Dealing with the new threat

Britain is no stranger to terrorist activity. Many of Security Management Today’s readers were no doubt involved in projects designed to thwart the actions of groups including the IRA back in the 1970s and 1980s. However, it must be recognised by one and all that the threat posed by today’s terrorist represents an entirely different ball game.

Long gone are the days when a bomb was placed in a litter bin and a warning issued to evacuate. The ‘new style’ terrorism often involves suicide bombers, as was the case in London on 7/7. No warnings are given. The terrorists have no regard for their own lives, never mind those of their innocent victims.

Inevitably this makes our job much harder. Increasingly, in our role as security professionals, clients are asking us to ensure that every possible step has been taken to prevent a suicide bombing or terrorist attack on their premises. If we’re brutally honest, though, how many of us have altered our security practices to reflect the mindset of today’s terrorist?

In my role as an advisor to the authorities, I have recently seen a good many examples of inadequate security measures that have been put in place by security companies on behalf of their clients. A common example of this is where the security contractor has continued to rely on CCTV surveillance, and has only taken very simple steps to improve security (such as the removal of litter bins from public areas).

The need for vigilance

What, then, should be the advice for our customers? Two key steps in particular can substantially reduce the likelihood of an attack… Although it may sound obvious, the first is to ensure that security officers and your customers’ members of staff remain increasingly vigilant about what is happening in their working areas and in those locations immediately surrounding the site.

Previous experience has shown that, prior to a terrorist attack, some form of covert reconnaissance will be undertaken. This may be implemented from vehicles or on foot by people recording and documenting details concerning a location. In short, we need to be able to identify anyone acting suspiciously.

One or two isolated incidents may not be deemed suspicious, but when repeated or linked to similar incidents such activity should be reported to your local police force or, alternatively, you could call the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789321.

We have a list of more than 15 examples of suspicious behaviour which range from significant interest being taken in the outside of a building, parking areas, delivery gates and other entrances through to attempts to disguise someone’s identity by wearing a motorcycle helmet or hood.

By ensuring that your officers have a strong physical presence, and that they actively meet and greet visitors to any site, you will go a long way towards deterring a terrorist organisation from picking one of your clients as the venue for its next attack

Our list is by no means exhaustive, and at Securiplan we encourage our security operatives to report any incident they think is suspicious at any time of the day or night. By remaining vigilant in this way, you can ensure that customers’ premises are viewed as an environment wherein any such actions will be recognised and dealt with both quickly and effectively. This will go a long way towards preventing an attack.

Security and prominence

The second essential measure to implement – and which relates directly to the different mindset of the terrorist – is to change the public profile of the security officers who patrol client premises and grounds. It is no longer appropriate to deploy the type of discreet, almost invisible security presence that has become popular in recent years. Our Terrorist Reconnaissance Team assesses every location to establish whether the bomber is likely to be stopped, how likely it is that they will be caught and whether or not he or she could be distracted from their ‘mission’.

By ensuring that your officers have a strong physical presence, and that they actively meet and greet visitors to any site, you will go a long way towards deterring a terrorist organisation from picking one of your clients as the venue for its next attack. The last thing a potential terrorist wants to see is security officers that will question people, and then engage in conversation. Rather, terrorist cells want the suicide bomber to be able to enter a venue unhindered and uninterrupted such that they can remain fully focused on the task at hand.

Education… and training

Finally, there is one very important element which, as security professionals, we all have a duty to focus on – the need to seek out first class training and glean more information on the mindset of today’s terrorists. It is only by doing so that we can truly begin to understand the way in which they operate.

The differences between a terrorist in 2005 and those of yesterday are truly frightening. A suicide bomber could be a 35-year-old woman who believes her life will be worth more if she commits a suicide attack and knows her family will be honoured as the result of her actions. Families are sometimes so committed to their cause that they groom young children to be suicide bombers. I recently saw a video of a 12-year-old girl saying that, when she grew up, she was going to be exactly that.

Clearly, things have changed. As security providers, we have a duty to ensure that we are aware of all the measures that should be taken so we can provide best advice and maximum security for our customers.