The Circuit Magazine - For Security & Protection Specialists

Global Incident Report – May 2019

Our Global Risk partners, Drum Cussac, provide in-depth analysis of global risks, here is your summary of the last 30 days. Including: 40 dead in armed attack in Mali, 13 killed in Hostage situation in Mexico, Multiple Islamic State Militants killed in Iraq and explosion on a bus in Sweden.
Protective Surveillance

With each client, the situation and threat level will vary, as will their requirements and appetite. When it comes to security there are a myriad of options available, often (and hopefully) with multiple, complementary components working together in harmony. One weapon in the personal protection armory is Protective Surveillance. This article attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of a service that has multiple benefits, quite a few limitations and several misrepresentations.
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.
How Surveillance Can Help Prevent Acid Attacks

The recent surge in acid attacks in London and surrounding areas has filled the headlines in recent weeks and months, understandably causing a great deal of concern for the general public and those responsible for their safety.
Utility of Force

Physical violence is a fact of life. Those of us involved in the security industry are in the front of the queue when it comes to people wishing to cause us harm. It is right that we are held to account and it is right that we are taught and encouraged to use de-escalation techniques, but at the moment we and those we are dealing with are in greater danger than need be because the training is inadequate.

So, You Want To Be A Celebrity Protection Agent?

Careful what you wish for… but wishing is not enough The celebrity protection business has allowed me the ability to … >>>

Minding The Media

Minding the Media Behind many of the news teams you see reporting from high risk environments can be found a … >>>

A Formula for Surviving School Shootings

SPEED + DISTANCE = SURVIVAL As I’m writing this, my child is in the midst of a lockdown drill at her … >>>

Vehicle Security Tips

How to Stay Off the 'X' Providing protective services requires a mind set that differs dramatically from the norm. This … >>>

Ignore Terrorism… And we loose…

Boston April 15, 2013 14:49 pm: Chechen brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev load two bombs into two separate … >>>

Mobile Security

The majority of attacks on mobile devices focused on human exploitation, as found in the Proofpoint Human Factor Report. … >>>

First aid for a psychological injury

If you work in an environment where people are likely to get physically injured, then it stands to reason you would want … >>>

Your Role in Hostile Terminations

At some point in our careers, those of us working in a protective capacity will likely receive a call to … >>>

High Conflict Personalities

In our roles as a security professional we will at times come across individuals with high conflict … >>>

Working With Children

As an Executive Protection Professional you might find yourself working with a variety of age groups, … >>>

Church Security – The Five R’s of Venue Protection

People go to church for all kinds of reasons but almost no one goes to find trouble. The ones that do go for that … >>>

Does Fitness Matter Anymore?

I want to start this edition of Keeping Your Edge by giving you a glimpse into how my non-operational days go, those are … >>>

Surviving university as a mature student

Going to (or going back to) university seems to be becoming increasingly popular and I have lost count of the number of … >>>

A Medics Experience

How the industry has changed and evolved The role of the medic working on the ground in hostile environments has … >>>

Zero Days, How Do You Stop a Threat You Can’t See Coming?

This past March, WikiLeaks dumped 8,761 CIA documents collectively known as “Vault 7.” These documents contained … >>>

The perils of looking after other people

Do you ever feel bogged down by other people’s demands? Or as though, no matter how much you help someone, it’s just not … >>>

Keeping Your Edge, Politics as Un-usual

Here’s a question: How do you express something special and meaningful that has occurred during your time in the … >>>

The art of being an independent learner

For anyone involved in higher education, especially postgraduate courses, the term “independent learner” is probably … >>>

Enhancing Your Safety and Survival at the Airport

When it comes to surviving sudden violence whether as the result of an active shooter or other civilian mass casualty … >>>

Church Security the New Frontier

Having been in church for over 50 years, the words church security sometimes seem like an oxymoron. Church was the place … >>>

For those of us in protective services our goal is always risk mitigation verses risk management. In fact in the history of the Secret Service you can probably count on one hand how many times they have had to engage in an armed encounter. While a firearm … >>>

Guide to Contracting & Subcontracting Security Services

As a training provider, we benchmark the term ‘post-graduate support.’ We take pride in this as it not only sets us apart from the pack but also provides a significant advantage to our graduates and their feedback is astounding which is what drives us to … >>>

How Surveillance Can Help Prevent Acid Attacks

The recent surge in acid attacks in London and surrounding areas has filled the headlines in recent weeks and months, understandably causing a great deal of concern for the general public and those responsible for their safety.

How To Choose The Best Camera For Surveillance

For those of us who use cameras in our professional work, particularly when conducting surveillance tasks you’re going to need something a bit more powerful than a compact. Choosing the best camera for surveillance can be mind-boggling.

Experiences Of Being A Hostage and Living With The Shia

An Interview with Peter Moore On May 29, 2007, IT consultant Peter Moore and four bodyguards, all British ex-servicemen, were kidnapped in Iraq. Mr Moore was working for an American IT company, Bearing Point, in Baghdad, setting up a data system at the … >>>

UNDERPINNING RISK & CRISIS MANAGEMENT

RISK AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT SERIES Often managers, decision makers and even planners tend to think with a focused view within their own areas of expertise and influence. A financial manager for instance will consider the business bottom line and ways … >>>

Remaining Professional: Dealing with High Conflict Personality

In our roles as a security professional we will at times come across individuals with high conflict personalities, especially if you are working in a team leader / management type role. To be successful it is essential that we learn to deal with each of these … >>>

This one’s for your family…

Recently I was talking with a friend who has a long career in close protection and I asked him for ideas for my Circuit magazine feature. Whilst he pondered this, his wife jumped straight in and asked for “something for the families!” We got talking about how … >>>

Maritime Security: The Race to the Bottom

When President George W. Bush famously stood on board the USS Abraham Lincoln declaring the end of major combat operations in Iraq in 2003, few people would of anticipated the private security boom that was about to unfold. The post-war reconstruction … >>>

Obtaining & Maintaining Non Residency and SED

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, working overseas in hostile environments is the one for you. There are many companies who are hiring … >>>

Exmed TCCC Course – Review

(Tactical Combat Casualty Care) With the security market becoming flooded with operators looking for work, it has become more important to both network and make your resume stand out from the hundreds of others received in recruiters’ inboxes. … >>>

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 … >>>

Featured Articles

Top Articles

Protection

Surveillance

Hostile

Training

Maritime

Medical