V.I.P.A Tactical Training

On the 1st of September we saw in the news how a woman was dragged from her car in a John Lewis store car park and raped.
We spend a great deal of time in our vehicles and like any other form of security that provides us with personal protection, vehicle security has its part to play.

For those of you not familiar with close protection procedures let me say here that the most vulnerable time is when the Prinicipal (VIP) is getting in or out of their vehicle. What we call em-bussing and de-bussing. This is also true with regards to you.

While writing this article it started turning into a whole book by itself; with the amount of information I was putting down so I have redone it in point form, with a list of Do's and Don'ts in each of the headings. I have also kept it pretty basic for this short blog post.

Vehicle security is split into six separate headings. These headings, actions, listed below are what you do in a logical order every day, each time you go for a drive.

Approaching your vehicle 
Getting into your vehicle
Driving your vehicle
Parking your vehicle
Getting out of your vehicle
Leaving your vehicle

Approaching Your Vehicle
Do:
Have your keys in your hand as you approach.
Check around and inside your vehicle before you get in and at least 2-3 cars on each side and across from you in multi story car parks.
Have a mini torch on your car key ring.
Unlock your car only when you know it is safe to do so and only when you are standing next to it.
Have a cut off line.
Check for tampering of your vehicle if you are directly targeted.
Check around after each separate event. 

Don't:
Unlock your vehicle from a distance.
Approach your vehicle if you suspect anything/anyone suspicious is nearby.
Approach the vehicle if you cannot find your keys. Find them first then approach.
Approach your vehicle while your are distracted, talking on your mobile, earphones in etc.

Getting In Your Vehicle
Do:
Get in to your vehicle in the correct way.
Leave any bags on the ground by the boot before you get any kids in the vehicle.
Get any kids into the vehicle before any adults.
Close any doors immediately after use.
Lock all doors immediately on getting into your vehicle.
Start engine immediately.
Drive off immediately.

Don't:
Leave any doors open at any time when not in use.
Leave your keys in the ignition if you have to get out of the car for any reason. 
Take time to adjust any mirrors, seats etc.
Ladies! Don't fix your makeup.
Wind your windows down.
Open doors or windows if someone approaches and speaks to you.
If in any doubt drive off and then put your seat belt on.

Driving Your Vehicle
Do:
Leave enough space so you can see the tyres of the vehicle in front of you if have to stop.
Drive with both hands in the correct position on the steering wheel.
Check parked cars/pedestrians when at vulnerable points.
Check vehicles behind you on pulling off.
Use vehicle hands free system for your mobile phone.
If using a manual system, leave the vehicle in first gear while at vulnerable points.
If you are in a country where you are allowed to carry firearms, make sure it is easily accessible while in the driving seat.

Don't :
Have your windows wound down.
Have your music playing too loudly.
Have valuables on show.
Bumper to bumper in a traffic jam.

Parking Your Vehicle
Do:
Park in well lit areas if at all possible.
Reverse into the parking area/drive way/garage so you are facing the way you will drive.
Stop and check the area from inside the vehicle before parking.
Leave enough room to access the boot and check behind the vehicle on your return.
If parking next to a curb, leave around 1ft from the curb free.

Don't:
Park face into a parking area.
Park in too tight a space. Leave enough room to easily get in/out and around your vehicle.
Park where you can easily be blocked in. By accident or on purpose.
Have favourite parking spots at places you frequently visit.
Turn the engine off until you know it is safe to do so.

Getting out of your vehicle
Do:
Get out of your vehicle the correct way, the same as you got in.
Adults get out first then any bags and then kids last.
Leave your headlights on until the last minute in dark areas, torch on before headlights off.
Look around the immediate area before you get out.

Don't:
Get out of the vehicle until you think it is safe to do so.
All get out at the same time.
Get out in dark areas without turning your torch on first.
Don't let kids open their vehicle doors before you get out.

Leaving Your Vehicle
Do:
Lock your vehicle as soon as you are ready to walk away from it.
Keep your keys in your hand as you walk away from your vehicle
Have a cut off line.
Keep checking the area during and after each event.

Don't:
Lock your vehicle from a distance.
Use your phone or any other distraction until you are away for your vehicle.
Leave valuables that can be easily seen.
Leave paperwork with names and address on it that can be easily seen.
Walk away from your vehicle without checking all doors are closed first.

This is just a basic list of do's and don'ts, there are many different scenarios where you might do things differently and in certain environments you may not do them at all even though like the rest of your personal security procedures; doing them when you don't have to instills a habit forming mentality.

I have also not mentioned any tactics that you can employ for one parent, two parents, nanny, friends and for different vehicle types and different locations. This is better instructed on a course.

Vehicle security is important, are you getting it right?

Feel free to e-mail me with any questions or if you would like any advice.

Stay Dangerous

Rock

As we have seen over the last couple of weeks, the train is once again the latest mode of transport to suffer a terrorist attack. 

While in the past; trains have been the focus if terrorist attacks, these have been through the use of bombs in the forms of suicide bombers and I.E.Ds set of by timers or remotely detonated, canisters releasing sarin gas or derailment by digging up lines, or altering junction points and have been shot at from long distance.

This latest attack though on the Amsterdam to Paris train follows the pattern of attacks being undertaken in a more shocking and hard hitting way, close up and personal.

Armed with an AK with nine magazines, a pistol and a knife, this terrorist was out to commit mass murder in the name of Jihad.

I travel weekly on intercity trains and frequently on international trains and I can't remember the last time I actually saw a cop on a train patrolling through the carriages. So here's the thing, if another terrorist attack happens on your train or you or someone else is being attacked by a criminal then you are on your own. There were 550 passengers on the Dutch train and only 4 responded.

Those guys did a fantastic job but would they have been as successful if the terrorist did not have a stoppage on his weapon? They still suffered injuries tackling him and the French President Francios Hollande said "It ultimately depends on the individual responsibility of men and women capable of doing the right thing under the circumstances". That means YOU!

Are you capable?

Could you respond?

While a terrorist attack is at the top end of the threat spectrum, take a look at these UK stats for 2014-2015 regarding attacks on trains:
1,399 sexual attacks
9,149 violent attacks

We've all travelled on trains and there is nothing much to differentiate between them worldwide. If you have to defend yourself it is going to be difficult, you are in effect defending yourself in a confined area, what we call an adverse situation. Lots of seats, narrow central Isle, rocking motion of the train, possible baggage and people blocking the isles etc.

                       Close quarter combat in a carriage like this? Its going to be hard!

The attack may happen while you are the only one in the carriage making you the first target to be sighted or it may be a packed carriage with passengers having to stand and unless they are like you 'A Warrior' they are either going to freeze or run in panic, so it is going to be difficult to get to the attacker.

Either way in a situation like this when you are confined and there is no where to escape to, you really don't have any other choice other than engaging as fast and as aggressively as possible.

The recent train attack was conducted by a poorly trained terrorist, consider the same attack carried out by 2-3 well trained, motivated terrorist.

There are a number of things to consider the next time you are taking a train journey, here are some of them:

Which carriage should you choose?
Which seat in that carriage should you choose?
What should you do when you first get on board and periodically if on a long journey?
Where is the emergency stop handle?
Where is the hammer to smash windows?
Where is the nearest intercom to speak with the guard?
How do you open the exit doors if the train has stopped?
Where is the guard situated?

Unlike travelling on an aeroplane where safety features are pointed out to you, this; as you will be aware does not happen on trains so you will have to find out the information for yourself.

There is a lot more to consider from the personal security to the combat side of things, your safety and security relies on you being prepared.

Are you prepared?
Have you considered what you would do if your wife and kids were with you?
Have you considered how you might restrain and secure someone if required?
Have you thought about how you may have to treat casualties?

If it is true that the train staff locked themselves into their office during the attack, you may have to take charge of the situation, how would you get others to help, should you get others to help?

A last tip for security professionals who travel. The first chance I get I introduce myself to any guards or flight attendants if I am on a plane. I tell them who I am and give them my business card and tell them that if they have a situation then they can call on my help.

Want to learn more?

Stay Dangerous

Rock