By Doc Rogers
As bodyguards we like to believe that most people are generally decent. However, on-duty everyone is suspect. Threats towards your client can occur in the blink of an eye. Criminal motivation is simple: to take from others and often doing harm in the process. Terrorist motivation is more complicated: to cause fear by violence and by causing chaos.
When on bodyguard assignments across the world or in your own city; these groups need to be identified and their activities avoided at all costs. None of these groups have concern for you or your clients’ well-being. Though far from comprehensive this article will assist you in minimizing the criminal and terrorist risks against you and your clients. The basics of bodyguard risk management include:
1. Who is the Enemy. Ask yourself who is the most likely enemy in your area of operation (criminal, terrorist, or both)?
2. Appraisal and Evaluation. Study and learn the enemy’s goals and capabilities and what is the most risky action they can utilize against your client.
3. Strategic Planning. From historical events study the enemy’s strategies and tactics employed. Such as type ambush attacks used, weapons employed, do attacks occurring on roads, tunnels and bridges, etc. (history often repeats itself).
4. Power and Lack of Power. Identify the enemy’s strengths and weaknesses from recent and/or past significant incidents. This will help you get the broad, overall view, the perspective on the potential risks involved and avoiding them for your clients’ protection.
5. Effective Methods Used. Know the enemy’s effectiveness when carrying out their activities. Are they well organized or disorganized? Do they try to inflict maximum harm on their victims or just take their possessions with minimum violence?
6. Ability to Move. Know the enemy’s mobility and movement; do they attack on foot, from automobiles, motorbikes or a combination, what are their normal escape route procedures?
Planning your bodyguard risk management strategies for client safety should be a careful and deliberate process. As bodyguards we must know our enemies, the risks these so-called enemies’s present to our clients. It’s pretty basic stuff; but having this knowledge has a definite bearing on the bodyguards’ capabilities and the course of action he or she will take for avoidance of such risks. Keep safe my friend and God speed.
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http://www.amazon.com/Corporate-Executive-Protection-Inspiring-Bodyguards/dp/1425135927
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Alonzo: Great view point, yes I see that lots of times also the “nothing’s gonna happen here anyway” attitude.
We make sure nothing happens from our tactics and procedures. Keep Safe and All the Best.
Good point Alonzo about keeping their guard up!
Basic stuff indeed, but as true as ever. The assessment has to be thorough and constant since threats evolve over time and differ with each assignment. So many of us seem to fall into complacency after a while that such reminders and checklists are a necessity.
One thing that always shocks me when coming from a security pro is “nothing’s gonna happen here anyway”… If some people are ever paid to keep their guard up, it’s us.