Securitys sixth sense

Breaches in corporate security can be extremely costly. Not only do they damage a company financially, but they can also weaken that organisation’s profile and more significantly put lives at risk.

In today’s world, it’s imperative that in-house security policies are carried out smartly and efficiently. It’s also essential that the standards reached in training are maintained within the day-to-day working environment.

Ultimately, there is one particularly important principle that needs to be addressed if the Security Department wishes to operate effectively. This principle is ‘awareness’, and it can prevent many glitches from arising within the corporate security machine.

There are several key factors that not only justify the need for in-house security, but also help to explain why awareness is so useful. First, there are the various forms of crime-related activity that security staff must detect. These criminal actions can range from theft and break-ins to more organised forms of corporate crime. Of course, intrusions into commercial buildings may be attempted for a whole host of reasons. It’s not only about ‘intent to steal’. Furthermore, if you take into account the volatile global framework within which companies now operate, it’s almost inevitable that other types of risk will evolve.

A pair of vigilant eyes

The truth is that we are still living in the murky mushroom cloud of uncertainty that has arisen post-9/11. In the current era, the threat from terrorism can never be discounted. Even though the past 12 months has been free from major terrorist attacks in the UK, if the security industry closes its collective eyes to this ongoing problem then the next time something happens it will be too late. The incident will have occurred.

Security staff may not be able to stop attempts at illegal intrusion from occurring, but with a degree of situational awareness and a pair of vigilant eyes, many serious breaches could be prevented at the front door.

When clients or visitors arrive at your building, they’ll create in their own mind a good many first impressions. Keen to do business, clients will inevitably absorb as much information as they can about your company’s operation. On arrival, they may look for signs that convey the host organisation’s reliability, for example. In some cases, perhaps they’ll be searching for possible warning signals that urge them to begin discussions with caution. These observations may occur on a subconscious level, or may be very purposeful.

It’s not always clear as to what motivates the visiting client. There is always the possibility that any member of the security staff situated front of house in the reception area will leave a lasting impression. That being the case, if those operatives convey a professional outlook and a certain kind of demeanour, this might just reflect positively on the company as a whole. However, this statement must be accompanied by a few words of caution.

There is a very fine line between appearing to be aware and looking positively hostile or seeming aggressively vigilant. Obviously, the latter will not put clients at ease, nor will it make them feel very welcome. Here, then, we already see one type of awareness that security staff must possess awareness of company image. Operatives must be aware that they are not always viewed as the behind-the-scenes component of an organisation.

Another reason why an aware demeanour is important is because it conveys to visitors that it takes its security responsibilities and role very seriously indeed. It also makes the company’s employees realise that security is taken seriously. An aware member of the security staff is likely to generate more respect among fellow employees than the individual who sits at their post with a facial expression suggesting that they’re eager for the shift to end. Primarily, awareness is an important detection tool that will prevent breaches. It can also ensure that company activity is carried out without any other unnecessary disturbances.

Different types of awareness

As many practitioners working in the security profession will acknowledge, awareness in its crudest form is focused on detecting potential risks, threats and direct attempts at intrusion. Of course, in-house security protocol requires that standard operating procedures are carefully applied when addressing visitors and managing suspicious situations. Nonetheless, it is basic awareness that will often help staff to sense if something doesn’t feel right or if a problem is brewing and act accordingly.

Usually, when I conduct specific training courses on this subject, I refer to this type of awareness as external awareness. This is our built-in ‘radar’ mechanism, and it allows us to absorb information via the main senses. Most people can accept the fact that it’s the visual sense that provides the bulk of the information we absorb from our surroundings. That said, it’s important security personnel recognise just how much information can be gleaned from the other senses.

Our senses of hearing and smell, for instance, also offer valuable information. With external awareness, we can sense what is happening on our immediate surroundings or within areas that are just beyond our personal field of vision. This type of awareness also helps us to process the information, intentions and signals conveyed by the people in our immediate vicinity.

Then there’s distant awareness. This relates to events and/or actions that have yet to happen, or that might happen at some point in the future. This is when members of the security staff collect information that might influence their overall mode of operation. For example, the Security Department of a City-based company may receive a bulletin informing that, in the next few days, there may be some organised protests or marches occurring in close proximity to their building. Perhaps these demonstrations might lead to civil unrest. Having gleaned this information, vulnerabilities may be assessed and schedules changed in preparation for any disturbance.

Distant awareness is very important here. It allows precautions to be taken. It’s something that close protection professionals and those involved in risk assessment usually apply very quickly and effectively. This is a type of awareness requiring a more analytical approach, and is a technique that in-house Security Departments might use on many different levels. It can help staff to learn about new crime trends and the current tactics being deployed by would-be intruders.

There is a very fine line between appearing to be aware and looking positively hostile or seeming aggressively vigilant. Obviously, the latter will not put clients at ease, nor will it make them feel very welcome. Here, then, we already see one type of awareness that security staff must possess – awareness of company image

Staff may also familiarise themselves with incidents that have recently occurred at other buildings and learn a lesson or two.

Returning to the human factor

Many security bodies in the UK provide staff particularly at management level with some fairly in-depth risk assessment training. This invariably involves the type of distance awareness instruction previously mentioned. It would seem that the industry appreciates the importance of learning about new threats and being aware of current events. That being the case, rather than spend time discussing familiar terrain, I would ask you to focus again on external awareness.

Today, the heavy emphasis on technology and surveillance equipment has required staff to develop their technical aptitude. With the use of CCTV, electronic entry cards, computer logs and various detection systems, it would appear to the lay observer that security is moving away from human intervention.

We would be foolish to disregard the value of security technology, but we must always remember that behind every system is a human being. The effectiveness of most if not all security systems remains dependent on the person (or persons) using or managing the equipment. It is also worth remembering that there are some forms of useful information in the security field that can only be appreciated and registered by the eyes and ears! Staff should never underestimate the power of gut feelings and reactions. Sometimes, suspicious activity will only be picked up due to a member of the team’s awareness about the company, its employees and way of working.

How to enhance awareness

In helping individuals to enhance both standard and subtle forms of awareness, I will normally introduce a series of core principles relating to the physical human form and psyche. This type of training may be applied in a very practical manner, and can also be used to alleviate stress and improve resourcefulness.

Here, it’s worth mentioning one principle that UK operatives might find very useful, namely internal awareness. When an in-house security team begins its shift, it will be energised and ready for the day or night ahead. External awareness begins at a high level but, as time passes, fatigue might set in and levels of awareness can fall. Monotony will also be a drain on awareness levels. Members of staff need to be aware of how their mind and body can jeopardise concentration levels.

The feeling of monotony is quite natural when working in what can be a static environment. Even when rest breaks are due, or the security operative is able to stretch their legs for a time, monotony can still penetrate the mind. Even more important, it can cause the body to work less efficiently. Breathing may become sluggish, and the individual might begin to feel lethargic. That will do little to help awareness levels.

To counter such feelings, there are two key physical factors that help to maintain awareness skills (or perhaps reactivate them). The first involves our breathing mechanism. With the realisation that the body is tiring, the individual should pay attention to their breathing. Has it become ‘stagnant’?

Another factor that weakens awareness is body positioning. Bad posture can actually make the respiratory system less efficient, while also dampening the connection between an individual and their surroundings.

Taking control of stress

One particularly important subject is that of stress control. Of course, it’s not just work-related stress that might distract a member of the security staff, so they should be aware of how the mind can sometimes try to dwell on their private life and non-work related matters at inappropriate moments.

There are many ways in which awareness levels might be maintained. Being totally cognisant of the variables that weaken awareness is every bit as important.

From the security manager’s perspective, it’s also imperative that all security operatives are made aware of the significance and value of their role at every possible opportunity. This may serve to inspire or reignite those vigilant eyes front of house.

Aran Dharmeratnam BA (Hons) is a self-defence consultant specialising in awareness training and self-protection