Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Getting Effective Executive Protection Services

By Angel Dudley


In society today people face many of threats to their safety and well being. Chances are, the more money or power a person has the greater the threat of violence or kidnapping. In an effort to mitigate the danger, those who can afford it will obtain executive protection services.

If an executive normally is threatened in some minor way several times by email or letter he or she may not respond with panic. The real problem occurs when they receive a hand delivered threat at their home. This creates a situation where enhanced security measures must be taken immediately by the protective team involved.

It feels natural to become friendly with the personnel who are assigned to protect you. This is a bad choice for them and for you. They need to remain at a distance in order to maintain their professional status. When personal boundaries are crossed the result will be a loss of attention to the lines of security necessities. Effective protection requires focused professionalism.

The routes of travel taken on a daily basis could also be viewed as a potential area of danger. The team you work with should be responsible for taking this into consideration and plotting varied routes and times of departure. Business trips out of city call for varied steps such as multiple air lines used, different hotels booked and vehicle rental security.

When considering security the options may include setting up alarm systems, panic alarm systems or bolt rooms where principals and their families can safely await rescue by police or personal security agencies. Many companies in targeted fields, such as finance or pharmaceutical industries provide the security systems for their upper level personnel. The protection is considered a necessity to insure the safety of anyone involved with their company. There are standards of protection set for each industry that can help determining the needed level of protection.

High profile people are especially difficult to protect. They create circumstances that must be handled with utmost skill and tact. The agents must be able to blend into their surroundings while maintaining a safe atmosphere for their client. Strong arm tactics are not an option for the professional working with important personnel.

The standard for a protection professional includes a person who is educated, trainable, respectful and dedicated. They must know how to blend into their environment and carry on an intelligent conversation. They understand that they represent the executive and his company. Many companies hire retired police, soldiers or secret service agents to fill the role. Qualified individuals can also be recruited from employees already on payroll. The physical skills can be taught but the dedication, discretion and integrity are harder to find.

The CSO must train and mentor the personnel hired. He must do this whether the team he hires is in house or out sourced. The thoroughness of his training will determine the effectiveness of the executive protection services provided. This training covers alarm systems, familiarity with principals activities, and the art of blending in when in the company of his client.




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