Not because there is less work out there, in fact, the opposite is probably true. With global threat levels at an all-time high, there is more work in the security industry now than there ever has been and the security industry is booming, but it’s harder to find work because there are now thousands more so-called ‘qualified’ CPOs chasing after every position. It is a fact that most licensed operators have never actually done a day’s close protection work in their lives. At the time of writing this article, there are over 14,000 valid, UK, CP licences. Yes, over fourteen thousand people in the UK currently have a license to operate as a Close Protection Officer.
Counter-Ambush Tactics for Security Professionals – Part 1
By far the best method to accomplish this goal is to adopt a predictive, preventative strategy for protecting clients based on the tenets of Detect, Deter, and Defend. To effectively employ these tenets, we need some very specific soft and hard skills. In the protective operations world, the “soft” skills are sometimes referred to as Protective Intelligence (PI) while in other security disciplines they are referred to as situational and tactical awareness skills. If we are unable to prevent or avoid an attack, we need to have some expertise in specific “hard” skills such as use of firearms and security driving so that we can survive an ambush.
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 Rise in the Use of CCTV in Court Proceedings
An estimated 5.9 million CCTV cameras were in operation throughout the UK in 2016, making the British public one of the most surveilled in the world. Only Beijing has more CCTV cameras than London, where the average person will be recorded on camera 300 times in one day.
Anti-Surveillance Measures When Mobile
Anti-surveillance is defined as the actions that a person would take or do, in order to detect if surveillance is present. The person is aiming to draw the surveillance in by generating two things; multiple sightings and unnatural behaviour. As with our foot anti-surveillance drills, when mobile in a vehicle, these drills can also be covert and subtle or overt where it obvious to the followers what you are doing.
7 Tips to Improve Surveillance Results
Over the course of my career (17+ years), I have heard my fair share of complaints from potential clients indicating that their current surveillance/investigative partner was not achieving the desired results with the budgets provided. The activities and behaviors of people are constantly changing and that forces us as investigators to change our approach and evaluate our practices in order to achieve optimal results.
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.
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.
Security Systems For Businesses
Whatever the size of the business, whether it is small or large, retail or commercial, it is guaranteed to have a range of valuable assets like computer systems, data and other expensive items that are at risk of theft.
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.
Choosing Camera Lenses for Surveillance
Choosing Camera Lenses for Surveillance is equally, if not more, important than choosing the camera body. Two of the most important considerations are the focal length and the speed.
Leaders – A peek behind the curtain of the Close Protection Industry.
What is the state of our industry? Where are we headed? What are the emerging trends? Take a peek behind the curtain of the Close Protection Industry.
The Placement Of Residential Security Systems
Placing up security cameras can be a legal battlefield if you’re proven to be violating the law. Here are the things you need to know legally when considering the placement of residential security systems around a property
Vehicle Security Tips
When considering the threat to a principal, the most significant are likely to occur while in transit. Additionally, the majority of incidents on protected individuals occur in, or within close proximity to, their vehicle. Therefore, vehicle security is paramount and should be heavily reflected in your training hours, research and protective intelligence.
Taking A Domestic Client Abroad
8 Things to Remember As the designated protection you may have to create a plan for taking a domestic client abroad. If so, here are 8 things to consider before you set off. 1.The Advance: In some third world countries, the advance can be more challenging to effectively execute; that said, never go on […]
Surveillance Detection For Countering Terrorism
The ability to detect suspicious activity early in the planning phase is the primary means of defeating a terrorist attack. Thus, surveillance detection (SD) has become critical to successful intelligence collection, counter terrorism and security operations. By applying effective surveillance detection to security and counter terror operations we can effectively detect and prevent terrorist attacks in the planning phases, reduce the number of attacks and allow for safer operations in high risk environments.
Suited for Duty
When it comes to a wardrobe suited for duty, rule number one is, you don’t buy it, you acquire it over time. In most cases, unless you have unlimited resources this will be a slow build for most agents. To help you in developing a work-ready wardrobe I have put together a list of important considerations to help you get the essentials for good fit and function.
Body-worn cameras gain global appeal
16 June 2016: Police forces from LA and London to Moscow and Sydney are accelerating the use of body-worn cameras with over 1 million in use by 2021, says a new Beecham Research report published this week. At the same time, the report points to new applications of body-worn cameras including use by prison […]
Hostile Environment Surveillance Process
Have you ever had the feeling that something was wrong before you’ve actually spotted a potential threat? It’s all down to your brain’s “hostile environment surveillance process” – made up of your inbuilt surveillance system that is constantly monitoring your environment in order to maintain your safety and wellbeing.
Hostile Environment Surveillance Operations
A look at Hostile Environment Surveillance Operations As a result of the privatization of Iraq in 2003 and the dramatic growth of private security operations in politically unstable and hostile environments, close protection professionals are finding themselves working in increasingly diverse environments that require highly specialized skills and training. One of those specializations […]