NATIONAL 2 (Spotlight Weekly)]

Managing Security And crisis

Personal security, security crisis management and crisis response have become important to individuals and enterprises in the country.

BY AKSHAY SHARMA

With the rise of urbanization and liberalization the country has has a bigger security crisis. Be it in Katmandu or other parts of the counrty high crime waves have been observed which have to be contained . The open border with our neighbors will provide an easier exit for con artists. A few years ago it would have been unbelievable that private security companies would become operational. Before it was only the government security apparatuses which looked after the security of the public. Now one can have a pick at choosing a security apparatus.

The Group 4 Secutitas invited Daniel P. Huntington from Neil Young Associates , a British company which specializes in Crisis Management to speak on current topics and security issues. The half day seminar dealt with topics like personal security , security crisis management, after risk assessment , crisis management, crisis management teams, country evacuation planning and kidnap response.

Huntington who is a kidnapping expert has a degree in Arabic and Islam . He served in the British Gorkhas from 1987-1995. During that time he served for some time in the trouble spot of Ireland. After that he went to Venezuela and specialized in the field of Security and Risk Management. From 1997 onwards he has been based in Delhi specializing in Kidnapping and providing Security consultancy.

The principle of personal security suggests that first the threat level must be assessed properly. The threat level may be low ,medium or high which reflects reality of the situation and also changes constantly. The threat levels reflect reality but may change instantly. The second principle suggests that one must be aware. Huntington suggested, "People follow a routine because it is convenient. Use observation and inquisitiveness to detect the threat level. And if you detect something you can be unpredictable in you daily routine."

"Not attracting attention and dressing according to the times may keep you out of the harms way. You can attract little attention to yourself by keeping a low profile," Huntington pointed out.

Security must be changed if necessary. One must be aware of the risk area areas. It is important to be observant and inquisitive. The children and the staff must be aware of the threat.

Huntington observed that, " The level of threat is medium in Nepal now and it will rise in the coming years."

Communication with the people you care about may help your security. If situation demands for tighter security measures the security must be around the clock through out the day. Different security levels must be assigned for different phases of the day.

"Preparedness ,prevention and mitigation are very important to crisis management," commented Huntington. Threat to a person or company may come in many forms like theft ,kidnap ,assassination ,protection demands ,intimidation of workers ,bomb ,sabotage , arson ,product contamination , extortion and IED {improvised explosive device threat}threats.

"The threat level will grow because as the escape route out of the country will become safer. And besides they mostly lack experience in Nepal. The assassinations by Maoists may become commercial ",Huntington observed.

It is important to conduct after risk assessment. Once you spot a threat the necessary security measures need to be implemented. Futhermore, it is necessary to create a crisis management plan and create a crisis management team. It is also important to rehearse , refine and update security measure. Crisis management provides coordination and ensures that the best interest of the company is taken into account. "These plans need to be concise and written in checklist as an available memoir. It needs to be issue base not directive. It should be frequently rehearshed, refined and rehearsed," advised Huntington.

A crisis management plan must have enough people in it . It is necessary to create the outline plans first. the plan must be rehearsed with principles and alternatives. The plan must be rehearsed and updated continuously.

Team approach is the important factor in a crisis management team. It is necessary to define workload and stress. Furthermore, it enables team to discuss thoroughly and reach sound realistic conclusions. It especially helps an organization to continue business while responding to a crisis.