Reacting
Being in the security industry, knowing not only when but how to react are huge details.
Obviously the saying ‘pick your battles’ only partially rings true. While security has a set task to complete – maintaining safety of person, place, and things, they need to do so in a manner that best fits each case.
In some cases, lets call them emergencies – Security has a huge job to fulfill here and it will be done at almost any cost. If there is an immediate threat, it needs to be dealt with and neutralized swiftly. The quicker its handled, the lesser the chance for a disruption to whatever person, place, or thing. This is Securities main objective.
In other situations where the threat isn’t so severe, or perhaps isn’t a threat so much but more of a risk – The reaction will most likely differ.
This is where the biggest range in reactions will occur. In the security industry, having the ability to plan in advance is a huge detail that is often overlooked.
This is the step where you try to figure out all of your plan A’s – Z’s in the unlikely chance of an emergency. Its where you figure out all of your emergency access points. You find out where hazards are. You discover weaknesses that may need to be checked more often or possibly covered by a guard who’s primary focus is this one weak point.
Knowing the layout and where any possible issues may occur will be a significant help if or when trouble arises.
Now going back to the severity of the risk or the threat. When choosing how to react, doing so tactfully while still keeping the primary goal in mind is key.
If you’re able to handle something smoothly and discreetly – do so. The less interruption to everything else, the better. If you’re able to explain to your boss, or the event coordinator at the end of the night that you were able to handle things that they weren’t even aware of – thats a bonus.
Lets say something happens – not a breach of security, but someone going for their 15 seconds of fame or trying to access or see past a barrier that has been set up to restrict access.
Does this person have a weapon? Are they acting with harmful intent? Or are they just trying to get some quick face time with the local news station? These all require varying levels and degrees of reactions. While one constitutes an immediate reaction and swift neutralization, the last one is less serious and therefore the reaction while still necessary, may be less intense.
This is also where knowing your layout in advance comes into play. Knowing your trip hazards. If you’re working with TV, you’re almost guaranteed to be dealing with wires and cables all over the place. This needs to be kept in mind when you’re responding.
In this video here, you’ll see Security reacting to a fan waving a t-shirt behind the media after a game. Did the fan have malicious intent? Probably not. He just wanted to wave what appears to be his childs shirt on the news. Did Security overreact? Maybe slightly. Running to get rid of said harmless fan. Did security operate discreetly? Definitely not. In this instance, Security runs to try to get the fan to leave, trips (most likely over television cables) and crashes in a futile attempt to uphold the peace. When you watch the video, you’ll see the fan dart away before Security even gets near. Clearly the visual threat of security itself was enough for them to leave. Then, as security swan dives into the barrier, all thats left of a threat at this point, is his short lived youtube career.
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. She currently is on maternity leave and providing daily close protection for a baby and a toddler and spending time with her husband who is a Police Officer.
