain focused on distance learning, particularly when this is completed part time. Life becomes a fine balance between studying and other priorities and sometimes this has a big impact on motivation and enthusiasm. One of the biggest advantages of face-to-face learning therefore is the relatively shorter time in which training can be delivered. Focusing exclusively on learning can be an exciting and rewarding experience and it is much easier to keep motivation high over a shorter timeframe. Face-to-face learning provides opportunities to learn informally as well as formally. For example, learners often learn from each other. Sharing anecdotes and informal opinions about topics can be useful discussion points. The spontaneous questions arising from group discussions can also be interesting learning points.
of training courses available to us however this can make selecting the right course even more challenging as we appear to be spoiled for choice. In some cases, the subject is so specialist that our choice becomes limited automatically but this is not always the case. If you find yourself struggling to choose between courses, look at the credentials of the training provider. Ask your colleagues whether they would recommend any particular supplier, look at feedback the courses you are interested in have received, and don’t be afraid to contact the training provider to ask questions about the course and/or the trainer (e.g. their qualifications and practical experience). In Summary, training should be an integral part of our professional lives and it is important to ensure we build in time to
complete training courses. However, these will be of limited use to us if we don’t choose the courses that help us to develop the right skills. About Perpetuity Training Amy Burrell is a Training Consultant at Perpetuity Training 148 Upper New Walk, Leicester, LE1 7QA Perpetuity Training offer a range of short courses, including Level 4 professional awards in Managing Security Surveys, and Security Management. All of our short courses can be adapted to meet the needs of individual businesses and delivered as an in-house training course. Contact: 0116 222 5550 or training@perpetuitygroup.com For more information log onto http://www.perpetuitytraining.com Contact us on 0116 222 5550 or email training@perpetuitygroup.com
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FIREARMS
Circuit :: OnTheJob roof. Wilson Combat makes some of the finest 1911’s on the market today. With that said, they are just the tip of the iceberg as you could spend your hard earned dollars in the area of custom gun manufacturing. Keep in mind with a custom gun comes a custom price tag, so weigh up those options too when you are trying to decide what gun is right for you. Ammo selection and the cost factor also come into place when we discuss guns and training. These days there are more and more alternatives for firearm training options (which I will cover in my next article) however, virtual simulations and airsoft aside, nothing beats putting lead down range. The cost of ammo can run the full spectrum. Unless you are lucky enough to have an ammo sponsor then prepare to break out the checkbook to perfect your craft.
The Co$t of Carrying by |
JUSTIN JOHNSON;
Let’s dive right into this with both feet - right out of the chute we are going to talk about the cost of the firearm itself. The cost range on a firearm can be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. You can spend $300.00 USD on a new Taurus or $3,000.00 on a new Wilson Combat, but at the end of the day it comes down to how that gun fits you as an individual operator. If the gun is too big or too small and isn’t comfortable for you then you won’t use it or train with it. And at the end of the day that is what is important. With that said, you can easily get into a solid, reliable, workhorse of a gun for around $600.00. If you go that route, consider Glocks, Springfield XD’s, or Smith & Wesson M&P’s. Within that group there are many varieties to choose from and they are designed to work straight out of the box every time. The before mentioned range is in just about every caliber that
For the newcomers, keep in mind that simply going out to the range and just blowing off rounds isn’t getting you anywhere other then lower on ammo count and lower on cash in the wallet. you can think of and they will last you forever as long as you maintain them and give them the respect they deserve. Now, if you can afford something on the high end of the craftsmanship scale, there are some firearms in the marketplace that hold quality ratings through the
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Bulk 9mm ammunition can run anywhere from $150.00 to $300.00 USD for 500 to 1000 rounds respectively. Let’s also keep in mind that this could equate to just a single day of shooting depending on how hard you are running your gun. Now if you shoot a 45 ACP like I do, now you are looking at doubling that cost, again for a single day of shooting. There are some alternatives to high ammo costs. The biggest money saver I have found is the .22 caliber bullet. I know what you are thinking, a .22? Really? Yes, a .22 conversion kit! I can take just about any weapons system I have and within a minute I can covert that gun to a .22 caliber-training firearm. The same feel, and the same gun for all intents and purpose. The gun fits into all my holsters and I can put hundreds if not thousands of rounds down range for pennies on the dollar. If you are working on fundamentals of marksmanship or trying to improve your speed and accuracy then this is an excellent substitute. The cost of a good conversion kit ranges from $250.00 to $400.00 depending on the type of gun you have. In most cases, cheaper than buying a new gun. Subtract the cost you would have been paying for your standard ammo, and it pretty much pays for itself. At the end of the day the important piece is, once you decide to spend your money on gun & ammo, make sure you train with it. If you have read any of my other articles (and I hope you have) then you will know that’s the reoccurring theme. For the newcomers, keep in mind that simply going out to the range and just blowing off rounds isn’t getting you anywhere other then lower on ammo count and lower on cash in the wallet. Seek professional training, but do your research first. Know the instructor and the reputation of those instructors. Cost wise this can range dramatically. I have seen classes in the US range from $50 for a 5-hour class all the way up to $2000 for a 5-day course. You have to decide what YOU want because there are a lot of options and it’s your hard earned money. I hope that I delivered some food for thought about the cost of the “gun game” and what you can do to reduce some expenses. For more of my thoughts and opinions on firearms www.firearmsguru.com Until next time… Stay Safe.
Circuit :: OnTheJob
A Tale of Two Attacks
An Objective Look at Recent Vehicle Ambushes
J
by |
ANTHONY J. SCOTTI & JOSEPH AUTERA
ust how important is it for a Protective Detail Leader or Security Manager to be able to recognize the indicators and warnings associated with various threats and understand the capabilities of potential attackers? The answers can be found by taking a closer look at two recent attacks. One was unsuccessful and not very widely publicized while the other was successful and made headlines around the world for a short period of time. The first case involves an attack against Manuel Diaz Lerma, the Secretary of Public Safety for the Mexican State of Baja, which took place on April 22, 2006 in Mexicali, Mexico. That morning, Secretary Lerma became the highest level Mexican official to be attacked in the ongoing struggle between gangs of drug smugglers and law enforcement officers on both sides of the border between the US and Mexico. The attack was launched as Secretary Lerma’s two vehicle motorcade travelled along the route toward his office. Lerma and his security team came under heavy fire from at least ten and perhaps as many as twenty assailants armed with assault rifles and at least one grenade launcher. The attack continued along a five to six block stretch of the route as the motorcade tried to make its way to the State Police facilities located nearby. While Lerma himself was unhurt, three members of his security detail riding in the follow vehicle were injured. Eyewitness reports and the statements given by the security detail show that this was a well planned attack and if not for the fact that Lerma was riding in an armoured vehicle the attack just might have been successful. As with most attacks, there were indications that trouble was coming Mr. Lerma’s way both long before and immediately prior to the attack. During a raid in early 2006, Police in Tijuana recovered a list containing names of Public Officials and State Police Officers that were being targeted for assassination. Manuel Diaz Lerma’s name was at the top of that list. This was a serious development, first because no one had ever attempted to assassinate a Mexican Official that high up the ladder and secondly, because the six men arrested in that raid were believed to be connected with a gang leader that had already claimed responsibility for the assassination of the Director of Public Safety of Beaches for Rosarito. Then on the morning of the attack, members of Mr. Lerma’s security detail spotted men dressed in military style uniforms, wearing body armour, hoods and carrying assault rifles at various locations along the route they were travelling. It wasn’t long after the first sighting that the ambush was sprung. During the attack, his vehicle was struck numerous times by large calibre rifle rounds and at least once by fragments from a grenade. Eventually, the Principal’s vehicle was partially disabled by a flat tyre, forcing the driver to slow the vehicle down in order to maintain control. The driver of the follow vehicle was alert and as soon as he saw the Principal’s vehicle slowing down he manoeuvred his vehicle alongside it to provide additional cover
for the Principal seated inside the vehicle. There are a number of lessons that can be learned at the very least, strongly reinforced, from this first attack.
You Need the Right Tools for the Job
In this attack, both the target and the attackers seem to have been reading off of the same page. Lerma was riding in a heavily armoured SUV capable of withstanding multiple hits from 7.62 mm rounds and, as the pictures show, the vehicle did what exactly it was designed to do – give the driver time to drive out of the kill zone. Of course, the attackers brought some pretty serious tools to the fight as well, including large calibre assault rifles and at least one grenade launcher. It’s obvious that Lerma and his security team took the threats he faced seriously. Despite the fact that no one had ever attacked a Secretary-level official, Lerma’s vehicle offered protection against what some would say was a low probability scenario – like a six or seven block long ambush conducted by several attackers armed with large calibre weapons and grenades. While his Protective Detail may not have even considered that exact scenario when developing their plan, they were properly equipped to deal with just such an attack.
The Attack Begins Long Before the First Gunshot The facts that Lerma was on that hit list, that the attack was carried out by a large group and most of the rounds were directed at the Principal’s vehicle, are all indications that the attackers had done their homework. While it is difficult to say for sure, in this case it is entirely possible that the attackers had access to both inside information regarding his security operation and had surveillance in place leading up to the attack. This would have allowed them to know which of the vehicles the target was in, the route they would be on that morning and where along that route was the best place to conduct the ambush.
Training, Training, Training. During the attack, which lasted for minutes, not seconds, the Principal’s vehicle was hit multiple times, at least once by grenade fragments, and was partially disabled due to a flat tyre. Despite
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Circuit :: OnTheJob all of this, the drivers of both vehicles did exactly what needed to be done to ensure the Principal’s survival. First, they kept the vehicles moving through the kill zone, and secondly, when the lead car had to slow down due to the flat tyre the driver of the follow car placed his vehicle, which was not armoured, in a position to provide as much protection as possible for the Principal. Experience dictates that in a situation like that there is no such thing as coincidence. Those drivers were well trained, and while they may not have planned for or expected an attack this intense, they had at the very least, thought through what they would do if the Principal’s vehicle was disabled by an attack. As we have seen in numerous other incidents over the years, it is likely that the decisions and actions of those two trained drivers played a large part in Lerma’s survival. As mentioned earlier, the second attack was more widely publicized than the incident that took place in Mexico, at least for a day or so after it happened. This case, the successful assassination of the Lebanese Industry Minister, Pierre Gemayel, is similar in at least one regard to one of the most studied assassinations in modern time, the killing of German business leader Alfred Herrhausen. In each instance, security was focused on protecting against one specific type of attack and, unfortunately, the attackers were able to achieve success by simply launching a different type of attack than was expected. Pierre Geyamel is not the first high profile, anti-Syrian political figure to be killed in Lebanon in recent years. In fact, he is not the first member of his family to be killed in a politically motivated attack. His uncle, Bashir Gemayel, was killed in 1982 shortly after being elected President and three of his cousins, including Bashir’s daughter, were killed over the years as well. However, the attack against Pierre Gemayel was unique in a number of ways. Particularly when you consider that his actions prior to the attack indicated he understood that he was a potential target and that security precautions were a necessity. Looking at the attack itself, it becomes clear that this was a deliberate, well planned attack, executed by an experienced team of assassins. On the day the attack occurred, Mr. Geyamel was not riding in the armoured BMW he owned. Instead, he chose to drive a nondescript Kia sedan with tinted windows. He was, however, accompanied by his personal bodyguard, who was riding in the front passenger seat of the car at the time of the attack, and an officer from the Lebanese state security services, who was riding in the backseat of the car when the attack was launched. There are reports that Geyamel may have been trying to avoid an attack by keeping a low profile and blending into the day-to-day background of daily life in Beirut. As his vehicle moved through a crowded intersection in one of Beirut’s busiest neighbourhoods it was hit head on by a Honda CRV and then in the right rear by another compact car and, almost simultaneously, by a van directly from behind. Within just a couple of seconds the unarmoured vehicle Geyamel was driving was completely boxed in and three gunmen jumped out of the Honda and opened fire at close range. The attackers concentrated their attack on Geyamel in the driver’s seat and his bodyguard in the front passenger seat. As seen in the accompanying photo, the shots fired at Geyamel through the driver’s side window were well aimed and it seems obvious that the attackers were practiced shooters who knew exactly where the target was sitting in that vehicle.
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As was the case with the attack against the Mexican Secretary of Public Safety, sifting through the details of the attack provides some useful information for security practitioners and reinforces some of the lessons learned from previous vehicle ambushes.
Successful Attacks are Intelligence Driven
Given the timing, complexity and accuracy of the attack, it’s obvious that the attackers knew what vehicle Geyamel was in, that he was behind the wheel as opposed to sitting in the backseat and exactly where the vehicle would be. While some of the information needed to plan and coordinate this attack may have come from an inside source, this ambush required split second timing, a high degree of familiarity with the surroundings and a viable escape and evasion plan, all of which also require information that can only be developed by conducting extensive surveillance of the target, the route and the ambush site. An insider can give you the who, what, where and when, but what they can’t tell you is the best place to stage vehicles or what to expect in and around the ambush site before, during and after the attack.
Expect the Unexpected Several sources have suggested that Mr. Geyamel was concerned that he would be the target of a massive IED, like the ones that killed his Uncle and more recently, Prime Minister al-Hariri, and that his armoured BMW made him an easily identifiable target while still leaving him vulnerable to an IED attack. This would certainly explain his choice of vehicles that day. However, just like Herrhausen, whose security was configured to protect against a kidnapping and not the roadside bomb that ultimately killed him, Geyamel’s attempt to protect against an IED attack by lowering his profile and driving a nondescript vehicle left him vulnerable to the rolling ambush and small arms fire that took his life. While it is virtually impossible to plan for every possible attack scenario, security providers should make every effort to find out exactly what capabilities an attacker might have, as well as what sort of attack the Principal might be vulnerable to, despite existing security measures.
High Value Targets Are High Profile Targets One of the most important lessons to be taken from the Geyamel assassination is that keeping a low profile only works if the Principal is truly a low profile individual. Those who are famous (or infamous), have achieved a certain level of notoriety or are subject to media exposure are not, by definition, low profile. Therefore, they simply cannot rely on a lower profile to adequately protect themselves against serious threats. For example, while Geyamel was riding in a nondescript sedan, he was accompanied by two bodyguards, one of whom was carrying two long guns. Even in Beirut, the sight of a man moving about with two armed escorts would make people take notice, something you obviously want to avoid if you are trying to blend in. So, in terms of keeping a low profile, any advantage he may have gained by driving a nondescript vehicle was almost certainly lost as soon as he stepped out of the vehicle. These two attacks remind us that those who have a legitimate need for close protection are subject to risks no matter where in the world they may happen to live or work. They also remind us there is no such thing as a risk-free environment or a foolproof security plan. Together, these attacks – one in which the Principal survived and one in which the attackers were successful – also provide
Circuit :: OnTheJob some additional things for security professionals to think about.
Honour the Threat
This is a term often used by fighter pilots when discussing aerial combat against multiple targets. What it means is that you must take action to address the most immediate threat first. In the attack on Lerma, it appears that he and his security personnel did just that. Despite the fact that an attack against someone at his level had never been attempted before, they took specific precautions against the potential threat posed by a well planned, large scale attack and in doing so, ensured his survival. On the other hand, while Mr. Geyamel was certainly aware of the risks he faced, he failed to consider that the attackers had the time, resources and capability to launch nearly any type of attack they wished. Because of whom he was and his position in the government it was virtually impossible to lower his security profile enough to deter an attack and, when all was said and done, his attempt to blend in ended up making him even more vulnerable. While it is true that the armoured sedan he had at his disposal could not protect him against an IED, the unarmored compact car he was driving when killed couldn’t have protected him in a serious traffic accident, let alone a deliberate rolling ambush. At some point in time, those who meant to do him harm figured that out for themselves and planned accordingly.
If the Vehicle Stops You Lose
Time and time again we have seen that when it comes to attacks against someone riding in a vehicle the worst possible scenario is for the vehicle to come to a stop in the kill zone. Even in attacks against an armoured vehicle, once the vehicle is immobilized the attackers have a huge advantage because they have managed to gain control over the movement of the target. Lerma’s drivers kept their vehicles moving and, in doing so, defeated a well planned attack. On the other hand, the first step in the Geyamel attack was to stop the vehicle and once the attackers accomplished that their success was virtually assured.
WHERE DO
YOU
There is No One-Size-Fits-All Solution
Threats are subject to change; often times the threat changes in response to new or different security measures. In order to stay ahead of changing threats Security Managers and Protective Detail Leaders must constantly gather information and intelligence regarding potential threats, the tactics and techniques favoured by certain groups and the security measures that may or may not work against those threats. They must also keep in mind that attackers tend to do their homework as well. In the recent past it has been proven that various groups study attacks and share their information and lessons amongst themselves, a process that is made easier by modern communications and computer technology. It is also important to recognize that the tactics and techniques commonly used in close protection operations are not closely guarded or well kept secrets. At this point, literally tens of thousands of people have been trained in the methodology used by most private sector and quite a few government protection details and some of those folks have ended up playing for the other team, so to speak.
Surveillance Detection is Critical
In both the Lerma and Geyamel ambushes it is apparent that surveillance of the target and the route played a critical role in the attack planning process. In fact, since the mid-sixties when Carlos Marighella’s Mini-Manual for The Urban Guerilla was popular reading for leftist groups throughout Latin America and Europe, pre-attack surveillance is something that many groups have relied heavily on throughout the attack planning process. Today we find that pre-attack surveillance is the common thread among hundreds of attacks around the world. That is why it has become essential for security providers to learn how, when and where an attacker is likely to conduct surveillance as well as how to plan, manage and conduct effective surveillance detection operations. History has shown that in many situations surveillance detection is not just the best protection; it may be the only protection.
We asked where you read The Circuit and to send in your pictures from around the world. Thanks go to the globe-trotting contributors below. Send us yours for the next issue! Chris Ranford - taken in Karachi, Pakistan using a newly built range at the Arabian Sea Country Club
Derek Armstrong - Misratah, Close to Gaddaffi’s last hiding place
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Circuit :: OnTheJob
RECOGNISING PEOPLE FROM PHOTOGRAPHS Pitfalls and Tips
Often, times in a job, the ability to recognise a person from a photograph can be crucial. You might be given a picture of somebody to look out for. It could be a person of interest in protecting your client, it could be a target in a surveillance case, it could be meeting your client for the first time. Unfortunately sometimes recognising somebody from a picture can be a lot easier said than done. There are many pitfalls to avoid. Of course people can go to drastic lengths to avoid being recognised but this article is aimed at recognising people who aren’t performing advanced counter-surveillance. Humans have the ability to remember up to 10,000 faces. In experiments, people proved able to identify 90% of their classmates 35 years after leaving school. Unless you have a condition called prosopagnosia where you cannot recognise the faces of other people, even those close to you, you should have the ability to recognise faces from pictures.
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by |
DOUG SMITH
he bad news for men is that researchers say women may have better genetic programming to recognise faces because they need to recognise and provide for their children. If you consider yourself an alpha male the news is worse, a British researcher observed “the people with the worst facial recognition skills are what you would call alpha males. They tend to be most absorbed in their own emotions, whereas those who want to gain rapport with others are better at it.”
You may think that VIP’s would be easy to spot and sometimes they are because they are familiar from television and newspapers or they just carry themselves with some flair. However not all VIPs are celebrities, they can just be very important to the people they are visiting. They can be people such as business consultants, high wealth investors, or former directors. To help recognise these people I search for information on them and create profiles including photographs sourced from online.
The best way to build your inbuilt facial recognition software is to learn and practice. Hopefully this article can give you some basic pointers in the right direction.
There are many pitfalls in recognising somebody in real life from a picture. I have learned a lot of these hazards the hard way and to this day I will often be surprised at how different somebody will look from a picture that I have found or been given.
Over the years I have had a fair amount of experience at being given a photograph and told to run with it. In one case I followed a woman around a shopping mall and eavesdropped on her conversations for hours before realising that I had the wrong person. Fortunately her car was GPS tracked and I caught up with her in another location, but that’s another story. In my current role I recognise people from photographs every day. My job is to spot VIP’s entering a building, meet and greet them before they reach a reception desk and escort them to a management board floor.
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What follows is a list of the most common pitfalls I face in recognising someone from a photograph.
Glamour shots
These are generally publicity pictures or pictures put on the internet by someone to show themselves in the best light. Even without photo editing there are many techniques that can be employed to create a glamourised image of someone. On social networking sites people that use these kinds of photos are described as ‘deceptacons’.
Think of the person that takes the photo from above to hide the double chin, the “heavy on the cleavage/light on the full figure” shots to hide bodyweight and accentuate assets, and the short guy who has the photo taken from the ground up to give the impression of height. In the old days it was described as using Vaseline on the lens to soften the camera, then it was soft focus and artful lighting. All of a sudden the idealised version of the person you are looking for turns out to bear little resemblance to their reality. A key thing to know here is the source of your photograph. If you know it is a self publicising shot, be wary. It helps to mentally envisage them with added pounds, wrinkles and blemishes.
Old photographs
Often you will be provided with old photographs of people so that they appear younger than they currently are. This often happens with publicity shots where people promote an older, more youthful image of themselves for vanity reasons, when pictures are from outdated company profiles, or when the only picture you can find is from a newspaper article from 1993! The key thing to remember when you have a photograph of someone is that the person you are looking at is at least the age of what they appear in the picture. They are not likely to appear any younger. Even if they have had plastic surgery it will most likely be obvious to you. As with the glamour shots, it is handy to visualise the person in the picture with aged features such as greying hair, more wrinkles, and a receding hairline. And always try and find out when the picture was taken.
Height
It is all too easy to subconsciously guess the height of somebody based on a photograph, even from a head and shoulders shot. I don’t know why we do it, but we do. Unless there is a specific height reference to gauge from there is a good chance your imagination will be wrong. Thin people can appear
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The key here is to scan the facial features of everyone. Don’t subconsciously discount the short guy because you think you’re looking for a tall guy and vice versa.
Hairstyles
This is probably the easiest thing about a person to change. The key thing to do is focus on facial features even if the hairstyle in the picture is distinctive. I’m going to generalise about the sexes here when I say this - often men will keep the same haircut from their twenties until it falls out or they die, but women will change colour, length and style at the drop of a hat. The one thing that is changing with men is that as combovers go out of style, men will often opt for a close crop when the pate starts dissipating. If people opt for hair props such as wigs, toupees, and dye, you should be able to spot it. These things are rarely undetectable.
Facial Hair
Like hairstyles, men usually keep their facial hair features for a long time, but if/ when they change them the impact can be dramatic. Suddenly the guy with the glossy black goatee you’re looking for is now clean shaven. The guy with the pointy sideburns now has a full beard. The guy with the bushy handlebar moustache could now blend in on Wall Street. I would rate this as one of the changes that makes a person most difficult to spot.
Weight
Some people fluctuate more than others. Weight on the face can make great changes to a person’s appearance. Wrinkles can be filled out and the face can change shape e.g, cheeks pop out, chins are rounded. If someone loses weight from illness they can go from jolly to gaunt. If someone loses it from fitness they can go from chubby and sallow to lean and vibrant. It is another change that can really make someone difficult to spot from a photograph.
Glasses
Don’t necessarily be looking for the guy in the photo with horn rimmed glasses. Even though they may have had a picture taken with coke bottle bottomed specs they could have since had eye surgery or switched to contact lenses. On top of that people often take their glasses off for photos or have since been prescribed glasses, so the person you are looking for could be wearing specs. Even if you have a photo of them wearing glasses, they could have changed from bright
coloured frames to frameless. I find that glasses don’t throw me out as much when I’m searching for someone as they don’t alter the key facial features too heavily.
Tattoos
It’s easy to focus on tattoos. And to make assumptions about that. You start focusing on looking for someone with sleeve tattoos and the guy in the long sleeve shirt or suit walks by you. In short, as identifiable as they are, don’t rely on tattoos to identify somebody.
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if you’re looking for someone in a crowded foyer, your subconscious is automatically going to dictate the order in which your mind dismisses people that don’t match what you’re looking for
Clothing/Jewellery
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tall, rounder people can appear short, and camera angles can be deceiving. The guy you think that looks like a giant in a picture can end up being a jockey in real life. It never ceases to amaze me the number of times I hear people say “Oh I thought that guy was going to be tall!”.
You make judgements based on what someone is wearing. The guy you’re looking for wearing a suit in the picture that you think is going to be all preppy and Ralph Lauren can walk in wearing dirty shorts and fluorescent safety vest. The lady with the dangly earrings and the nose ring only has that jewellery in on weekends.
Smiling
It can be a case of the person who has been told to smile for the camera is actually a bitter person who scowls all the time. You may never see them smile or ever see their teeth again. Don’t fall in to the trap of looking for a happy person, the only time they smile may be for a photograph. You can read a lot into a picture, remember it is just a snapshot of somebody for a nanosecond of their life.
Tips Be Nasty
The easiest way I find to recognise somebody from a photograph is to be nasty. Regress to primary school where it was survival of the fittest based on aesthetics. If the person has big ears, look for someone with big ears. If a person has buck teeth, look for someone with buck teeth. Same goes for big foreheads, bags under the eyes, freckle noses, pointy chins, superman jaws, widows peaks, underbites… you get the picture. Look for as many of these memorable and not easily changeable features as you can. You’re looking for features that people are
born with that are readily identifiable.
Visualise
When you see the photo, try and visualise all the ways that person’s appearances can change. Add grey to their hair, pounds to their face, glasses, wrinkles, a beard if they’re a man, imagine them short, imagine them tall. Whatever you do, don’t fall into the trap of imagining the person you’re looking for is going to look exactly like they do in the photo. They won’t be holding their face the same way and they will almost certainly be wearing different clothes, look for the features most likely to remain constant and focus on spotting them. Drop Preconceptions Your brain interprets signals based on visual cues that it picks up based on your past experience. The guy with the long beard is a biker. The person with tattoos is a criminal. The blonde haired lady is a bimbo. The guy in the fancy suit is rich. The long haired guy is a hippy. When you are looking for somebody based on a photograph you have to override any preconceptions that your subconscious is telling you and focus on those distinguishing and hard to change features. For example, if you’re looking for someone in a crowded foyer, your subconscious is automatically going to dictate the order in which your mind dismisses people that don’t match what you’re looking for and that’s when you start glossing over people. Say you have a picture of a lady in a suit with her hair tied back and make up, you’re subconscious mind might be telling you to start looking for a business woman. In the crowded room you subconsciously start focusing on looking for a business woman first and all the other people become visual noise. When the woman in a tracksuit with a thin top lip and pointed nose who has just been to the gym comes up and asks you for directions, you suddenly realise it’s the person you’ve been looking for and wonder how the hell she snuck up on you! In a nutshell, look for the distinguishing unchangeable facial features, bypass presumptions and visualise the person in the photograph with as many likely scenarios as you can. By doing these things you should dramatically increase your chances of spotting your person from a photograph. Even if you are top dog in your MMA class.
A good way to brush up on your facial recognition skills is by doing the Face Memory Test at http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/tmt/instructions_1.shtml. To get an idea about how people’s appearances can change check out www.facesofmeth.us to see how quickly drugs can alter someone’s appearance. Doug Smith Countermeasures Doug@countermeasures.com.au
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THE REVOLVER OLD A NEW LOOK at an FRIEND by |
GENE STRATTON
The wheel gun, also known as a revolver, is so old to many that it may be considered obsolete. It’s seen in westerns, “Dirty Harry” movies and old detective shows. It may be regarded as archaic, and viewed with disdain by those who see themselves as modern warriors. However the durability and reliability of this remarkable weapon cannot be so easily dismissed. Its practicality as a backup weapon, night stand comforter, or glove compartment gun should not be underestimated. Though the present and future are to be dominated by the semi automatic sidearm, the wheel gun still has its place in the Big Leagues. The revolver is not as dependent on lubrication and subject to the concerns of fatigued magazine springs and numerous other parts as a semi auto. The autoloader’s extraction of a spent shell casing is dependent upon that cartridge firing properly. This means you must stop firing in the event of a misfire and manually retract the slide and hope the round is expelled. I will not say “simply pull the trigger again” if a round fails to fire from a revolver, as a firearm that malfunctions is a serious matter. But the revolver is not dependent on a round firing before a subsequent round may be
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fired. An obstructed barrel, for any reason, is undesirable and to say the least, additional trouble besides the fact that you may be under fire. However, the trigger can be pulled much faster than manually cycling an auto loader and hoping a new round feeds successfully. There are few, if any puzzling levers, switches, and de-cockers to fumble and wrestle with when the proverbial dung flies. There is no need to “rack the slide” as a round is always prepared for when you go from yellow to orange or even red alert status. You needn’t fret over the lack of a rail for attachments as grips which have
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laser sights built right into them are now available for purchase to customize your revolver. A most serious matter to consider is that if the muzzle of the revolver is pressed into the body of an attacking adversary, the cylinder will rotate and the hammer will still fall, and the weapon should still fire. However, if the muzzle of auto loader is implemented in a similar manner, it may interfere with the weapon’s function. The features I highly endorse on modern concealed carry revolvers are the hammerless (not visible) or shrouded hammer models. This is very valuable to the shooter as a hammer may find itself entangled in clothing (courtesy of Murphy’s Law). Hammerless and shrouded hammer revolvers may also be fired from within the pocket of a garment. Shrouded hammer models give you the option of cocking the hammer. Speed loaders, moon clips and half-moon clips are a means to quickly load a revolver, inserting all rounds at once. Extraction of shell casings loaded in a moon clip will remove all the casings with one push of the extractor rod. Learning to load individual rounds by hand in the dark is a skill worth
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Although few, if any modern revolvers are safety equipped, some manufacturers provide key lock mechanisms fitted right on the frame of the weapon. A recent innovation in the revolver market is versatility as “sidearm shotgun” models which fire .410 shotgun cartridges, .45 ACP or the .45 Colt cartridges. Revolvers may now be purchased that fire from the bottom cylinder, instead of the traditional “from the top” thereby reducing muzzle flip. The revolver makes for a fine ankle holster gun because it generally tolerates neglect and dirty conditions than some finicky semi autos will. If you choose to wear an ankle holster, a revolver makes an excellent tool to carry within. Calibers of .44 magnum and .357 magnum, and .38 Special, and more, are readily available and revolvers are now manufactured with polymer frames if weight is a concern. The recoil on some small lightweight frame .44 magnums can be significant. Be sure to tailor your choice of weapon and ammunition to your working environment! As the weapon goes up in caliber, a smaller and lighter frame generally means greater recoil. Bright muzzle flash from these weapons is a reality so be sure to train in low light conditions. My first professional side-arms training was with a 6 shot .357 magnum revolver and admittedly, my stubborn and loyal nature have made themselves evident regarding this powerful man stopper. While learning this weapon, I literally fell asleep doing finger squeezes of nothing but my index finger learning trigger control. My trigger finger simply wouldn’t respond any more after many hours of the exhausting work of operating this weapon with its long trigger pull. My hand was cut and beat up after long days on the range of drawing from a leather holster. The gun was a wild bronc which I would bust or it would bust me. Finally, with sight alignment, focusing on the front sight, and proper trigger control, the beast was tamed and served me well for many years. The simplicity of operation and ease of maintenance of a stainless steel revolver make it a valuable tool for any arsenal.
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Be sure to tailor your choice of weapon and ammunition to your working environment!
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practicing. Open the cylinder, load it as you roll it between the thumb and fingers, and learn to do it without looking.
and police officers utilize it as their home or off duty weapon or perhaps even their primary sidearm. Though herein we reflect on tools as they relate to the business of close protection, we aren’t always in full gear or on a detail. Many of us are teaching and passing on the skills acquired in our business to our loved ones. Your mate, spouse or grown children may find
a revolver a refreshing alternative to the subtle complexities of your newfangled autoloader. The revolver may indeed be so old that it’s new to many and is, rest assured, a tool worth knowing how to use and benefit from in your professional and private life. Good luck and as always stay safe! Gene Stratton is an Executive Protection specialist with Falu Security in the Golden Triangle region of Kentucky, and a 2010 graduate of ICON’s “Celebrity and VIP Protection” course. For the majority of the past 26 years he has worked in the fire, EMS, police and security industries. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Morehead State University. Email: genestrattonbg@gmail.com
THE NORTH AMERICAN BODYGUARD ASSOCIATION PRESENTS:
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Course Highlights • Operating in the world of Celebrity & VIP Protection • Protecting the Principal (Individual & Team) • Transportation movements and logistics • Working the red carpet & major events • Dealing with fans, paparazzi & stalkers • How to market yourself and establish a career in the industry
Make yourself more marketable in the new economy! Icon Services Corporation is proud to present a five-day course of practical theory and hands-on training in the world of Celebrity & VIP Protection. If you are new to the bodyguard 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 traveled 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.
The ever increasing ammunition capacity of the semi-automatic hand gun, along with light weight, inexpensive polymer frames began to reduce continued use of the revolver as a primary sidearm for many law enforcement agencies around the 1980’s and 1990’s. Military applications of the semi auto came much earlier in the 20th century.
www.Industry-Icon.com/Training Discount for BBA & NABA Members Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA)
While the semi-automatic handgun is here to stay, the revolver and its usefulness should not be overlooked. Many security
For more info contact: 1 (651) 695-8778 or email Training@industry-icon.com
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Circuit :: ShopTalk
CTX 2012 SHOW PREVIEW Counter Terror Expo returns to London Olympia 25-26 April 2012 This widely acclaimed and world beating premier event for public and private sector professionals working at the sharp end in ensuring an effective and consistent response to the threat we face from terrorism is now in its fourth year and continues to grow exponentially. Counter Terror Expo remains the only event of its kind to gather the world’s leading experts together with top industrialists from across the globe, in a unique and secure environment designed to foster close cooperation in the complex and multi-faceted task of combating terrorism at the transnational, regional and local level.
Uncertain times
Counter Terror Expo is being held at a time of great uncertainty in the world. The capture and death of Al Qaeda (AQ) leader Osama bin Laden is said to be proof positive that the decade old campaign against terrorism is being won. Although hailed as a great success, the infringement of Pakistan’s sovereign territory by United States military assets, has not played well and resulted in a difficult relationship with that country apparently becoming distinctly frosty.
in launching potentially devastating attacks against Western targets over the past three years. The hardline leadership of the latter country looks increasingly fragile as it strives to hang on to power against a backdrop of international indignation at civilian killings and detentions.
Syria’s leadership is said to have no appreciable opposition capable of holding the country together in the event that Bashar al-Assad eventually goes. Assuming a meltdown does occur in the country, it will likely give rise to significant danger on Europe’s porous Eastern borders. Bahrain has also been the scene of a crackdown on civilian opposition to the ruling elite with military support from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia most recently introduced limited societal reforms in an effort to quell rising voices of dissent. The so called “Arab Spring” could potentially be turning into the “Arab Winter”.
Meanwhile, the tumultuous upheaval we have seen across great swathes of the Arab world over the past year has led to a shift in the balance of power regionally, which may present a significant danger on our own doorstep if the vacuum is not filled appropriately.
Cutting Cost
While it is hoped that the ousting of hardline leaderships in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt will bring about greater stability, the power vacuum has been filled by interim military leaderships which appear reticent to let go of the reigns in two of these countries. Thus public dissent is once again being heard on the Arab street.
Counter Terror Expo will be held at a time of deep governmental cost cutting as national economies globally strive to address issues gripping the financial markets. National defence budgets (including counter terrorism efforts) are not immune to such pruning.
Civil unrest also continues unabated at the time of writing in Yemen and Syria.
Irrespective of deeply devastating acts of terrorism in the past, some of these national budgets are being slashed as a result of a perceived peace dividend.
The former country has proven to be a relatively safe haven for Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which has been successful
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History has demonstrated previously that such a policy has a
Circuit :: ShopTalk tendency to leave the gate open to future attack. It is incumbent on the military, security services, industry and academia generally to drive this point home, whilst engaging in dialogue and developing solutions that fit with the current world politic at an acceptable and achievable price point.
The event Counter Terror Expo’s operationally critical and highly respected centrepiece conference has a well deserved reputation for its delivery of insight, analysis and perspective on the range of threats faced. The event gathers over 100 internationally recognised speakers in the field of counter terrorism together annually, to debate the issues faced, define the operational strategies, and help to shape future policy within the secure conclave of conference. Principal conferences include: • Global Counter Terrorism • Cyber Security and Electronic Terrorism • Protection of Crowded Places (including Designing Out Terrorism & Emergency Service Response) • Critical National Infrastructure Protection • Tactical Counter Terrorism Conference is held alongside a wide range of hands-on Showcase events designed to highlight the capabilities of many of the technology solutions available to counter terrorism professional today, as well as an extensive range of educational Workshops presented by key experts from the industry sector.
Counter Terror Expo will feature several new Showcase events including the following. 1) IEDD Live Theatre With specific relevance to Police, Fire, Military, Transport Security and other emergency responders , this event showcases the following: • ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle) capability through scenario based demonstrations • Demonstrates ancillary equipment such as hook & line, jamming and ground scanning • Highlights current generation suit mobility & maneuverability in extreme situations including victim recovery 2) Access Control Focus Access to potentially high risk buildings and facilities remains a key consideration in counter terrorism planning. This event highlights the following: • The substantial range of solutions available in the marketplace today. • Circumstance dependent deployment methodologies. • Hands on ability to assess current solutions This world beating counter terrorism event is supported by an extensive Exhibition of hardware and software solutions from across the globe which spans both the Grand and West Halls at the prestigious Olympia Conference & Exhibition Center.
Olympics
CTX 2011 was well attended by both a wide range of exhibitors and visitors from the security sector
Counter Terror Expo is an annual gathering and being held in its 4th year against the backdrop of the United Kingdom (UK) hosting the Summer Olympic Games. In deciding to host this globally significant sporting event, the country has become a potentially major target for those who would wish to cause harm on the world stage. Olympic Games security planning has been ongoing since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded the Summer Games to the UK. Arrangements are widely regarded as the most robust defensive security model delivered in the history in the Games. Counter Terror Expo delegates will gain valuable insight into this planning In the immediate run up to the Summer Olympic Games. Gathering over 100 internationally recognised speakers in the field of counter terrorism together with over 400 leading industry technologists to debate the issues faced, define the operational strategies, and help to shape future counter terrorism policy, this event remains the only one of its kind in the world today that evolves in line with global geopolitics. Counter Terror Expo is the principal event in the calendar of industry professionals globally and will be held next at London Olympia 25-26 April 2012.
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HOW GEOINT IS WINNING THE FIGHT The small cream and mahogany paneled room barely holds the crowd packed around the conference table. Eyeballs are fixed intently on a screen along the far wall. A normally calm Sunday in May 2011 has given way to a tension filled afternoon. Unfolding before President Barack Obama and members of the U.S. national security team is one of the military’s greatest Special Forces operations, the targeted raid on the long-sought hiding place of Osama bin Laden.
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celebrated photograph captured this dramatic moment within the White House Situation Room. Among the busy mix of people and laptops, it’s easy to miss an important item near the image’s center. Lying on the table are recently reviewed missionbriefing materials. One page is classified and blurred, but another page has been permitted public release. This page displays high-resolution imagery of the Osama bin Laden compound, carefully annotated by intelligence analysts weeks ago as part of the mission planning process to prepare the Special Forces.
by |
ADAM BENNETT
President Obama and The amazing story of the Navy Seals who exhis national security ecuted the mission has been widely distribteam watch as Special uted. What’s largely overlooked is the way Forces engage Osama in which geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) bin Laden’s compound enabled the mission’s success. Central to on May 1, 2011. The this intelligence activity is the National Geoinset displays a closespatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), whose up of the Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) mission is to feed U.S. military forces with briefing materials “timely, relevant, and accurate geospatial sitting on the table intelligence in support of national security.” The NGA supplied key intelligence for the Bin Laden mission, just as it had supported countless other military operations scattered across Iraq and Afghanistan.
“NGA applied a range of Geospatial Intelligence capabilities, including imagery, geospatial, and targeting analysis, along with image sciences and modeling that, supplemented with work from the CIA and NSA, allowed the United States to carry out this operation,” said Letitia Long, director of the NGA, through a prepared statement released the day after Osama bin Laden’s death. “I am extremely proud of the work that NGA men and women have done that led directly to this outcome. Their GEOINT was critical to helping the intelligence community pinpoint Bin Ladin’s compound.”
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King of the Hill GEOINT sits at the confluence of multiple disciplines, encompassing imagery intelligence, geospatial analysis, GIS mapping, and any intelligence that can be positioned in time and space. Rigorous accuracy defines GEOINT; decision makers must trust that the coordinates identified for a terrorist safehouse are accurate, strategists must trust that the enemy fortifications are well-understood, and soldiers must trust that the wall will be short enough to be easily scaled when they reach the site. Think of GEOINT as the eyes of the intelligence community and military. Throughout history, armies have always sought the high ground from which to operate. The fort on the hill controlling key terrain offers many benefits, among them the ability to observe the threat in advance. If the enemy is seen marching up the road, and the number of soldiers can be counted, then appropriate countermeasures can be devised. GEOINT is a type of high-ground observation that uti-
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lizes assets positioned far above the field, granting commanders’ sight beyond human limitations.
Satellite imagery is foundational to GEOINT, providing the base layer upon which the analysis is built. RemoteView geospatial analysis software, here displaying a view of the Osama bin Laden compound captured by a GeoEye® commercial satellite, is widely used to conduct GEOINT analysis.”
Good intelligence supports development of good strategy, which, when properly executed, leads to victory. GEOINT is the foundation of good intelligence, because it facilitates sharing relevant data through a cohesive framework. Combining imagery, GIS data, and georeferenced intelligence reveals relationships and patterns not immediately visible through any single data source. GEOINT answers questions essential to mission planning, improves training
through visualization of mission scenarios, and smoothes execution, because the warfighters know what to expect. Leon E. Panetta, while CIA director, acknowledged the essential contribution of NGA’s GEOINT in uncovering the truth about Bin Laden: “Along with our partners at NGA, NSA, and ODNI, we applied the full range of our capabilities, collecting intelligence through both human and technical means and subjecting it to the most rigorous analysis by our government’s leading experts on Bin Laden and his organization.” The full capabilities focused upon the Bin Laden mission may never be disclosed, but we know the common geospatial technologies that intelligence analysts and military forces rely on for mission planning and execution. Satellites hundreds of miles above the earth feed periodic glimpses of a target area in different wavelengths of light. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles linger over an area from miles above, offering real-time surveillance especially useful while executing a mission. GEOINT analysts employ tools such as Overwatch’s RemoteViewTM imagery and geospatial analysis software to manipulate the images.
Worth a Thousand Words
An image is packed with data, but it requires a skilled analyst who can use geospatial software to unpack that data and convert them to useful intelligence by applying image enhancement, photogrammetry, multi-spectral analysis, and change detection techniques. A commander expects the intelligence analyst to provide answers that resolve Products generated from the mission specific questions. In the case analysis of GEOINT data may include 3D models for easy of a mission involving a compound, visualization. This 3D model of GEOINT is able to peer over any comthe Bin Laden compound was pound walls and contribute answers created using the RemoteView to common needs such as physical 3D Pro extension.”
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Circuit :: ShopTalk description, general environment, entry/exit routes, and line-of-sight views. In more specific terms: • Physical Description: What is the height and thickness of the courtyard walls? What are the dimensions of the courtyards? How many buildings and other structures are there? What are the sizes of the buildings and how many floors? What’s the distance between key positions? What equipment is within the compound? • General Environment: Where are the trees located? What brush is available to mask movements? What types of plants are growing in the courtyard garden? Are there any soil disturbances that might indicate recently buried weapons caches or explosive devices? • Entry/Exit Routes: Where are courtyard gates located? What types of materials compose the gates? Where are all the doors and windows in the buildings? Will the ground slope allow military vehicles to drive into the area? Where is the most convenient place to land helicopters and what are the obstructions to avoid? • Line-of-Sight Views: What is visible from key positions? Where is the best location to station a sniper or provide cover fire? How might terrain interfere with communications? At the end of the process, the analyst generates annotated imagery, detailed maps, and briefing reports. The analyst also might create a 3D computer model of the compound that enhances visualization and mission simulation. All of these products are optimized to focus only on key insights for easy consumption by commanders and ground forces, since unnecessary data could distract and obscure.
The Future of GEOINT
Traditionally, analysts generate products that are primarily static and constrained to a fixed time period or limited database, but that’s changing. GEOINT continues to evolve as technology advances and missions demand more capability. Four ongoing trends highlight the future direction of GEOINT: 1. An explosion of sensors, sensor platforms, and data sources is increasing availability of still and full-motion imagery. 2. Cloud-based architectures and applications are opening common access to multiple intelligence databases. 3. Publishing in new formats that non-GIS users can manipulate is making it easier to disseminate geospatial intelligence. 4. Streaming real-time information is improving tactical operations through collective sharing and instantaneous insight.
Beyond Bin Laden
These emerging trends are already affecting military operations. Not long after the Bin Laden mission, another military force was engaged in a mission of its own in the barren deserts of Arizona. The Arizona
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National Guard’s 860th Military Police New technologies like Overwatch’s SoldierEyes (MP) Company participated in the Emsmartphone application are pire Challenge 2011 joint forces exercise, making it easy to collect tasked with testing emerging technoloand share georeferenced gies available for rapid delivery to warfintelligence. Not only is this ighters. The 860th MP was granted a improving dissemination unique advantage: their own tactical 3G of useful intelligence, it is integrating ground-based communications network connecting troops into the full GEOINT the unit directly with the Company Intelworkflow ligence Support Team (CoIST). Brigade command teams streamed realtime full motion video and geospatial intelligence from airborne assets directly to standard smartphones. Soldiers used Overwatch’s SoldierEyesTM mobile handheld applications to collect, report, and transmit georeferenced battlefield information (e.g., video, reports, photos, etc.), effortlessly sharing critical data among members of their unit and CoIST analysts. The real-time communication and intelligence provided each soldier “a virtual Intel analyst” who supported them as they maneuvered on the ground. In one instance, this allowed the convoy commander to see a potential ambush and conduct counter operations that defeated the enemy. The high-profile mission on Osama bin Laden’s compound highlighted the valuable role of GEOINT, a role sharpened across a decade of conflict, and the Empire Challenge exercise demonstrated what’s possible if ground forces are fully integrated into the GEOINT workflow. Consistent investment in GEOINT hardware and software assets has given the United States a “high ground” advantage. The thousands of analysts who serve silently in the background transform GEOINT into a force multiplier, creating the conditions necessary for warfighter safety and mission success. Through analysts’ work, GEOINT is helping win the fight. First published in GeoWorld, October 2011, www.geoplace.com Adam Bennett is Product Marketing Manager at Geospatial Solutions
Circuit :: Feature
Working Girl The end of the year again, where has the past twelve months gone? It only seems like yesterday I was on a six month CP job that started in January and took me all over the UK. Now here we are in December and I realise I haven’t stopped. Usually this time of year goes quiet on the CP and surveillance front, but for some reason it is all systems go at the moment. by |
B
ecause I have had to put out three CP teams and two surveillance teams in the past few weeks I began to run out of well known operators so having discussed it with the teams we decided to give some newbie’s a chance. Every week I receive CV’s by email and also text messages saying I need to work and I’m available at short notice, so deciding to give these newbie’s a chance I started calling or texting them back saying are you available for a fast ball tomorrow, these are the genuine replies I have had. “Sorry I’m going out to a party tonight with my brother” “It’s too far” “Only if you will pay for my accommodation and travel” “I only want to do a long term contract” “My dogs sick” As you can see very frustrating for me, it also makes me ask the question do these newbie’s really understand the nature of what we do and how the circuit works. Having got full teams up to strength I then had to ask for daily reports, which
JACQUIE DAVIS
after I scanned could be passed on to the client. First report had twenty five spelling mistakes; the grammar was awful and had clearly not been read through before being sent to me. Can you nip down to Harrods and pick this up I asked a newbie, Reply “ I don’t know where it is” It’s that big building over the road I point out , the one you have been standing opposite all day” So some advice from me guys, when you have some down time drive around London and learn where the main hotels and shops are, learn the door numbers at Harrods and the where the side entrance is for Selfridges, it’s not rocket science. So onto cheerful things, a good friend of mine has written a great series of books called Turners Logs which are about a WW1 Pilot, these will soon be available on Kindle, along with my own books The Circuit and my new one Jacquie’s Job, so if you want a good read over Christmas download them now. For all of you guys out in the sandpits I wish you a safe and prosperous new year, for Operators everywhere, stay safe, safe afloat and I’ll see you all in 2012.
Jacquie Davis is Director of Protective Services at Optimal Risk. www.optimalrisk.com Circuit : : 31
Circuit :: BooKlub
Here at The Circuit, we know that despite your image, you guys like nothing more than curling up with a good book..... BEAR GRYLLS ISBN 9781905026487
by: Bear Grylls
Review by Nick McCarthy of Argus Europe, www.arguseurope.co.uk
This Issues reviews:
I
seem to meet quite a few people who give Bear Grylls a right hard time and i’m not sure why? Maybe it is his middle class upbringing or his (maybe too frequent) references to “when i was in the Special Forces” during his TV shows? Regardless i think he is a pretty good guy and I love his TV shows so when I was bought this book as a gift i was eager to get stuck in to it. The book is actually a really great read, the author does not shy away from his middle class routes, often describing situations where those without blue blood would target him purely because he spoke a certain way or attended a certain school. From this reviewers perspective he handles all of the ‘mickey taking’ in the best way possible by showing people that he was a very capable person and generally VERY capable at whatever it was that he chose to do. As you would expect the Everest ascent takes up a reasonably large part of his book and it is an interesting part, told with honesty and in enough detail so that the reader can gain the best perspective of what it must be
DRY POWDER ISBN 9780955953439
by: Les Fowler
Review by Nick McCarthy of Argus Europe, www.arguseurope.co.uk
I
read this book very quickly which for me is always a sign that i am thoroughly enjoying the story and that was indeed the case with Dry Powder. The book follows the career of ‘Les’ from his initial enrollment in the Metropolitan Police Force to his role as an undercover Police buyer, a specialist role where undercover Police gather evidence on drug dealers by actually being seen to be a ‘druggie’. These operations could stretch in to months at a time and often involved the ‘buyer’ living in a particular area, becoming part of the everyday goings on so that they could be seen to legitimately feed their habits. The tale is told throughout with honesty and humor, leaving the reader in no doubt about the seriousness of
32 : : Circuit
like to attempt to scale the highest mountain in the world. Bear also talks in reasonable depth about his time with 21 SAS and it may surprise the reader to learn that not everything goes his way during his endeavors but this is a man who faces adversity head on. Many will be motivated by the way in which Bear tackles the more difficult and challenging situations in his life and the way that he handles set-backs. The book takes you though many of the authors achievements and lets face it, Bear Grylls has achieved an awful lot at a very young age! Many people that are way too young to write biographical accounts of their lives do so, generally the Z list ‘celebrities’ from the latest woeful TV show, let me tell you that this book from Bear Grylls is of no such ilk and is well worth buying and one that I have thoroughly enjoyed reviewing. For those of you that have an unfavorable opinion of Bear Grylls then give this book a go, I think that you will be genuinely surprised with the turn of every page.
this particular role. After reading this book you will be left in no doubt that this job would only suit particular people and that these people risk a great deal by fulfilling this role regardless of the varying degrees of backup in place on the jobs. The author freely admits errors he made, the anxiety that he felt during certain operations and the affect that this had on his personal life. Quite often those that write novels do so through rose tinted glasses making out situations quite different from what actually happened, I never had that feeling whilst reading dry Powder. This book will prove a bit of an eye opener for many, is an excellent read, will be difficult to put down and is highly recommended.
Circuit :: BooKlub A SECURITY ADVISOR IN IRAQ ISBN 978-1-4520-8254-7
by: John Heron
Review by Tony Ansell
THE BODYGUARD ISBN 978-1-8445-838-5
by: Roy Snell
Review by Tony Ansell
T
his paperback book is one that anyone who is considering working in the hostile environments of the Middle East HAS to read. Coming from the background of a large family in the North East of England during the 1960s, John Heron joined the British Army in 1975, serving with the Royal Green Jackets in Northern Ireland and later on covert operations in East Germany. On leaving the Army in the 1990s he undertook surveillance operations on the private circuit in the UK, setting up his own business which he ran until 2003. Following a call from a friend, he entered the world of hostile environment protection and narrates, in no nonsense terms, his personal experiences as a Security Advisor/Contractor in Iraq.
stages British Ex Servicemen, Gurkhas and Iraqi nationals as well as the local drivers engaged on convoy work. His book is packed with actual experience of HE life including the camps, dealing with local gun runners, convoy operations and the unending contacts with insurgents which cost the lives of several of his comrades. This fast paced account of private security operations throughout Iraq includes at the rear some of the Standard Operating Procedures written up by John for his teams which give a clear insight into his leadership and the requirements of team members working in one of the most dangerous parts of the world.
John describes in detail his dealings with the companies who employed him, unscrupulous managers who often placed his team at risk through greed and incompetence, and his team of contractors who included at various
If any reader holds any illusions of glamour in relation to HE work this book will certainly dispel them, but it also leaves the reader with an utmost respect for those operators who approach the task with professionalism and personal courage.
W
lated to the Kray twins. Yes, he made mistakes. He sometimes took decisions that he regretted and that lost him friends as well as business associates. Most importantly he learned from these errors and undertook never to repeat them. Drugs caused Roy to fall rapidly from trust and favour when at the top of the profession, but with the help of his family and close friends he succeeded in returning against all the odds.
hen I first came across this book, first published in 2010, I was instantly interested. The charismatic face of the author Roy Snell attracts immediate attention as it stares at you aggressively from the front cover. Apart from my obvious interest in the subject matter, I felt compelled to read it. Roy’s ‘no comprising’ stare is just a small indicator of what this book is about. With humour, sincerity and a uniquely unparalleled experience of the personal protection industry, Roy takes the reader through his personal story starting with being a Barnardos boy experiencing a harsh upbringing during the 1960s in London, to becoming one of the most respected personalities on the Circuit - and almost a celebrity in his own right. This is an account of triumph over social hardship, the lure of criminality and hard drugs, which enabled Roy to become – through sheer hard work, dedication and strength of character, the personal protector of some of the biggest names in the celebrity world. During his life journey he worked as a doorman, debt collector and self professed ‘heavy’. He became closely re-
This story is set against a background of personal protection before the requirement for licensing. Having suffered a severe heart attack in 2005 Roy once again rebuilt his life, successfully attending a CP course in 2007 and achieving his SIA CP licence having already been on the circuit for over 20 years. Roy has been shot and stabbed twice during his eventful career protecting royalty and celebrities alike, but nothing has dissuaded him from his ultimate goal of achieving the highest degree of professionalism. This paperback book is factual, moving and ultimately inspirational. It is essential reading.
If you’ve read a book you think others would enjoy, share it and send us a review: books@circuit-magazine.com
Circuit : : 33
Circuit :: ShopTalk
Here Come the Girls by |
AMANDA CAMPBELL
I
t’s taken me three years to get to a Team Leader position, which most would say is great. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure that this is all real and not a dream. It is a dream come true for me. My security background started in the British Army. Even though I loved my work, I always wanted to do the same job as the boys and be a front line soldier That would never have happened in the British Army or the regiment that I was serving in. My journey started in Iraq in 2009; I worked as an Aviation Supervisor in Najaf and at Baghdad International Airport. My networking started there, meeting all the PSDs and Security Contractors from all over the world, all on their way home, where I would attempt to make their journeys’ go a little more smoothly by fast tracking them through the airport. I loved doing that job, but talking to some of these men and a few women, their jobs sounded really ex-
citing and I wanted to be a part of that but I needed to pick up the skills and complete the right courses. A friend of mine told me about the Argus Europe CP course. He said the guys on it were great and the course was all practical and not death by power point. I went to meet the guys and knew straight away that this was
34 : : Circuit
Who said there is no room for females in the security industry? Well, they were wrong!
Moreover, VIPs including the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Nicole Kidman and JK Rowlings are requesting a need for females as part of their security detail and not just as medics and drivers but mostly working as Personal Protection Officers (PPOs). We blend into surroundings as well as, if not better than, the men and in a variety of environments, not only at work, but in social venues too. Gone are the days where a big butch male presence is a prerequisite, the new females are feminine and easy on the eye. So, move over guys here come the girls
the course for me. On the course, I met some of the most inspirational people, not only instructors but guys who were attending the course, most from a UK Military background, Ex-Paras and RMPs - I still keep in touch with them and have met them later on while working in the sand pit. I, like others, had to start at the bottom of
the security ladder and work very hard to stay on it, before climbing my way up it. It’s up to the individual to work really hard and I was determined to succeed, being a female in a man’s world. Women can do the job alongside men and succeed, it’s all about hard work and NETWORKING…. I can’t emphasise this enough. It helps if you know the
Circuit :: ShopTalk right people and by being in the right place at the right time, and if you’re willing to take chances and seize opportunities The skills set you need for this job are; excellent communications skills, patience, confidence and maturity, as well as great people skills. These are just a few skills required when working alongside a multicultural workforce. If you are ex-forces or police, then you will gain other skills through continued training, and upon the completion of a good CP course. Argus Europe incorporated a Surveillance phase into their course which has benefitted me every day that I’m on the ground, since finishing the course. Most companies run medical training alongside their CP course; everyone on the team should have some form of medical and driving skills, along with map reading and knowledge of GPS, depending on the environment where you want to work, I’ve chosen to work in remote hostile environments. To work in a hostile environment you must be trained in a variety of weapons, and have good coaching/instructional skills as you will be expected to teach local nationals on your team a variety of skills for carrying out their daily duties. Over my career I’ve had to, on occasion, put my work ahead of my personal life to achieve
my goals, I love my job, and I could work all the time without taking any time off. Of course I’ve made sacrifices, I don’t get to spend much time with my family and I miss out on a lot of birthdays and anniversaries, but thankfully I have an understanding and supportive family. They understand my job is important and can see how happy I am but we make up for the time lost when I come home and we appreciate the quality time that we have together. They also understand I’m securing my future. My dad always said if you want the good things in life then you have to work hard for them, and sacrifice a few things to get them. So girls, do you think you have what it takes to work as a female bodyguard? Firstly, get in touch with a reputable training provider, one that is SIA accredited, call them and go see what the set-up is like. These courses are not cheap, and you want to make sure that you’re getting your money’s worth, but also you need to feel comfortable, as you will be working and living alongside these instructors for around a month. If you are not weapons trained, then you will have to go on a firearms course. Be yourself; don’t go in their pretending that you’re Lara Croft This role isn’t for the faint hearted, you do need guts, as you will have to stand your ground with the guys, as they will do whatever it takes to make
sure us females don’t take anything away from them. Some will try to show you up, but stand your ground and you will earn their respect. As well as being a team player, make sure you have the initiative to work alone. Being a female in the security world is challenging enough - my fellow sisters who work in the UK will back me up on this one. Working in the Middle East can be more challenging, in my opinion, but I think that comes down to the individual and how you apply yourself to the role. Personally, I’ve never had any problems from the local nationals (LNs), Police or Army. My team consists of myself and three LNs; I’ve got to trust them to a certain degree. I’m armed 24/7 with a 9mm pistol. It goes everywhere with me, including the gym and I sleep with it under my pillow The business of protection by females is growing exponentially. The security industry has seen a lot of growth since 2008 and is expected to continue growing through into 2013. More and more middle management types are looking for protection as global threats increase. Outside of work I’m just a regular girl who likes to keep fit, go shopping, go to the movies and hang out with my friends. Oh, my favorite colour is PINK
Argus Europe Ltd Security Specialists
ARE YOU QUALIFIED TO BE THE FIRST
PERSON ON SCENE?
Never before have medical skills been in such high demand for those wishing to pursue a career as a Close Protection Officer. Employees realise the value of good quality training and having their people as multi-skilled operators with the ability to offer good First Person On the Scene medical skills makes their package more attractive to potential clients.
Argus Europe also provide the following courses: Close Protection & Surveillance, Private Investigator, Surveillance Please see our website for further details
www.arguseurope.co.uk
The Old Brewery, Castle Eden, County Durham, TS27 4SU T: +44 (0) 8456 123 843 | M: +44 (0) 7958 518 181 F: +44 (0) 1429 837 068 | E: arguseurope@msn.com
Circuit : : 35
AFGHAN ENDGAME
by |
JON MOSS
OEF. Why it failed and WHAT NEXT
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A
fter more than a decade of bloody operations, is it finally time for NATO Who are we to surge to concede defeat 30,000 more troops on the battlefield and switch tactics? into the graveyard of Operation Endurthe great? ing Freedom - The chaotic legacy of the Bush administration outlives its archiAlexander the Great tect and wears on into a tenth year. Hard, though it may be to remember but the operation enjoyed unparalleled global support at the time of its inception, in response to the 9:11 terror attacks on New York. Now, a decade on and without an acceptable conclusion in sight, the powers of the Western world must look towards a change in tactics to effect a viable solution.
“
Where did it go wrong? OEF has been fought through three marked phases, each conspicuous by their level of troop involvement, casualty rate and public support. They can be categorized as follows: • Phase 1 - Air domination and intelligence gathering. • Phase 2 - Hearts and minds. • Phase 3 - Surge policy. The first two are undoubtedly orphans of the previous administration but phase 3 is wholly the creation of the Obama administration, a Frankenstein’s monster of a policy torn between achieving its aim and appeasing the voter. The strategy of surging troops on and off a battlefield results in high collateral losses with short term territorial gains before ultimately a morale sapping relinquishment of initiative. In such a scenario we concede the ability to dominate strategic areas of importance effectively and simultaneously. Instead troops become reactive and defensive, which can then be exploited by an integrated and well motivated enemy. Nevertheless this has been the method employed and the argument over its effectiveness wrangles back to the days of Alexander the Great when he debated “Who are we to surge 30,000 more troops into the graveyard of the great?” During periods of de-surge the dynamics alter allowing insurgents to move onto the front foot, presenting the opportunity to clear and recapture strategic land. The psychological boost which this generates, contributes highly toward the altering of consensus amongst the local population and subsequent changing of allegiance. As long as the will and desire to fight remains then the insurgents will ultimately prosper unlike their foreign occupier who is limited by time and political pressure from the homeland. The Taliban are unburdened by time and the patience, where necessary to sit tight and wait for the right opportunity. As war intensifies so do civilian casualties leaving blood on the hands of the internaAs for the United tional military and every innocent killed States’ future in becomes a recruitment drive for the insurgents. Afghanistan, it will Foregoing the perceived logic, the thebe fire and hell and ory behind a surge strategy has always total defeat, God been a risky one. It is based on the premise that in one fowl coordinated willing, as it was for swoop the insurgents would be either their predecessors - the killed or flushed out of their strongholds. International forces would then Soviets and, before secure strategically important areas of them, the British. the land before handing over to Local National Security Forces who would then carry on the task of enforcing law and order. Mohammed Omar
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• The numbers committed to the surge, whilst large, were never going to be enough for a country as vast and inhospitable as Afghanistan. • Neighbours with vested interests are having too much influence in the replenishment of arms and munitions and the recruitment of fanatics willing to die for the cause which they have been indoctrinated in.
“
The best thing we could have done for Afghanistan was to get out of our Humvees and drink more green chai. We should have focused less on finding the enemy, and more on finding our friends.”
“
Unfortunately, this model was never going to work in Afghanistan and for several reasons:
• Obama publicly stated that the timescale for the duration of the operation would be 18 months, largely to appease voters in the US. However, this boldness was Craig M. Mullaney to ignore the lessons of history which show, time and again, that Afghans are seasoned duelists and do not lack in patience. They will content themselves in holding tight and waiting months, years if necessary as they know that neither the US, nor any other foreign occupier can endure such a long campaign. Again, history serves up many examples of this, look to the British, Russians and Romans in Afghanistan or consider the US war in Vietnam, the current deployment in Afghanistan has already waged longer.
Other important factors which make the task of ridding Afghanistan of radical extremists difficult include; endemic corruption, ill equipped and under trained security forces, tribal politics and Western economical considerations. Yet, it is geography which is the key factor in the battle to secure Afghanistan. Its borders are too porous, too mountainous and too hostile for NATOs under whelming strength to maintain. The handover of key areas from ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) to ANSF (Afghanistan National Security Force) has not worked and under the radar, mostly to avoid embarrassment and a public outcry, ISAF forces have been reoccupying locations that had previously been entrusted back to the Afghans. This has foiled military planners’ efforts to make the host country responsible for securing its own borders and assuming control. So, if plans A, B and C have not worked despite a decade of attempts to the contrary then what option does that leave? Whisper it quietly but it is negotiation where hopes are being pinned. Many who once rubbished any prospect reconciliation being the key to success are now labouring hard to create lines of communication between all parties. This might be perceived as failure in some quarters and it would be hard to stomach, in particular for the families of the thousands who have given their lives trying to secure an outcome under a different strategy, but would any of them wish for more blood to be spilled unnecessarily? History documents evidence of a further harsh reality, which is ‘conceded negotiation is invariably how most guerrilla warfare ends’. Without doubt there is still plenty of work to be done before an effective compromise can be brokered. Yet, with the West and in particular, the Americans, sticking to their timescale for withdrawal it would seem as though the International consensus is that peace in Afghanistan cannot be realised through military intervention alone or perhaps at all. Have the lessons of history finally been understood? “We will not be a pawn in someone else’s game, we will always be Afghanistan!” The defiant words spoken by Ahmad Shah Masood, Afghanistan’s National hero during his battle for victory over the Russians.
Circuit :: Feature HERE’S SOMETHING YOU DON’T SEE EVERY DAY - A FREE FINANCIAL
SESSION
Q: I tend to keep my accounts long hand using a combination of spread sheets and plain paper. All is filed and kept in what I consider to be good order inc my VAT returns. Is this acceptable? If I was to get inspected would this type of record suffice?I do not feel that I need an accountant to do toting up of expenses and income or the VAT A: There should be no problem keeping your accounting records on spreadsheets and paper. As long as there is a paper trail of all of your transactions you can record them however you like. If HMRC where to carry out an enquiry into your records as long as they can trace all your transactions to invoices/receipts and your bank statements then
this type of book-keeping would certainly suffice. Q: Are PayPal receipts okay to put through your books? I buy a reasonable amount stuff from places like ebay and wish to claim the equipment against my tax. A: In order to claim tax relief on expenditure HMRC will expect you to retain a valid invoice/receipt of the goods purchased. There should be no problem buying equipment from auction sites such as ebay as long as you retain a valid invoice/receipt addressed to your business detailing the goods purchased. Q: Are there any recommended tax free savings accounts for the self-employed person? A: For 2011-12 all taxpayers can invest a maximum of £10,680 per year in an Individual savings account (ISA) tax free, this can be made up of stocks and shares up to £5,340 and cash up to £5,340. Unfortunately I am not authorised to give advice on investments, but we do work closely with independent financial advisors, Rippon Financial Management Limited. They have many years experience in advising in this area and in most occasions do not charge a fee. For more information please email office@rfmltd.co.uk. Q: I intend to buy a residential property and make some conversions to it so that I can have 3 small offices. Is having a residential property as an ‘office’ beneficial to me from a tax point of view? A: If you are converting the property for use solely as offices then you will be able to claim the total running costs of them against your profits. When you come to sell the property any profit made would be
chargeable to capital gains tax. In addition to this you should also contact the local council as this can have an impact on your council tax. Using a residential property that you also live in for business can have an impact when you come to sell the property. If the property is the house where you live, part of any profit on sale could be chargeable to capital gains tax. You can claim a use of home as office expense in your business accounts as an allowable expense without it having any effect on the sale as mentioned above. Q: I am really struggling with what attracts VAT and what does not, what can be claimed and what is not and ultimately how to account for it. Some people are suggesting I get an accountant to do it, others are suggesting that I use the flat rate instead to avoid any possible errors. I have look at the flat rate and it seems pretty straight forward. Any advice? A: Essentially, if you are VAT registered you can claim back the VAT paid on most business expenditure. For all claims you must retain a valid invoice/receipt showing the VAT paid and a legitimate VAT registration number. The flat rate scheme can be beneficial to some businesses. The calculations are certainly more straight-forward as you simply apply a percentage to your gross sales and this is the amount you pay over to HMRC. The percentage applied depends on your type of business and is designed to incorporate VAT that you suffer when paying for goods and services, a list of the rates can be found on HMRC’s website.
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
Contents
Circuit : : 39
Circuit :: ShopTalk
HOW CAN YOU LEAD WITH A POOR ATTITUDE? A
poor attitude will permeate through your entire team and have a detrimental effect on the success of any operation. With a bad attitude, you are not an effective leader.
by |
CHIEF RUSS SAUNDERS
What kind of leader do you see yourself as? More importantly, how do your employees see you? Are you a “downer Debbie” spreading doom and gloom wherever you go? Maybe you are the “because I said so” type who expects everyone to leap into action simply by virtue of you being the boss? Or are you a team builder and a leader who instills confidence and a thirst for excellence in those you lead? Those of us in the security and law enforcement field chose this path because of a true desire to help others and to make a difference. As a young rookie, I couldn’t wait to get out there and make my mark on the world. I recall a conversation I had with a sergeant one night that really left a mark on me. I had been on a call that involved someone I thought would benefit from some follow-up and some extra help from social services. I told my sergeant that I wanted to contact some agencies I felt could help this person as well as others in the same position. When I discovered that due to budget cuts there was no help available, I wanted to spring into action. I knew something must be done to help people that needed it. I enthusiastically explained to the sergeant that if I could get numerous people and agencies involved, together we could make a big difference in the way these types of people were handled and perhaps even eliminate the problem! Although I didn’t know how I was going to make that happen, I figured it would have to work because I was committed to it and surely others would be too. I even envisioned a charitable organization in the future that was dedicated to making a difference in the community. A bit grandiose perhaps, but I was young and full of dynamism and zeal and truly wanted to make a difference in the community that I served as well as our clients. I asked my manager where he thought I should start and I quickly got my first lesson on how not to lead. All of my enthusiasm and eagerness quickly turned to disappointment and anger when my sergeant simply shook his head at me and laughed and told me to forget about it. “Do you really think you can change anything?” he asked with a tone of sarcasm “Russ it’s nothing but a game. Your job is to put people in jail and that’s it. Don’t kid yourself into thinking that you will ever change anything or that anyone will ever care. Take my advice kid, do your job, live to retire, and then collect your pension. That’s all there is.” At that moment two things happened.
40 : : Circuit
The first was that I felt like a child that just had his candy stolen by a Halloween bully, and the second was that I vowed to prove him wrong! That conversation stuck with me for years. He had to be wrong, and he was.
Fast forward five years and I met another leader who really influenced me, except this time it was an extremely positive experience. I just started working for a large agency and I was sitting at my first briefing. When the supervisor finished he yelled over to the Agent in Charge, “Hey boss, do you have anything for the troops?” The AIC got up from his desk and entered the room. I was immediately impressed just by the way he carried himself. He smiled as he looked around the room. He said he didn’t have anything mission specific, but he did want to share something. He went on to talk about some of the details that the team had handled over the past few days, and he stated how proud he was of the great job the entire shift had done. From advance work to halls and walls, he effused about all the accomplishments. He also took advantage of the opportunity to discuss a minor glitch that occurred the prior night. While those involved did a great job, he asked where we might improve our response to this type of event. After a brief conversation it was determined that there were minor mistakes made and that we could change some things to make it safer for ourselves and the client. He was able to make everyone in the room feel proud to be a part of the team and at the same time address some concerns he had and correct the problem. He added that he knew we were all capable people and that we made sound decisions. He empowered us to do our job and gave us the confidence to know that he was backing us in our daily duties. That means a lot, especially to new protection agents. I was already feeling pretty good about being on this team when he actually thanked us for making him look like a great boss! I walked away from that briefing feeling like I could handle anything that may come my way. This was the way this AIC handled every meeting. I have always felt proud to have worked for him and grateful to him for helping me achieve my full potential through his example. There are lessons to be learned from both of these leaders. The sergeant in the first example clearly had no motivation to excel himself, and unfortunately that poor attitude was passed down the chain. The AIC was able to build a winning team through his enthusiasm and his zealous pursuit of excellence. He built everyone’s confidence and forged an atmosphere of pride, cooperation, and a
Circuit :: ShopTalk sense of optimism for the future. That environment created an aura of expectation and obligation for the team to always seek to be the best. That is truly a win-win situation, for both the agents and the clients that they serve. So what can you do to lead others to do their best? Here are a few easy suggestions that I have found to work very well:
Reframe for success:
Try to reframe situations to help view challenges in a positive light and share that view with your team. Remember, facts are facts but how you view them is your choice. You can’t change them, but you can still put a positive spin on most tasks and get the team excited about tackling them! Be positive. Your mood as a manager will reflect greatly upon your employees.
A commitment to excellence must never rest: Once again I will refer to the earlier examples of the sergeant and the lieutenant. Which one would you rather work for? Or more importantly, which one would you rather be? Never stop seeking ways to better yourself and enhance your skills as a leader and you will have a positive influence on those you lead. Our commitments define us, and our teams depend on us.
Make yourself approachable: This enhances your reputation as a team player and a great motivator. I have always been a fan of an open door policy (with a few exceptions). How can you expect to serve as an example if no one can see you or communicate directly with you? I once worked for a supervisor that I needed to see regarding a project I was working on. After I requested an appointment through his secretary (we were not allowed direct contact) I was met an hour later by a person that he sent to “find out what I wanted”. That certainly sent a message and served as an example to me on how NOT to deal with others. I not only felt like the supervisor didn’t care, I really had no motivation to do a project that would
ultimately make him look good! If he didn’t care then why should I? Conversely, I worked for a Chief Security Officer who despite having more than 400 employees could stop in the hall and say hello, and ask (by name) how your youngest was doing at his Karate lessons. He took the time to learn names and important facts about each employee. To this day I don’t know how he did it but it certainly made the impression that he truly cared.
Encourage personal development: This is one of the most important things you can do for those that you lead. By allowing employees to grow professionally you are also allowing your company (or agency) to grow. It fosters teamwork and pride by letting the employee know that they are a productive part of a bigger whole; once again, it gives ownership. You will get far better results from people when you help them to develop and grow rather that by simply assigning tasks and waiting for results. These are a few examples of many. Through years of learning, observing and leading I have discovered a few ways to improve my success and the success of those that I am fortunate enough to lead. Leading by example and encouraging people to develop are two of the best ways to build loyalty, trust, and pride in any organization. Creating a positive work environment lets everyone know that you support them, and this will inevitably lead to motivated employees and productivity. By the way, the sergeant retired a few years later because he could not get promoted. Amazingly, he could not see that his attitude and poor leadership abilities were holding him back. For years when I would see him around town he was still miserable and bitter. The Agent in Charge went on to become the Chief Executive Officer at a highly regarded security company and to this day is still one of the finest leaders I have ever known. Which one do you want to be?
Circuit : : 41
42 : : Circuit
Circuit :: Feature
Keeping Your Edge Respecting Those That Have Come Before
“This guy thinks he was born fully grown.” That’s a saying I sometimes use which confuses the hell out of people when they hear it. Allow me to explain:
To
me it describes a person that thinks they know everything, particularly the ones that give the impression that this knowledge somehow came right out of the sky and was beamed directly into their brains. They suffer from a rare and unexplainable phenomenon termed IIC or “Immaculate Information Conception”. To these individuals they didn’t have to learn something that was taught to them by someone that at some point had greater skill or knowledge about a topic. Instead they manifested the techniques and owe a debt to no-one. Or to put it bluntly, they’re full of it. I’ve said it before in previous columns, our industry is populated by the “Alpha Male” mindset (even in women) and while I also believe it is a valuable trait that allows us to rise above the pack and assume the role of protector, let’s be realistic, there are very few cases of reinventing the wheel. Instead we as pros learn from one another, and more importantly, learned from someone prior, information or skills that allowed us to obtain the title of “professional”. The interesting quality I observe is that particularly in the Close Protection Industry, we tend to devalue what has come before, much less pay respect to it. Don’t get me wrong, like a traditional family the son should be expected and encouraged to grow up, move away and start his own clan. From a biological level that is how we diversify and continue the
species. Yet in our industry we not only move out of dad’s house, in some cases we deny we ever even had a father. IIC Syndrome claims another victim. I think part of the problem lies in that there is a perceived vulnerability that lies in the fact that someone had to “teach” us something. As if the implication may be that it also might mean there is something we don’t know, and could therefore fail at. Industry speaking, I think we could also attribute it to the fact that many of our teachers may also still be in some way shape or form still associated with the protection business and therefore might actually be competition. It’s different to pay respect to your kung fu sensei if he lives in a monastery or passed away many years ago. It’s another story if you open up a martial arts school across town and may have to compete for the same new students. Acknowledging the psychology and/or the economics is one thing, but that mindset is likely to do us more harm than good in the long run. There is a value to strengthening ties to the past and calling upon the people who have not only knowledge but also the wisdom that comes from experience. Even if that person no longer has any interaction with what you do, it’s just plain good karma to respect those that have achieved a high level of proficiency in a craft. It’s one of the reasons we call a person “Doctor” even if they are not operating on us.
J
ELI AH SH AW I can remember several years ago having my first phone call with Tony Scotti, of Tony Scotti’s Vehicle Dynamic’s Institute, an individual who prior to that I knew by reputation only. As I’m chatting with him at my desk, I look to my left and on my shelf I see a book entitled Executive Safety & International Terrorism, written by Anthony J. Scotti. I remember distinctly interrupting him mid-sentence and thanking him for what he’d done for the industry as a whole and specifically for helping me in my growth process. That particular book was one of the 1st I purchased when I decided to get involved with the Executive Protection Industry. Subsequently Tony and I have developed a friendship, but one that I’d describe as a mentorship because his experiences and outlook are invaluable to me. As a side note to this, in 2011 I had my first chance to officially take one of Tony’s courses and I approached it not with the attitude of “I’ve been doing Close Protection Work for 18 years, and am also an instructor, I could teach this” but rather, here’s an individual (and a program) that has existed for quite some time and has produced quality results, let me keep my mouth shut and learn. Additionally when I pass on things that I have learned from the program (which we all inevitably do) I try and remember to give credit where it is due. There’s no mistaking that Immaculate Information Conception affects most of us at one time or another, but I think with self awareness we can all do our part to stop it from becoming an epidemic. Elijah Shaw is the CEO of Icon Services Corporation and The National Director of the North American Bodyguard Association
Circuit : : 43
$ Circuit :: ShopTalk
MORE BANG for
YOUR BUCK Whilst working aboard many readers will note that they are paid in the Global reserve currency of the US Dollar. Our non US readership may also notice that due to the recent economic downturn they are getting less ‘Bang for their Buck’. This article explains why and how to get “More Bang for your Buck”. “My bank is going to go bust this afternoon, what are the government going to do about it?” A conversation between Sir Tom McKillop RBS Chairman and Alistair Darling, Chancellor of the Exchequer. At the time of the 2008 banking crash, Royal Bank of Scotland were the 6th largest bank in the world, it is a shocking truth that this global financial institution was half a day away from going bust without government intervention. Since then we have all been confronted with a double-edged dilemma due to the global banking collapse:
Rising Cost of Living + Stagnant or Diminishing Wages = Less in Your Pocket.
The global banking downturn has a number of economic positives and negatives, which you may have experienced:
Positives:
• Recent Political unrest in the Middle East has resulted in overthrown Governments – increase in private security contracts to safeguard overseas interests of governments and corporations.
by |
TONY HOOD
• Cheaper Holidays – Yes, going to Europe on holiday will only get better as the Euro struggles under membership debt and rescue payment schedules.
Negatives:
• Increase in cost of living versus stagnant rates of pay. • Increase in competition – reduction in rates of pay or less work available. • Firms providing currency exchange on your behalf and provide a bad rate. • Increase in banking costs – as banks look to recoup losses from every area.
• Increase in companies moving into conflict areas in the hope of achieving greater profits – producing more security contracts within these areas.
Although not an exhaustive list, it is plain to see that these difficult times bring about a general negative swing in our lifestyles as the cost of living rises and wages do not.
• Increase in security demands within emerging countries as indigenous populations result to criminal activities for income – Marine Piracy being a prime example.
Now here is the shocking truth…
• Longer contracts – companies trying to maintain competent operators and reduce changeover costs.
Being clever with our Foreign Exchange is one answer that may see a surprising increase to your bank balance.
• Overseas Contracts paid in US Dollars – providing the employer with the stability of the Global reserve currency.
In the last 20 years the internet has allowed smaller and more agile Foreign Exchange (FX) brokerages access to pricing that was
44 : : Circuit
It isn’t going to get better for a long while yet. So how do we improve our circumstances?
Circuit :: ShopTalk
“
Since the 2008 banking crisis the banks have been looking at ways to maximise their profits to recoup their massive losses
previously limited to the high street banks and large financial institutions.
“
During the boom times of the 90’s the FX market became the wild west of the City with traders speculating with client money and making fortunes overnight. Since then the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in the UK has applied a strict code of practice that has brought a professional maturity to the market. Modern FX brokerages are able to gain access to this market and take advantage of exchange rates unobtainable by the normal public. Today, the more financially savvy are hunting down much better exchange rates than offered by their bank through such FX brokerages. The banks have maintained their pricing since 2008 (generally 2-3% above what can be achieved) in the hope that most people will continue to send money direct from their current account and be non-the-wiser. The simple process of sending it to a third party broker will make considerable savings over the course of a security contract. To give you an example: To move $100,000.00 into £ at time of writing (1545hrs GMT on 09.11.11)1 The calculation would be: Amount in $ divided by the Exchange Rate = amount of £’s you will receive.
Facility:
Rate2:
Total in £:
Bureau D Change High St Bank FX Brokerage
1.6999 1.7468 1.6230
£58,826.99 £57,247.53 £61,614.29
(Average)
This equates to a saving of between £2787.30 - £4366.76. Bring this down to a monthly wage packet of $10,000.00 and the losses are still significant (£278.73 - £436.68). The banks also like to charge fees for delivery and receipt of foreign currencies usually around the £10 area creating another £120.00 over the course of the year. The majority of the FX brokerages will not charge fees. But you say, “I have a US Dollar account with my UK Bank”. Well, they will still apply the same exchange rates when moving the money to a different account inside your bank. They will also usually charge and acceptance fee when the funds arrive in your US Dollar account as well as a monthly management fee for the foreign currency account. So, how do you find the right FX Broker? Here are a few tips of the trade: • Go to a firm that is regulated. HMRC and the FSA are the big regulators for the FX market in the UK. Ensure that the company you have chosen is registered on both websites. Financial Services Authority: www.fsa.gov.uk and go to Payment Services Firm Search: http://www.fsa.gov.uk/register/ psdFirmRefSearch.do and type in their number. Our company number is 540558. You will see that we are registered as an Authorised Payment Institution. HMRC: https://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/msbregister/check-
Terms.do is the registration of companies that have a certificate of registration for Anti Money Laundering Regulation. Our company number is 12610333. • Check the rate offered is competitive. You will see various sites on the web providing pricing. This is usually the interbank rate and will not be available to the public. You need to get as near to this as you can. • Make sure you agree the rate of exchange and get a written confirmation by email on every deal. Most electronic systems will carry out this automatically. • Ask about any fees that may be charged and confirm in writing that there are no fees to be charged. This will be stated in the Terms of Business. • Look closely at the Terms of Business. If you don’t understand them, ring and ask for them to be clarified. • Look for a broker that understands your market and will cut out the jargon. Brokers will talk fast on the phone in an effort to rush you into a quoted price that is not competitive. • Don’t listen to sales pitches that provide lots of details about why you should choose a certain broker. Brokers will usually impress upon you various sales points that, by law, they are obliged to do anyway, for example: “We keep all client funds in specially segregated accounts” – it’s the law! “We can do the trade same day” – they can, but will only send the funds once they receive them. “We are fully compliant with the Law” – just because they say they are doesn’t mean they are! Check with regulator websites and ask for their registration numbers. • Go with brokerages that do a specific task – Deliver your money. Some FX brokerages also offer speculative FX products that allow customers to gamble on the swings in currency pricing. These brokerages often speculate huge sums of their own money on the market also. This can go very wrong. Stick to Delivery Only FX Brokerages – they are not allowed to speculate at all. • Remember a brokerage can deal in many different currencies and with internet access you have the opportunity to change your money at a good rate 24/7 and send it where you like. • Ask if your employer can pay direct to the Broker - some brokerages will set up an agreement for your employer to pay the full amount of your wages direct to the brokerage who will automatically exchange it and transfer to your UK Account. This saves time and transmission costs. Since the 2008 banking crisis the banks have been looking at ways to maximise their profits to recoup their massive losses. Your bank will not be providing you with the best FX service until you ask it to. You will find that FX brokerages are keen to provide a better service. If you would like further guidance on how to get more ‘Bang for your Buck’, Tony Hood is available on thood@sceptreltd.com and is willing to give advice as necessary. Sceptre Ltd has also set up a special rate agreement for readers of The Circuit Magazine or the BBA members, please use special code oorate (which stands for Overseas Operative RATE) when signing up on the website: https://www.fttglobal.com/TradingWeb/ftt.do?urlSource=sceptre. fx&referSource=sceptre.fx Tony Hood is Director of Sceptre Ltd a Delivery Foreign Exchange Company based in the City of London 1.Sources: Nat West Bank Internet Published Foreign Exchange Currency Rates and Marks & Spencer’s Bureau de Change. 2.The rate is this example is known as the sell or offer rate. Don’t get confused between the sell/offer rate and the bid/buy rate.
Circuit : : 45
H
Circuit :: Feature
aving worked in the industry a few years noW, I feel extremely privileged to have seen and to have experienced things that many people would dream of, and things that you just don’t get to do in your average day job.
Some things good, some things bad (RIP Steven Enright) but I guess that’s why everyone who works within the industry does so. There are so many highs and lows and it keeps you feeling young, fit, and it gives you a constant sense of adventure. Many thought they had lost that sense of adventure and camaraderie when they left the forces and decided to join the Close Protection industry to try and get it back. Some have found it, but on the flip side there are those that have left well paid civilian jobs in the hope of making it within the industry and have found themselves fighting and scratching around to make a living. Before entering the Close Protection industry you should look at it as anyone should look at any business opportunity or career path by carrying out some market research. You can make a fantastic living whilst working within the industry but it is like “buying a house” - there are times when it is good to buy and times when it is better to wait it out. Many businesses are struggling in the current economic climate, and unemployment is at an all time high - this is extremely well documented and it is no different in the protection industry. To combat this we find ourselves having to become more competitive in order to stay ahead of the game. Your career as a close protection operator needs to be treated as a business in its own right, not just as a regular job, because 90 percent of the time the work you will be carrying out is on a self employed basis, unless you are lucky enough to find yourself in meaningful employment within the role. You have to have the ability to go out and be able to make things happen as work seldom comes to you in this game, unless you are extremely well established and have a large network of contacts, which is only built up through actually serving time within the industry and will not happen overnight. Whilst being self employed and new to the industry, unless you are extremely lucky, the work that comes to you will be slow and infrequent so you also need to have a back up plan and something else to keep bringing in the pennies whilst you are waiting for your profile as an operator to become more established. In the end I firmly believe that if you want something bad enough you will succeed, unless you are completely unsuited to the industry. In this case, the training provider with whom you carried out your
46 : : Circuit
Shaun West on The Close Protection Career training should have given some advice or told you from their experience, that maybe it wasn’t the industry for you. This is not being a cop out, it is just good honest advice and will save some people from wasting more hard earned money when they could be investing it in themselves or their families in other areas - just think if you were told two years ago it may have saved lots of heartache for both the individual concerned and their family, as these days jobs are extremely hard to come by. Determination is the name of the game, to keep going when the knock backs come. Everybody has knock backs at some point in their lives whether that is in work or be it in your personal lives. Life has a habit of throwing a curve ball at you when it is least expected, it’s how you deal with it that matters. By becoming depressed with constant knock backs and burying your head in the sand will get you nowhere, dust yourself off and make a new plan of action and refocus the energy and keenness that you had previously, and if that means moving forward in a different unexpected direction, then that might be the right move for you. Success in the industry can be judged in a number of ways and each person’s yardstick for success will be different on whether they judge their career to be a success or not. I have done some fantastic jobs earning fantastic money, I have travelled the world and seen some fantastic places, but I have also paid a lot by following the work and pursuing my career. You get to see less and less of your friends and family as you are constantly, constantly, at the beck and call of others and you have to follow wherever the work may take you. Do I consider myself successful? Yes I am very contented at how my career has turned out thus far and that I continue to get decent roles, but at the same time I have friends/colleagues who do asset protection or other jobs for that matter, who may earn less money and may seem less glamorous roles but they have the benefit of being home on an evening with their family and seem happy in their work, so to me they are also a success. I think as long as you are working and are generally happy in your role, and you have enough money coming in to support yourself and your family, then you have to consider that successful - the grass is always greener when you look at the other side and the jobs that other people are doing, but one thing that you have to remember is that there is no such thing as the perfect job! So my advice for newcomers into the industry is to work hard, keep learning, remain humble and focused, show respect to those around you and you will eventually be noticed and start making your way within the industry - of course there is also an element of luck needed, but by sticking to these principles is a very good start, and as I’ve found you can make your own luck in this life by putting yourself out there…… you have to be in it to win it!
Time to
Circuit :: OnTheJob
Break out
THE BIG GUNS Selecting a Tactical Shotgun for
by |
MARK “SIX” JAMES
EXECUTIVE PROTECTION The word tactical takes on many meanings. For many the word tactical means just paint the stock black. For some it means just make it short. For others it means just use the word and you can charge a premium at retail. For the trained operator it is the right tool to efficiently support the mission. The dictionary defines tactical as: 1. of or relating to combat tactics as: a. of or occurring at the battlefront (i.e. a tactical defence) b. using or being weapons or forces employed at the battlefront (i.e. tactical missiles) c. of an air force: of, relating to, or designed for air attack in close support of friendly ground forces 2. of or relating to tactics: a of or relating to small-scale actions serving a larger purpose b. made or carried out with only a limited or immediate end in view c. adroit in planning or manoeuvring to accomplish a purpose Tactical Shotguns – may be pump action or semi-automatic. Most however are characterized by the shorter barrels usually 18 to 20 inches compared to that of most sporting guns which are often 24, 26, 28, or 30 inches barrels. Most police, military or tactical shotguns may also have larger capacity box, clip or tubular magazine. For the executive protection agents our battlefront may take the shape of a rural, suburban or urban landscape. Traditional military strategy often focuses on the execution of the objective through the application of a larger, superior force, often focused on first strike capabilities. Executive protection agents and teams often function like Special Forces units composed of a small group of highly trained individuals. Often agents are deployed as a militia of one where you are expected to be your own first line of defence. Your tactics most closely resemble the Secret Service. You have an immediate and simple objective escape the kill zone! Cover and evacuate
48 : : Circuit
tac-ti-cal [tak-ti-kuh’l] adjective
Circuit :: OnTheJob is your mantra. The tactical shotgun may be called upon to assist you in those objectives. Also in most states it is much easier to get clearance to carry a shotgun than it is to carry a carbine. While there are a number of speciality uses for the shotgun, when it comes to engaging with a shotgun, the shotgun has historically been deployed at traditional handgun distances and is designed to give the operator either superior firepower during close quarter engagements or increase their efficiency through the implementation of a spread shot pattern where the accuracy of an individual projectile may be difficult to achieve due to the cadence of the events or movement of the threat. When working as an individual agent on a high risk detail, the shotgun may help increase your defensive capabilities through either enhanced firepower or the ability to function like a short range rifle through transition to a slug. Phil Roberson, Beneli pro says it best in one of their featured commercials “A shotgun in my opinion must have three things BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!” When I think about the three critical characteristics I look for in a shotgun I think of simplicity, reliability and efficiency. When I think simplicity the tool must be easy to operate particularly under stress. When it comes to ease of operation there is nothing simpler than a pump action shotgun. When it comes to reliability I want a tool which has been battle tested. When it comes to efficiency the tool must increase our ability to accomplish the job with minimal time, effort or economy of motion. While there are many fine shotguns in the market place below are four of my favourites when it comes to tactical shotguns. The selections are not better or worse, the tools are just different. Just as the situation should dictate your tactics, this mission should dictate the tools.
Pump Action Shotguns Remington 870 Tactical For many years Remington tactical shotguns have been the gold standard for Military and Law Enforcement operators throughout the world. The Model 870 express Tactical continues to build on that legacy with a durable “hammered” gun-metal-grey powder-coat finish, a quick-pointing 18 1/2” barrel and includes an extended ported Tactical Rem Choke. It features a 7 round tubular magazine of 2 3/4” or 3” 12-gauge firepower with the factory installed 2-shot extension. The Model 870 Express Tactical with XS Ghost Ring Sights is designed for rapid target acquisition and precise shot placement with the XS blade sight and XS Ghost Ring sight rail (fully adjustable for windage and elevation), which accepts optics and sight systems as well. Both models have black synthetic stocks and fore-ends with sling swivel studs. Recievers drilled and tapped Key Features: • 18 1/2” tactical barrel with XS front blade sight RC Tactical (ext/ported tube) • XS Ghost Ring sight Rail (mounts to receiver) • Sight is fully adjustable for windage and elevation • Front blade sight works in conjunction with Ghost Ring to quickly and accurately acquire target • Tactical style fore-end • 2-shot magazine extension • Receiver drilled and tapped for scope mounts (XS Picatinny rail with ghost ring included)
Mossberg 590A1 Key Features:
• Surefire Light • Gear Sector Light Attachment • Surefire Forearm Rail Attachment • Magpul Angled Foregrip • Knoxx Recoil System • Side Saddle spare ammo carrier The Mossberg 590A1 is a time tested and true battle shotgun. Similar to the Remington 870 it has been a top choice for Law Enforcement and Military both around the country and around the world. It features a heavy-walled parkerized barrel, metal trigger guard assembly, metal safety button, and an upgraded magazine tube that can easily be opened for cleaning and is readily adaptable for a magazine extension. Its 3” chamber will receive either 2 ¾ or 3” shells. It comes equipped with an anti-jam elevator, dual extractors for reliable feeding, and positive shot shell extraction and ejection.
•
Stock choices include a 6-position adjustable tactical stock, pistol-grip Cruiser models, standard full-size polymer stock, or a polymer Speedfeed model that holds four additional shells in the stock for quick and easy reloading.
•
Every 590A1 Special Purpose model features a drilled and tapped receiver, factory-ready for Picatinny rail, scope base or optics installation.
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Overall length 36 1/8 to 41”, Weight 6 ¾ lbs to 7 1/2 lbs.
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Barrels lengths include 18-1/2” (with 5+1 magazine capacity) or 20” (with 8+1 magazine capacity), all with cylinder bore.
•
Depending on the model, you’ll find a choice of 3-Dot, Ghost Ring, or basic front bead sights.
•
The deluxe-equipped 590A1 SPX model comes fully loaded out of the box with the features you want: a factory-mounted Picatinny rail, LPA/M16-Style Ghost Ring combination sight set, and removable M9 bayonet/scabbard combination.
•
Other 590A1 versions include the 590A1 Mariner model with Marinecote - finished barrel and receiver for added corrosion resistance for marine applications, extreme wet weather or humid environments and a reduced (13”) length-of-pull 590A1™ Compact model perfect for smaller-stature shooters.
•
590A1 shotguns are also available in 14” Class III Restricted models for law enforcement and military personnel.
What I like most about the Remington 870 and the Mossberg 590 are ease of operation, reliability and enhanced ability to accessorize. There are a number of after-market lights and ammo carriers designed to fit directly onto the weapon system to enhance efficiency.
Circuit : : 49
Circuit :: OnTheJob Semi Automatic Shotguns Beneli M4 Tactical
optics, a fully adjustable ghost-ring rear sight and fixed-blade front sight and a black synthetic pistol-grip style stock. The rear sight is click-adjustable for both windage and elevation. These sights are intended for rough service and feature rugged “wings” to protect the removable ghost-ring and front post. Key Features: • Magazine Capacity: 4 + 1 • Chokes: M
The M4 Tactical 12-gauge auto loading shotgun features Beneli’s unique Auto Regulating Gas Operated (A.R.G.O.) system. It has dual stainless steel, self-cleaning pistons located just ahead of the chamber that operate directly against the bolt assembly. Because the pistons push directly against the bolt, they move only ½” for complete and rapid cycling with minimum vibration which aids in quick target acquisition. The M4 Tactical comes standard with a Picatinny rail for
• Type of Sights: Tactical military ghost rings; receiver is drilled and tapped for scope mount; Picatinny rail is included • Overall length 40.0” • Average Weight 7.8 lbs • Length of Pull: 14 3/8 ” Drop at Heel 2 ¼” Drop at Comb: 1 1/2 “
Saiga Shotgun
The Saiga 12 gauge is a rotating bolt, gas operated semiautomatic shotgun built on the Kalashnikov or AK47 platform. It may be assembled with a fixed, folding or telescopic stock depending on the shooters preference. While the weapon has been built on a classic AK47 platform there are a number of aftermarket stocks, forearms and accessories available to allow the shooter to customize the weapon to their preferences to be able to accept optics, lights etc. The detachable magazine is preferred by many as it offers shooters a quicker option of getting the shotgun back to full capacity particularly during emergency reloads. Key Features: • Semi-Automatic • May be assembled with a Synthetic Stock, Folding Stock, Fixed Stock or Telescopic Stock
capacity quicker. The reliability of the Saiga 12 is virtually unchallenged. It is battle tested as it is built on one of the most reliable weapons operating systems the fighting world has ever seen. The Kalashnikov platform has been bringing bad guys to task since 1947. For Saiga shotgun operators with folding stocks, when the shotgun stock is transported in its folded capacity it makes it an excellent vehicle weapon, by reducing the overall length of the tool. It is also easily concealable, as both the weapon and spare magazines can be transported in a medium double racket tennis protective case. However, one of the best features of the tactical shotgun particularly when loaded with 00 buck ammunition is double tap is usually not required!
• Bolt Stop • No Choke • Threaded chrome-lined barrel • Adjustable gas system for 2.75” or 3” shells • Feed System Detachable box magazine – available in 5, 8, 10, or 12 round magazines or a 20 round drum. When it comes to efficiency both the Beneli M4 and Saiga 12 are gas operated and eliminates the need to pump the shotgun thus maximizing economy of motion. The tubular bottom fed magazine of the M4 makes transition to the semi-automatic shotgun easier for prior pump action operators as they are already familiar with the basic mechanics of the loading system. The 8, 10 and 12 round magazines and 20 round drum of the Saiga 12 further enhances efficiency by reducing the need for reloading. When reloading is required the detachable box fed magazines allows you to bring your weapon back to full
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• Folding Stock • Magpul Angled Foregrip • 10 Round Box Magazine Mark “Six” James is Founder and Executive Director of Panther Protection Services, LLC. Panther Protection Services is a full service protection agency performing threat assessments, executive protection, self-defense training, firearm instruction and high risk tactical protection.
Circuit :: BoyZone
GET YOUR Sigma, 120:400 F5.6
KIT ON
Kit reviews by Nick McCarthy
Nikon D7000
G
ood quality lenses for DSLRs are not cheap, not at all, especially when you consider the manufacturers own offerings.
You could easily pay thousands of pounds for a fast telephoto or a prime lens which is why many people consider ‘3rd party’ lens from manufacturers such as Sigma. A Nikon 200:400 is around £5000, the Sigma 120:400 is around £1000, and although this is not a direct comparison there is a significant saving over the manufacturers own offering.
Sigma offering is the one for me, hands down. Although it would be nice to have really fast long lens advances in camera body technology, and particularly high ISO settings mean that this is not as important as it once was, and let’s face it we are not always shooting in poor lighting conditions, as a colleagues recent trip to the UAE demonstrated.
Comparisons between the two are not for this review and I am not adept enough to be able to identify the difference and so to that end the
12v 22AH Lithium Ion Battery Pack
I
think you are either a Nikon man or a Canon man, and I am most defiantly a Nikon man, so when it came time to upgrade I stayed loyal to the brand, and after much research settled on the very impressive Nikon D7000. There was no other model that even interested me and after a visit to my local camera store and a brief trial, I part exchanged my trusty D80 and set about trialing my new bit of kit. One of the most impressive features for me is the huge film speed range on this camera, a theoretical ISO of 25 000, not only that but the way in which this camera handles ‘noise’ is quite unbelievable. The D7000 has many pro features making it feel like a real pro model but for a fraction of the price. One of the many great things that I love about Nikon’s is that almost every lens from 1970 is compatible with the most up to date digital models. As you would expect, many of the new features, such as auto focus, will not work, but if you are using the camera on the manual settings then good glass is good glass. For someone like me, who is far from a pro shooter, these older lens can offer a huge saving over the newer more trick kit, yet still provide excellent optics that allow me to get the ‘money shot’. A wise man once said to me, “it is not the arrows but the Indians”, well I am very much of the opinion that it is a combination of both!
T
he first time that I clapped eyes on one of these little beauties I knew it would be a great product, and post purchase I have no reason to change that assessment. Lightweight, compact, robust, reliable and yes, even at £229.95, good value! There are a variety of uses for this product: powering a radio in a green OP, powering a radio within a vehicle if permanent live is not available, for powering cameras within an unoccupied OP and more besides.
really handy gauge so that you have an idea how much power that you have left. It also comes with a nice little pouch. There are a variety of these batteries available, check out www.deben.com for further details
It comes with a mains charger and also a 12v charger, a 12v accessories adapter and a
3-D Synthetic Camouflage Cover I
have to admit, I have never been convinced by the man made ghillie suits, I’m a sandbag and glue gun man myself, however things change so I thought a review of a synthetic ghillie suite was about due. Upon opening the box my first impressions were that it was lightweight and compact making it ideal for carrying in car for a rapid ‘suit up‘ and deploy or in a day-sack for an insertion tab and then to fit once you occupy an OP position. It also appears that it would dry quickly. On the downside the ‘cam’ does not seem to me like it would be as robust as my old shroud/sandbagged ghillie. You could add to the cam if required. I have not had a chance to long-term field test this piece of equipment but it could
definitely find a place in my kit bag for that opportunist OP. For further details please visit www. deben.com
Circuit : : 51
C
ommunications are a hugely important part of the lives of those of us involved within the security industry, good, bad or indifferent, they can make or break a task so finding the right kit and of course the right supplier is extremely important. The Wolf Bag from G6 will appeal to many of us due to its high quality, portability and robustness. It is as at home in a vehicle set up as it is in a rural or urban observation post. I like everything about this piece of kit, from the quality of the radio, in my case a Motorolla DM3400, the metal plate that it sits on, the quality of the cabling and the attention to detail of the connections. The Wolf Bag can literally be taken from one vehicle and installed in another within a short space of time, so if you have to swap vehicles for any reason you can take your own trusted communications with you. Need to quickly deploy to a rural site, then a few clips undone here and there and the Wolf Bag can be set-up in an OP and allow you to continue on with an operation with the addition of a small lithium battery such as the Deben reviewed elsewhere in the Circuit Magazine. One thing I particularly like about this kit are the little induction mats that you sit on rather than a vehicle fit induction loop, making it even more flexible and adaptable. I also love the little switch that allows you to switch between overt and covert comms as I prefer a loud speaker when mobile but via the ear piece when static for obvious reasons. The radio itself is a digital version, the first time I have used such a set. All I can say is that for those of you that have been used to scratchy analogue communications with transmissions that fade out at irregular intervals, then digital will come as a welcome relief. The transmissions are very clear and do not suffer from fade out. However, another great feature of this set is that they can also hold analogue frequencies, which means that you can still work with colleagues using the same set who have yet to make the change to digital, a change that over time seems inevitable. For more information about the Wolf bag or any other communications please visit: www.g6-global.com
52 : : Circuit
Circuit :: BoyZone
Wolf Bag
G6 Kit
review
Circuit :: BoyZone
Gotek Tracking
long term test
I have used many vehicle tracking devices over the years and often been a little under whelmed by them. I have found them cost prohibitive for the initial purchase with high running costs in terms of the online panel and the cost per track of the unit themselves. I actually stopped using them for a period of time, that is until recently when I found the need for a couple of devices. A recommendation from a trusted colleague pointed me in the direction of Gotek and 2 units were bought after a small amount of independent research confirmed my colleagues perception of the units.
I
new what I needed, a small device with the potential of a 3 day battery life and a tracking panel that did not require a degree in astrophysics to use. I also needed a mobile interface and a pouch/box in which to place the devices. After viewing the Gotek website it was clear that they could supply me with pretty much what I wanted. I bought 2 slightly different devices, the GoTEK7 and the GoTEK7 Plus. Although physically very similar, the 2 devices are quite different in operation, and although the basic GoTEK7 has its uses and is a great price it is outshone by its more expensive sibling. That said, I am pleased to have purchased the GoTEK7 and it will remain in my kit bag to be deployed. Each and every job is different and that is what will keep both devices. I do feel that if you were to purchase such a device, the GoTEK7 Plus would be the better option, yes at £145.00
it is more expensive than the basic model which is priced at £99.00. In use both devices worked well, the motion sensor on the Plus model being particularly effective in ensuring that when the device was not moving the unit went to sleep and as such saved battery life. I managed to achieve 8 days from the Plus model although this will vary depending on the reporting frequency and other factors; basically the more work you give it to do the more it will drain the battery life. The panel that you are provided with to view your tracker(s) is very well laid out and quite easy to get to grips with. It offers enough features without the gimmicks association with many that I have seen. You can change the frequency of reporting, view maps and combine them with street view, view your credits and position credits and importantly top up from within the panel itself. Credits are
very reasonable and the more you buy the cheaper they are. Battery levels and GPS levels are easily viewable as is the history. If you have multiple units as I do you can have them located on one panel so when you login you can see them all or you can have the unit on a separate panel if you prefer. One of the most used facilities that I hear people ask for with tracking is the use of ‘zones’ - so your ‘target’ is static and you wish to know when it has moved out of OR into a certain area and of course the GoTEK panel allows you to do this. You can be alerted when the device moves in, out or in and out of a particular zone. The GoTEK7 Plus also has motion alert which proved very useful on a recent assignment. The devices are sold as waterproof, now there is waterproof and there is waterproof - all pigs are not equal as we know. I have no doubt that the GoTEK units are waterproof to the stated level, but for me this unit should be wrapped in clingfilm or another barrier when it is used in conjunction with the GoTEK magnetic pouch just in case. This will not detract from the unit’s performance and will offer a little peace of mind and hopefully ensure the longevity of your unit. You could of course purchase the uprated models that combine a larger battery and an otterbox, but for me this unit and its diminutive size is one of its major plus points, especially when attaching it to a newer vehicle with those tricky undersides. For those of us with smart phones you also have the ability to login to a mobile interface and view your tracker and make all the necessary changes to it while out and about. There is also an app for this unit for the Apple fans out there although I personally found the mobile interface superior in this case. Overall, this long term test has been a huge success and I will be purchasing more GoTEK products in the near future. The company themselves were very easy to deal with. I had a few questions to put to GoTEK and they answered them honestly and promptly which is not always the case once you have made a purchase. Tracking products can be a great asset to a surveillance operation or as an intelligence gathering tool for private investigators but remember, when placed on a vehicle, trackers track the car, not the person. It may seem pretty obvious but do not assume that your intended ‘subject’ is driving said vehicle…...more than one operator has been caught out by this several hundred miles down the road on more than one occasion.
Circuit : : 53
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 Alphyn UK Ltd Alphyn UK Ltd are a UK registered limited company primarily based in North Wales, with the ability to offer our range of services on a global scale. nfo@alphyn-uk.co.u Tel: +44 (0) 1745 538962 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
54 : : 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 Broadstone Security Ltd T: +44 (0) 844 474 5001 Broadstone Security is a modern security provider in an increasingly insecure world. The company offers bespoke security services to clients who require everything from discreet close/executive protection to covert long-term surveillance operations enquiries@BroadstoneSecurity.co.uk 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 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 Coopersec Ltd Welwyn Garden City (Hertfordshire, UK) Coopersec offer security to businesses and general public, experienced with 25 years in the industry tel: 07969288494 info@coopersec.co.uk 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 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 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 International Centre of Special Training T: +44 796 736 55 65 International Centre of Special Training 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.
To place a classified lineage or box advertisement telephone our sales team on: +44 (0) 191 6450 865
BBA Member. www.intelsecurity.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 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 Pheon Close Protection T - 0800 975 3038 “We Protect Because We Care” Here at Pheon we understand precisely what is important to our clients requiring Close Protection Services – you want a high quality service that provides protection to the highest standard and gives you the utmost in value for money info@pheoncloseprotection.com 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
CLASSIFIED Prometheus Medical Ltd T - (+44) 1568 613942 Prometheus deliver unrivalled bespoke emergency medical support in the form of specialist equipment, training, strategic advice and deployed 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 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 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 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
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 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
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 Self-Protection
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 P.O.BOX 25996, São Paulo, 05513970 , BRAZIL Tel: + 55 (11) 3452 4388 Providing the full range of security and investigation services throughout Latin America. BBA Member. www.detectivelacerda.cjb.net 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,
To place a classified lineage or box advertisement telephone our sales team on: +44 (0) 191 6450 865
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. Robert E. Jones Manager/CEO rejones@silver-star-protection.com 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 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
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