Circuit Magazine

For Security & Protection Specialists

  • Industry News At A Glance March 2020

    We cast our eye over the main stories impacting the security industry. Here’s what’s appeared on the radar since the last issue.

    Industry News At A Glance March 2020

  • Global Risk RoundUp – March 2020

    About Drum Cussac, a GardaWorld company
    Because we put your people first, we’ve built cutting-edge risk and security which keeps up with the pace of change. The only risk and security platform to feature monthly updates, GlobalRiskManager is purpose built to be future-proof and can seamlessly integrate with your own systems. This, combined with over 20 years’ of industry knowledge and a team of in-house security experts, provides you with a comprehensive end-to-end risk and security solution – done your way.

    Global Risk RoundUp – March 2020

  • What to Do about School Shootings?

    As security professionals, we must not allow ourselves to be caught up in either politics or hysteria. Our approach must reflect what we have been trained to do: dispassionately apply sound security principles to this security threat.

    After every such event, the blame begins. Some blame the National Rifle Association (NRA), gun owners in general, and Donald Trump in particular, and call for banning firearms, or at least banning AR-15-type rifles.  Others blame video games, violent movies, the culture, or the Kardashians.  And the political games continue.

    What to Do about School Shootings?

  • The Gray Man Concept. Are You Getting it Wrong?

    We now see companies capitalizing on this idea, by making different lines of equipment and bags that tout themselves as being “covert” or “discrete”. I am of the belief that if you are wearing clothing that advertises itself as either of these things, it’s anything but.

    Truly experienced law enforcement, military and security professionals can spot each other a mile away. Often the giveaways are in the clothing and personal accessories that we choose. Watches, shoes and belts are accessories that are often over looked by those attempting to be “Gray”. Wearing Soloman’s or Merrel’s, a Suunto/Garmin/Pathfinder watch and an Ares Gear/511, or another tactical belt is not being gray. Each of those accessories, gives up information about you, that you say you are trying to conceal.

    The Gray Man Concept. Are You Getting it Wrong?

  • The Mentality of the Modern Protector

    Over 30 years ago, when I left a failing white-Collar industry in a failing economy in Texas, I did what many in my predicament did. I entered the contract security industry at near minimum wage. What I did that many others did not, was survive in the industry long enough to out earn annually what I was earning in my previous profession.

    The Mentality of the Modern Protector

Featured Articles

Readiness and Commitment

Are you prepared to answer that call?   Very early in our training and careers, we are taught that in the … >>>

Show Time

YouTube, CNN, TMZ, Entertainment Tonight and other blogs and television magazines are full of countless examples of … >>>

TASK, THREAT, ENVIRONMENT

THE MINDSET OF A PROTECTIVE SERVICES PROFESSIONAL For a number of reasons, the most difficult thing to instil in a … >>>

Suited for Duty

When it comes to a wardrobe fit for duty rule number one, you don’t buy it, you acquire it over time.  In most cases, … >>>

Top Articles

Head on a Swivel

Industry Catch Phrase or Industry Standard? From the time we are indoctrinated into this Industry, we hear the phrase … >>>

Industry News January 2020

2 guards with Juice WRLD charged with gun violations Two security guards for Juice WRLD face misdemeanor gun charges … >>>

Protection

Vehicle Dynamics Institute COURSE REVIEW

A few months ago, I had the honor of being awarded a scholarship to Tony Scotti’s Vehicle Dynamics Institute (TSVDI) through their “VDI Gives Back Program”. The program was designed to give 12 security practitioners a chance to attend the Institute and … >>>

Mission Creep

Mission Creep   Mission creep [definition]:  Gradual increase in scope: a tendency of military operations in foreign countries to increase gradually in scope and demand further commitment of personnel and resources as the situation develops. We can all … >>>

More Articles About Protection

Surveillance

Mystery Shopper – Circuit Q&A

Mystery Shopper – Circuit Q&A Nick McCarthy interviews Linda  Eastwood. Linda, we became ‘friends’ recently via an online networking portal, exchanged a few messages and then met up at a networking meeting. I was very impressed by your story and your success and thought that Circuit Magazine readers would enjoy your story and the somewhat […]

Countering snipers Part 1

One thing I find amusing and annoying is that whenever there is a terrorist attack with an attacker using a long gun the media tends to immediately label the shooter as a sniper. There is a very big difference between a trained sniper and some idiot with a rifle and just because someone served in the military to some extent it does not make them a sniper. But, with modern weapons and a little knowledge the wannabe jihadist or anarchist are still a serious threat.

More Articles on Surveillance

Hostile

International Bodyguards and Working Armed

I am always being asked about which guns are best for close protection details and personal defense etc… My answer is whatever you have access to and what hopefully goes bang when you pull the trigger!! In the U.S. people are spoilt as far as firearms are … >>>

Driving in Hostile Areas

January 2013 and I am sitting in the back of a Toyota Prada on the outskirts of ill-famed Cité Soleil in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which is regarded as one of the poorest and most dangerous slums in the Western Hemisphere. My Haitian operatives are doing … >>>

More Articles on Hostile Matters

Training

Myth Busting Education

    The longer I work in the education sector, the more weird fallacies I hear. As I teach forensic psychology and criminology, it is perhaps not surprising that I shatter the illusions of students about crime and policing on a regular basis (e.g. … >>>

A Medics Experience

How the industry has changed and evolved The role of the medic working on the ground in hostile environments has evolved enormously over the last 15 years.  For the purpose of this article I will use my experiences in Iraq as this is where I am at … >>>

More Articles On Training

Maritime

Building Global Cyber Maritime Defence Standards

  “The announcement yesterday that shipbroker Clarksons confirmed its computer systems were breached in a major cyber-security attack is a further indication how the global maritime industry is very much in the cross-hairs of the cybercriminal. The … >>>

Obtaining & Maintaining Non Residency and SED

Obtaining & Maintaining Non Residency and SED (Seafarers Earning Deductions)   New to the industry, got a contract working overseas and don’t know where to start?   NON RESIDENCY You may have decided that a land-based career overseas is the … >>>

More Articles on Maritime Matters

Medical

Relax

Relax I have been participating in quite a few discussions lately about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and the topic has come up in so many different circles that I thought that I should write a brief piece on it.  I have been discussing this with … >>>

Hypothermia

  You are on a ski trip with a VIP, a 45 year old male, when he falls and breaks his leg. He is unable to walk, let alone ski. He is diabetic and not particularly fit. You have been skiing in the backcountry all day and are tired and hungry. The … >>>

More Articles on Medical Matters