- On the Circuit
- Posts
- Complex Dilemmas and Avoiding The Last Resort
Complex Dilemmas and Avoiding The Last Resort
Every week On the Circuit scours the world of security and brings you all the relevant information you need – all in one place. And this week there’s been a lot of action on the world stage. including the complex dilemma that faces the West in sanctioning Russia. But are there other options?
And with global hostility on the rise, read why it would be madness to go without kidnap and ransom insurance. But why it should only be paid as a last resort.
Meanwhile, on the podcast, we were joined by Chaim Roberts who takes us on a deep dive into working in one of the most high profile large sites in the world, the New York World Trade Centre. Learn what he has to say about the nuances of working in a corporate security environment.
So, let’s cut through all the noise on the circuit and give you the news you need.
The Circuit Magazine Podcast
How can you scale yourself from an ‘army of one?’ What does the corporate security world have to teach solo operators about being in more places at once?
We are pleased to welcome Chaim Roberts, founder of Roberts Risk Solutions to help us understand that large organizations have more challenges than the initial corporate culture adaptation we might expect.
They often have a much larger physical footprint than EP colleagues might be used to in a UHNW or private environment and many of the skills developed to survive and thrive in such an ecosystem translate very well to the wider protector space not least when developing a business.
On today’s episode, we’re going to take a deep dive into working in one of the most high profile large sites in the world, the New York World Trade Centre. We’ll also be asking…
How can corporate protectors succeed without a ‘traditional’ military or police background?
How can you blend your security operations into the environment seamlessly?
Is the SOC the glue that can hold together large operations in buildings with a large footprint?
How can you balance protection with being open and inviting as an attraction?
If you enjoy listening to the Circuit Podcast and can spare a minute, please rate/review us. Your rating will help us to rank higher making it easier for others to find the podcast.
The Need to Know
U.S. intelligence officials have moved to declassify what they have said is a Russian plan to spread disinformation about Ukraine.
Taking a cue from truckers bordering America’s north, a political action committee will partner with truck convoys to protest what it deems are overreaching government COVID-19 restrictions and mandates.
The Supreme Court upheld the life sentence of the former chief bodyguard of Tycoon Thong Sarath convicted in 2019 for killing tycoon Oknha Ung Meng Chue in 2014.
leaked report shows warnings were given since late January of extremist groups infiltrating the protest convoy
Five bodyguards escorting Alexander Petrovsky, a well-known local businessman approached the journalist in the eastern city of Dnipro, forced him at knifepoint to unlock his phone, and deleted months’ worth of photos and videos from his device.
After visiting London recently Latifi said: “It might sound silly but at the end of the day you don’t know how serious people are. All it needs is one drunk [Lewis Hamilton] fan […] who is having a bad day […] and has really extreme opinions.“
The International Committee of the Red Cross has concluded that a nation-state hacker was behind a cyberattack on its servers discovered last month. A forensic analysis of the attack revealed.
Russian government-backed hackers have acquired sensitive information on the development and deployment of US weapons by breaching American defense contractors over the last two years.
For more timely global updates like this, get the Circuit Daily Briefing delivered to your inbox… daily! Get on the list >
From the Pages of the Circuit Magazine
If you’re travelling to today’s hostile environments as an International actor, anywhere from Mexico to Afghanistan, and all the bad places in between, it would be madness to go without K&R insurance coverage, especially as it helps to reduce your overall insurance costs of travelling to these places.
But, will it guarantee your safety, and will it get you immediately released if the worst happens?
Also, just who are the winners and losers in a kidnap and ransom situation of an International individual or grouping, foreign to that country?
For decades, Bob Shepherd has both taught and guided individuals around hostile environments. In this article Bob explains why Paying a Ransom Should be the Last Resort.
If you enjoyed this article and want more great content from across the industry then sign up for the Circuit Magazine >
Situation Report by RANE
the trillion-dollar question North American and European governments are facing if Russia invades Ukraine — that is, how to sanction the Russian economy in a way that maximizes pressure while minimizing blowback.
This dilemma is exposing Western Europe’s incredible dependence on Russian energy supplies, as well as NATO allies’ divergent positions on how far to go in sanctioning Russia. Canada and the United States’ geographic distance from Ukraine and relative independence from Russian energy exports give them the space to take more antagonistic positions with fewer consequences compared with European countries like Germany, which receives more than half of its natural gas from Russia.
As the specter of a Russian invasion grows, Western leaders risk backing themselves into a corner where they are forced to implement sanctions just for the sake of doing something that goes beyond a diplomatic response but falls short of a military intervention. This strategy, however, could backfire as sanctions have proven to be limited in their ability to deter behavior — let alone Russia’s — and are also politically challenging to remove once they’re in place.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia has focused on exporting natural gas, oil, defense and minerals to countries around the world, as well as deeply intertwining its economy with those in Europe.
Special Offer for On the Circuit Readers
Be the smartest person in the room with this exclusive offer from RANE.
From the Community
Isabella shares a view from her unique perspective so others can learn from it.
One of the security “professionals” thought it was appropriate to stand stage right backstage in guitar world and FILM the performance. When I asked him to please stop he flashed his badge like that gave him permission to break our contractual rules of no filming allowed. I educated him.
Ask questions, get advice, and find industry resources from an active and thriving community of professional, working operators:
On the Circuit Merch
To any industry insider, being ‘On the Circuit’ means being operationally active in the world of international protection. To anyone else, it’s just three words. Those who know, know!
Upcoming Events
The Level 4 programme is designed for front-line operators and team leaders who want to have a better understanding of how to do their job in a well-structured and professional manner as well as gaining a first professional qualification.
Meanwhile...
How much protection the royals need has seen hot debate lately. Prince Harry was recently denied a request for more security for his family when they’re in the United Kingdom. Non-working royals don’t have protection except for during official events or Royal events. But it’s been proven on more than one occasion that bodyguards for royals are needed. Just look at what happened to Princess Anne, probably the most low-profile child of Queen Elizabeth II.
As under the radar as Princess Anne might fly, it didn’t stop Ian Ball from trying to kidnap her. In 1974, Princess Anne was being driven back to Buckingham Palace with her husband at the time, Captain Mark Phillips, when a car blocked theirs.
It was Ball. He then made attempts to get into the princess’ car and to get her out. The plan was to ransom Princess Anne for $2 million. “Not bloody likely,” was what Anne is said to have told her would-be kidnapper.
During the attempt, the princess’s security officer, Jim Beaton, was shot before he could fire his own weapon, which jammed. Beaton had put himself in between Ball and the princess, using his arm to block bullets aimed at the royal. Beaton was shot three times. “I had nothing … There was no back-up vehicle,” Beaton explained after the incident. “The training was non-existent; but then again, [we thought] nothing was going to happen. They are highly specialized now, highly trained.”
But that plan was thwarted when Ronnie Russel, a boxer, walking by the scene, punched Ball in the head. Russell and Beaton both received the George Cross, the highest civilian honor for gallantry, for their actions during the kidnapping attempt.
Final Thoughts
The number of reported scams has risen by a fifth in the past three months with fraudsters morphing into “psychological experts” who toy with the emotions of their victims.
Criminals have taken advantage of trust in big brand names to prey on the most vulnerable, a tactic known as “social engineering.”
Two-thirds of people said they would be more likely to comply with a request if they believed it was coming from an authority or company they knew, such as their bank, the police or health service, the research found.
One key tactic has been to create a perceived scarcity in an investment to push savers to act quickly and not rely on their better judgement.
“This might be advertising something as a ‘one-time offer’, a limited edition price or availability, or rushing us into buying something that ‘has’ to be bought now – even if you’ve never seen the product in real life.”
Only one in 1,000 victims have seen the perpetrators brought to justice, official figures from the Office for National Statistics have shown. That is despite the number of offences rising by 32pc from 3.8 million in 2020, according to an analysis of official data.
Until next week...
If you found this issue of the On the Circuit newsletter useful, please forward it to a friend or colleague who’d also enjoy it.
Here’s a handy message you can use to share with your friends:
Hey! Have you read On the Circuit? It’s a newsletter for Protectors like us – it gives you the low-down on what’s happening across the industry and you’ll sound like the most informed person in the room. Sign up here, it’s free: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/circuit-magazine
On the Circuit has you covered when you’re busy covering others.
New Issue of the Circuit Magazine is out now.
On the Circuit gives you the information you need to succeed in the security industry. We bring you the most relevant news from across the globe straight to your inbox every Saturday. In protection, what you DON'T know CAN hurt you!
In order to unsubscribe, click here.
If you were forwarded this newsletter and you like it, you can subscribe here.
Powered by Revue
Join the conversation