A patrol is a moving check of an area to determine if it is secure, free of safety and fire hazards, to create presence on the post, and to gather information. All patrols serve a purpose and some may serve several purposes. Most patrols are visibility oriented; in other words, they ensure an officer is seen. However, some patrols may be secretive to gather information.
Patrols should be methodical and, generally, they should be unpredictable. They should cover all areas, inspect equipment, doors, windows, alarms and other important elements on the post. They should not be executed on the hour every time. Rather, they should be started and completed at unexpected times to throw off someone who might be casing the post.
An officer should vary the tempo, direction and times of patrols. The officer should apply these basic principles:
1) Always have a route plan.
2) Stay alert.
3) Check everything in a given area before moving on.
4) Check fire safety equipment.
5) Check for breached doors, windows and gates.
6) Observe over long distances.
7) Observe details.
8) Look around corners before proceeding in the opposite direction.
9) Be capable of changing the route to investigate a problem.
10) Visually check areas before entering.
11) Always practise safety rules.
12) Maintain a safe distance from cars and people.
13) Always check every area of the post during a shift.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Fundamentals of Protection
Protection of posts and people involve the same concepts or fundamentals of self protection. To protect onesself is the first essential step in protecting others, because a secure officer has more power than an unsecure officer. There are four basics:
1) Taking up positions.
2) Making observations.
3) Basic stances and sitting methods.
4) Approaches and forestalling.
The basics keep an officer alert and ready to act. Sleeping is the counter thesis of the professional officer. Officers must combat boredom and stay mentally active even when they are not patrolling. The four fundamentals of self protection help the officer attain this.
When an officer takes up a postion, they are looking for the vantage point from which to observe or act. A good officer will take up high and prominent positions to see many places at once. They will take up positions that keep them covered in case on gun fire. They take up positons with the sun behind them. They face footholds and things which might trip them instaed of having their back to them. They take up positions where no one can sneak behind them or compromise them. They do not stand with their back to traffic and they keep safe distances from moving traffic. A good officer always keeps a secure line of retreat.
Making observations should be a priority under all circumstances. Look at entire areas and refine your search as you move through. Look at specific things. Examine everything and consider what may be security breaches, safety hazards or fire hazards. Ask these questions:
1) Where are possible trouble areas?
2) Where might someone hide or try to breach security?
3) What locations give me the vantage point?
4) Where am I most visible for high visibility details?
Officers should sharpen their observation skills by observing people and describing them mentally. Observe and describe terrain, vehicles and buildings. Attempt to visualize the post and where everything is located.
Stances and sitting positions are simply the most effective ways to stand and sit while maintaining alertness. If an officer is standing, then they should stand erect and keep their hands to their sides or clasped in front or back. An officer should never fold their arms. The way to sit is erect with the feet on the floor. Never lean back or cross the legs.
Approaches and forestalling are the means an officer uses when an icident has occured or may occur. If a stranger is on the post after hours or in a restricted location, then an officer may approach them to question them. This is an approach. An officer must take certain safety precautions, such as to keep a secure way of retreat or place to take cover in case it is necessary. An officer should also approach in a calm and deliberate manner to give a authoritive presence without being intimidating. Never sneak up and scare someone. Sometimes an officer may observe someone commiting an illegal act and for the sake of safety, the security officer must remain concealed and notify the police. An officer should never make an approach on an obviously dangerous situation. They should always think of the security of the post and notify the police.
Forestalling is the act of stopping or impeding an aggressor. These come in a variety of ways, but the best way to forestall is by adhering to the fundamentals of protection. Take up good positions, observe and approach. Stay proactive and forestall incidents before they get out of control.
1) Taking up positions.
2) Making observations.
3) Basic stances and sitting methods.
4) Approaches and forestalling.
The basics keep an officer alert and ready to act. Sleeping is the counter thesis of the professional officer. Officers must combat boredom and stay mentally active even when they are not patrolling. The four fundamentals of self protection help the officer attain this.
When an officer takes up a postion, they are looking for the vantage point from which to observe or act. A good officer will take up high and prominent positions to see many places at once. They will take up positions that keep them covered in case on gun fire. They take up positons with the sun behind them. They face footholds and things which might trip them instaed of having their back to them. They take up positions where no one can sneak behind them or compromise them. They do not stand with their back to traffic and they keep safe distances from moving traffic. A good officer always keeps a secure line of retreat.
Making observations should be a priority under all circumstances. Look at entire areas and refine your search as you move through. Look at specific things. Examine everything and consider what may be security breaches, safety hazards or fire hazards. Ask these questions:
1) Where are possible trouble areas?
2) Where might someone hide or try to breach security?
3) What locations give me the vantage point?
4) Where am I most visible for high visibility details?
Officers should sharpen their observation skills by observing people and describing them mentally. Observe and describe terrain, vehicles and buildings. Attempt to visualize the post and where everything is located.
Stances and sitting positions are simply the most effective ways to stand and sit while maintaining alertness. If an officer is standing, then they should stand erect and keep their hands to their sides or clasped in front or back. An officer should never fold their arms. The way to sit is erect with the feet on the floor. Never lean back or cross the legs.
Approaches and forestalling are the means an officer uses when an icident has occured or may occur. If a stranger is on the post after hours or in a restricted location, then an officer may approach them to question them. This is an approach. An officer must take certain safety precautions, such as to keep a secure way of retreat or place to take cover in case it is necessary. An officer should also approach in a calm and deliberate manner to give a authoritive presence without being intimidating. Never sneak up and scare someone. Sometimes an officer may observe someone commiting an illegal act and for the sake of safety, the security officer must remain concealed and notify the police. An officer should never make an approach on an obviously dangerous situation. They should always think of the security of the post and notify the police.
Forestalling is the act of stopping or impeding an aggressor. These come in a variety of ways, but the best way to forestall is by adhering to the fundamentals of protection. Take up good positions, observe and approach. Stay proactive and forestall incidents before they get out of control.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)