How Far Can You – Should You Go
Confrontation.
Its something that very few people like to deal with it.
The word itself can turn people on their heels.
Most people avoid it at all costs – but in the security industry, its a routine part of the job.
In security – you don’t just avoid security, you face it head first.
You train and you prepare.
There are many different ways to deal with it.
First and foremost, the first priority is to try and avoid any physical confrontation at any cost.
Society can be funny these days and people can turn at the drop of a hat. The second you so much as touch someone – in any way shape or form – it is now grounds for assault.
Whether you had good intentions, no intentions, or it was purely accidental. Touch these days can be taken a variety of ways on a variety of levels and it can leave people in a scary situation.
A mere touch on the shoulder could have you embroiled in legal battles that will make your head spin.
While these types of situations are an extreme and typically – and ideally, unlikely to occur, its something worth keeping in the back of your mind at all times.
Being aware of the methods involved in non physical confrontation is something will never set you back – only move you forward.
The more training you have in regards to confrontation, the more prepared you will be in all situations.
At the same time, you can’t expect to react without physical force in all situations.
There is a time and a place for everything.
If you are under physical attack and being pushed, words will sometimes only get you so far.
Sometimes depending on if people are under the influence of drugs, alcohol or anything else that could be potentially mind altering – reactions and actions are going to widely vary – and could quickly evolve.
If physical contact does become your next best option, ensuring you’re never taking it too far is your next priority.
Keeping touch to a minimum is job number one. Making sure that you are staying within your grounds and legal means is going to make the confrontation for starters, be over as quickly as possible and secondly, cause you the least amount of headaches when its all over.
Keeping our opinions, and initial sometimes gut reactions, in check are important.
We all have our vices, and thoughts. Sometimes our opinions and beliefs are driven by upbringing, motivation, or religion.
Whatever we think is right, or wrong – in that moment, it doesn’t matter.
All that matters, is ensuring those around us are safe. That we are safe. That the ones potentially inflicting damage – are neutralized as safely, calmly, and with the least amount of physical confrontation as possible.
If we can diffuse a situation with words, then this will almost always be the best way to handle things.
If a reassuring hand on a shoulder is what provides that extra step – then by a quick evaluation of the scenario is what will help fuel this decision.
Taking it beyond that is all situation based.
We need to ensure that we are following everything we know and everything we’ve practiced to make sure safety is priority.
In security, we don’t always get to pick our battles.
But how we handle them is what is important.
Guest Blogger Rayna Davies
Rayna Davies is a graduate and practitioner of Business Management. She has developed an expertise in blogging, covering subjects like travel, world events and security. Having grown up with a father who has developed an expertise in Physical Security and Executive Protection in the RCMP and two major corporations, she has personally observed and 
experienced many security details. These experiences have included personally meeting HM Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Jean Chretien and many celebrities. She presently assists Sentinel Security in Executive Protection workshops and guest blogging and also assists Gloprosec Preventative Services in Intelligence gathering and Business Administration. Her passions include World travel, having visited every continent.
