Security refers to the level of protection offered to safeguard individuals, countries and even groups against possible danger, loss and also criminal activities. According to The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies (ISECOM), security refers to the creation of a barrier between threats and assets. In this case, most assets when dealing with security involve the human resource. Threat to human life is normally the primary interest of any security apparatus. Threat to property is also imperative for peaceful coexistence. The level of security allocated to individuals varies. Dignitaries and other respected persons in society deserve more security than members of the public. The prevailing security situation in the nation, as well as that of the world, will influence the number of security apparatus deployed to handle a certain situation. This paper discusses an outline of the security plan for Omni Hotel on the 57th street in the City of New York. The security plan covers three fundamental phases of completing the hotel as a world class hotel. The first aspect will deal with security apparatus during ground breaking; the second aspect will cover the grand opening ceremony while the last aspect will cover the day to day operations.
SECURITY DURING THE GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY (CONSTRUCTION)
Security during the ground breaking ceremony must be a high level security. With the Secretary of State in charge of trade and commerce expected to attend, measures must be taken to protect dignitaries. Access of the podium by unauthorized people will be a cornerstone towards protecting the national interest. The security of members of the public who will attend the ceremony will be a yardstick for our future image as a hotel. Our competence in security matters will lay its mark on this day.
PRE-EVENT PLANNING
This is to put measures in place that ensure that essential law enforcement services are provided by the government. In this manner, the event will integrate security details from both private security firms and the government. This can be achieved by ensuring that appropriate federal officials, such as DHS State Homeland Security Advisors, are fully informed well in advance. This is because the event will be attended by state officials. The national and international significance of the ground breaking ceremony will guarantee beef up of security by the federal government. Informing the state security apparatus will guarantee awareness and state support in carrying out a successful event. This will also offer principles for a major event planning and management that recognize security challenges. The most common being law enforcement which cannot be overstated. This is because of an increase in terrorism attacks on the global scene. In the ultimate, these issues may affect our security during the grand opening ceremony. The fundamental principle of an assured security system will encompass effective planning, communication, and training of our security personnel in order to help them integrate with personnel from the state and federal government security apparatus. Any form of chaotic coordination will risk the security of people who will attend the event. The event should also involve other stake holders. Emergency medical services (EMS), transportation services, public works, health professionals and other private sector players must be available or made aware of the event. This will help create an avenue of accessing the right services for people in case of a disaster or danger .
SECURITY DURING THE GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY
The leadership authority and structure will be a cornerstone towards achieving the right security framework. The hotel should hire its own senior security personnel to be in charge. This should be a retired senior police officer. The officer will coordinate and supervise the implementation of all security policies laid down by the company. All security personnel, the area of jurisdiction notwithstanding will be under the privately hired officer.
The Secretary of DHS and the Homeland Security Counsel will offer special advice concerning the event. The Federal Bureau of Investigation will be responsible for crisis management, counterterrorism and intelligence during the event. Therefore, the leadership of the security personnel shall be shared among the Omni hotel personnel, a private security company and the New York City police department. There will be standby tactical support from paramilitary officers due to the existing terror threats in the world. A comprehensive assessment of threats and risks to help identify expected threats ranging from common crimes such as petty robbery, assaults, public indecency, fighting among others. The risks of vandalism, protests, disasters and potential high grade crimes such as terrorism must be assessed. The company will do a cost estimate to help cover the threats and risks.
Communication devices to be given to the security personnel involved in the event. Radio operations will help the lead agency to disseminate information to other stake holders in combating crime. The networking gateway will interconnect radios with any frequency into a common ground breaking ceremony frequency. The radio communication protocol and options of assigning must be followed to the later.
Access control: Screening and physical security will be a cornerstone of security during the ground breaking ceremony. Electric wire fencing should be in pace to be done around the area for the ground breaking ceremony. The area should be fenced seven months before the event is done. Private security guards will be hired to take care of the area for twenty four hours. The twenty- four surveillance will ensure that unauthorized persons do not access the area. There should be three perimeters for control of vehicles and human traffic. The outer perimeter will be paramount in deterring vehicles, but not pedestrians. Vehicle bombs will be stopped by the outermost perimeter. Counter-surveillance teams, mobile police patrol vehicles and police dogs will be of prominence in dealing with any threats to security.
The middle perimeter will be for screening and physical security. The activities in this perimeter will involve both private security personnel and the New York City police department. A privately hired security personnel for Omni Hotel will coordinate physical security in the middle parameter. The security processes in this perimeter will range from visual inspection to the use of magnetometers and pat-down searches. No one will be allowed to enter the area of the ceremony he or she fails to undergo screening and physical scrutiny. All possible entry points will be cordoned off until the event is over. Any individual suspected to be a threat to security must be isolated and further assessment done before that individual gains entry.
The middle security perimeter will cover federal and state government officials, hotel executives and hotel employees. Senior security personnel from the New York City police department and the top brass of the private security company will conduct screening for proper credentials. On the eve of the event, key areas where dignitaries and members of the public will be inspected thoroughly and swept. This will help locate possible explosives and weapons that may be detonated at the venue. These areas must to be assessed and secured before government officials and other dignitaries arrive.
SECURITY DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY
The hotel room must be inspected thoroughly by security personnel before the event. Police dogs will help locate explosives and other weapons. The route that dignitaries will use must be secured before arrival of guests. Security video cameras will be a cornerstone for securing the hotel premises. The hotel premises will be inspected, and twenty-four hour surveillance to be done a week before the grand opening ceremony.
Access control and physical security checks will be done before people gain entrance to the site of the venue. Inspection must cover all individuals before they access the venue for the grand opening. Police patrol and surveillance are crucial for security during the event. Facilities and packages that visitors will carry to be inspected before individuals access the building. Metal detectors for physical security checks to help locate weapons and other dangerous stuffs that visitors may carry.
Local and federal intelligence services must be available. Intelligence reports will be key towards holding a successful event. In case of any extraordinary incident, police and other security personnel must take part as cover up. Credentialing of dignitaries will help smooth flow of human traffic and prevent possible issues that may arise when an individual attempts to access a cordoned area.
The hotel, in coordination with the New York City authorities, must protect critical infrastructure and other utilities such as water supply, power, sewerage system and other imperative utilities. These crucial utilities are the basis of preventing possible crises during the grand opening ceremony.
SECURITY PLAN FOR DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES
Hotel security during the day to day operations will be critical in marketing the hotel. As a business entity, security of the hotel is central towards elevating it towards world class status. Clear security guidelines will be paramount in making Omni Hotel a household name. A special security detail must be assigned to VIPs who stay in the hotel while back security from the New York police department will be take part in beefing up security during performances and other special events. Spectators and performers during special hotel events will go through a thorough security check before being let into the hotel.
Video cameras to be installed vintage points in the hotel especially at the entrances to capture suspicious persons. Observation from a raised point in the hotel will help observe suspicious individuals around the hotel for purposes of follow up.
Access control and physical security will be key in ensuring that the hotel is safe. Before any individual gains entry into the hotel, the person must undergo screening. There will be a procedure for screening. The first perimeter will involve inspection of vehicles. This is the first point of securing the premises. The second perimeter will involve visual inspection and inspection using magnetometers. The entrance to the premises will also have metal detectors. Metal detectors at the entrance will help locate metallic items that customers may carry. This could be weapons such as guns and other weapons. The hotel will also have a third entrance for dignitaries. Inspection in this entrance will only involve senior security personnel of the hotel.
References
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