Like Lambs to the Slaughter!

Kia Ora,

Well security at the Commonwealth Games have hit the headlines again with an Australian 'Expert' saying there is a huge chance of terrorist attacks outside the venues.

The Australian Olympic Committee has followed its New Zealand counterpart & hit out at him. Dismissing his claims & basically saying it is under control.

So was he on the button?

Well what he has forecast is a high likelyhood but his prediction shows that he is most likely out of step with what has been happening.

On the other hand the consultant I spoke of a few blogs ago seemed to be up with the methods that terrorists have been using in the last few years. His focus was more on the games village to be used by the atheletes & I could visualize what he was talking about quite easily from experience. Whats more the TV images so far have backed up what he was saying.
The Mind of the Terrorist: The Psychology of Terrorism from the IRA to al-Qaeda
Meanwhile what of the 'Expert'?

His predicitons are more in line with what would happen in conjunction of an attack on a venue or the games village. That or, as was set up to happen when the embassy next to our villa in Baghdad was targeted by a suicide bomber, a series of IED's aimed at the emergency services responding to the initial incident. On that occassion those IED's failed to detonate.
Origins of Terrorism: Psychologies, Ideologies, Theologies, States of Mind
Meanwhile the authorities continue to ignore Private security consultants whom might just know a lot more than the government lacky's.

That is not to say the games shouldn't go ahead, but there maybe needs to be a look at using the likes of PSD companies in conjunction with the authorities. In this situation experience is everything. Otherwise it really is like leading lambs to slaughter.

http://foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

So how should a Security Guard handle a suspected Bomb?

Kia Ora,

Many in NZ ask why does a Security Guard need to know what to do if told there might be or is a bomb nearby?

Well first they will often be first point of call & also if they don't  know it is possible to tie up all the other emergency services by overwhelming the system.

Experience shows that having people properly trained  can immediately cut out most calls. It doesn't mean being Rambo, just carrying out some commonsense checks that will cut down the work of the emergency services & will likely save lives.

When dealing with a bomb threat real or potential there are the four C's to follow.

First is Confirm: That can be anything from  confirming it is suspicous enough to call in the authorities to something actually going bang.

Next we have Clear: That just doesn't mean the area of the device, but area where responding services will set up, & choice of areas where people will be moved too.

Not as, in at least one major site & one government department here, where clearance drill is hit the fire alarm (many are wireless & bombs are set to often go off on frequencies) or just one normal evacuation place,same as for their fire drill.

It is a common tactic of terrorists to call in a false bomb alert or even fire drill to see what reaction is then set one in place responders will head or evacuees will gather.



The next C is Cordon:  Yes the police will put a cordon in but someone has to take up a cordon at least until they arrive in force & even assist in the manpower they require on their cordon. There maybe a requirement for an inner & outer cordon or several
 cordons for different reasons.

The last C is Control: That is not just control of the people being evacuated, but control of the incident prior, during & after an incident & who is in control at what stage.

As one British consultant said, when visiting NZ & asking some people in the NZ security industry, they didn't even know what their role was, little lone what to do in the event of a bomb incident.

At best at present most are likely to just get them out & then leave people to their own devices.

An IED is just a booby trap with explosives added for all intent purposes.

On my booby trap course the definition of a booby trap was given roughly as this "a cunning contrivance to catch out the unwary or those committing a 'safe' act."

With out the right mindset then every act taken in the NZ security industry is a safe act.

It is not being about living in constant fear but being aware & preparing properly.

              http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz