Executive summary
The following is a report on how to improve the security of a CEO and his family facing threats from Animal Rights Militia (ARM). ARM is an illegal organization operating in UK aimed at taking direct action to protest against mishandling of animals. The organization believes in direct action policy and applies inhuman acts such as destruction of properties and intimidating people using letter bombs. The CEO runs an International Pharmaceutical Company that uses animals in testing of its products.
The CEO faces a constant threat from the ARM group and has requested for a security support. There have been reported instances of attack towards the CEO and his family that have never succeeded. The following report aims at providing detailed information on how to provide security for CEO and his family members during their stay in the hotel, providing them with safe environment, transit to the cottage, and maintaining security during the entire stay period.
A complete analysis of the security requirements for CEO and his family suggested that they face many threats and risks from intruders, acidified food products, destruction of properties, and intimidations. The following paper provides an overview of the main risks and their migrations. The proposed mitigations include use of auto lock door locks, electing an electric fence, installing CCTV cameras, employing man guards who will be active 24 hours, and acquiring food from trusted cooks.
Introduction
Security review of the client’s residence
An entailed survey of the proposed residence for the CEO’s residence at Combermere Cottage revealed an unsatisfactory level of security that needed immediate response. A deep analysis of the best security measures to implement for CEO and his family came up with the following review.
Risk- intrusion (Insecure doors and windows)
A clear survey on doors and windows at the hotel revealed that they never offered the needed security. For instance, doors lacked lock mechanisms that would prevent strangers from accessing the building. On the other hand, windows were easily opened by any person either from inside or outside the house. This issue brings a big threat for the CEO and his family crating better chances for ARM to attack easily. The nature of these two major features the main weaknesses that ARM can exploit and gain entry into the residential house. In addition, doors and windows were made of high quality raw materials that are not easily broken into but a more secure system was needed because of the impact of ARM have while carrying out their illegal activities (Conrath, Structural Engineering Institute., & American Society of Civil Engineers 1999).
Mitigation
In order to ensure no unwanted people gain access to the house, auto lock features in both the door and windows were installed. According to Fennelly (2013), auto lock features are state of the security equipments that enable users to lock their doors from any location within a standard area determined by the strength of the signal emitted by the device. In addition, missing striker plates would be fitted on door jambs. Striker plates are metal plates placed on a door jamb with holes fitted with bolts to lock doors for security purposes. They are very essential security elements for residential facilitates because they prevent intruders from accessing a building by tightly fixing a door to the frame. In addition, a striker plate improves the security of a building especially in areas where door jambs are made from soft materials such as wood.
On the issue of windows, the review found out that it would be necessary to introduce window locks that only work from inside. Such locks will allow a person inside lock out intruders. In addition, all windows were to be fitted with metal grills, small enough to prevent people from accessing anything inside the house. Garcia (2006) claimed that secure doors and windows are the main determinants of the entry process into a building. Striker plate’s placement will be reconfigured so that there is a spring bolt extending into the hole. Additionally, an anti-retraction device will be placed adjacent to the hole to ensure the door stays locked always. Moreover, locking windows from inside and introducing grills will ensure security of the house because attackers will have a challenge in removing the grill.
Risk-Fault fence
The type of fence and the effectiveness determines the ability of attackers to access a premise. A review at CEO’s residence indicated that something needed close attention. The perimeter fence build around the premises was not appropriate enough to prevent ARM from accessing the premises. In addition, the fence had many open areas where people could easily pass through without anyone noticing. A fence should be designed in a manner to eliminate any attempt by thieves or wild animals from accessing a compound (Caputo, 2014). However, the security review in the residential home concluded that the wall did not have any structural weak spots, and as such needed no upgrading. It was realized that the whole perimeter did not have any camera to monitor the movement of people, which posed a great threat to the family of the CEO.
Mitigation
The analysis came up with a plan to install closed circuit cameras at strategic locations within the fence and the perimeter wall. CCTVs are the most widely used surveillance methods because they use the current technology to monitor movements. They have been known to minimize crimes and improve security in most areas, especially in high profile residents (Kruegle, 2007). CCTVs were positioned in such a manner that no blind spot was available in the whole surveillance area. The cameras are centrally controlled and store information of up to 100 terabytes in computer hard drives. Moreover, a perimeter wall was designed, high enough to prevent people from outside viewing activities within the premises. The wall was totally electrified, and fitted with closed circuit cameras at every corner.
Risks-Poor compound Lighting and alarm system
Attackers always take advantage of darkness to carry out their illegal activities. A review of security details of CEO’s premise revealed that the area had only two security lights that were not adequate to light the whole compound as seen on figure 1. With only two security lights that were non-functional led to an extreme high risk. The more the number of security lights the brighter the area and the less likely is the premise to fall under the hands of attackers. In addition, the alarm system for Combermere Cottage was malfunctioned an indication that intruders could easily carry out their activities without the members of the family raising any alarm to the relevant authorities.
Figure 1: Security lighting at Combermere Cottage
Mitigation
The first step was to install more security lights all round the premises. All fault lighting installations were to be repaired and missing components replaced so that at not one point should they fail. Motion sensor and light sensing security lights were installed in order to eliminate any human activity of switching on and off. Moreover, there was a need for a security alarm to notify the authority of any unwanted operation taking place at the residence. Qualified people would be contracted to take care of these installations and automate them for easier response.
Risk-food poisoning
Another crucial area that introduced a greater risk to CEO and his family was the issue of food. ARM was capable of poisoning food delivered to the premises in order to eliminate them as one of their policy actions. It was realized that the family acquired food from the hotel and an agent of ARM would easily tame hotel workers to poison CEO’s food. According to Katz & Caspi (2003), ARM use food poisoning as a way of making their enemies suffer. It is recommended that the client does not consume food purchases in public places. This is very important it encompasses the smallest food items like snacks and sweets.
Mitigation
In this regard, meals will be prepared for the family members within the residence by a trusted professional. It is going to be recommended that family members take their meals from the residence. With regards to supplies, it is going to be recommended that the client sources one supplier to provide the residence with all the food items required. It is easier to ensure the safety of the food stuffs when one individual is responsible for all the supplies into the residence.
A comprehensive Security Review/Plan detailing risk mitigation solutions
Assessing risks and threats forms an integral part in risk management process. According to Bruce (2007), identifying the main areas that pose security threats is the best way to measure the potential impact they can cause to people and properties. The following is a comprehensive security review plan for CEO and his family. A risk and threat management table was established to easily identify risks and threats at CEO’s residence. The security plan for the residence details the solutions aimed at mitigating the risks that are identified in the risk and threat assessment table.
In order to fully identify the nature of risks and threats associated with CEO residence, it was important to understand the Animal Rights Militia (ARM) group because they are the main source of threats. According to Evan (2008) ARM is a group that works for the activities of animal rights engaging themselves in direct action and ignoring the formulated policies by Animal Liberation Front. The group involves in illegal activities not acceptable by the United Kingdom (UK) government. The history of ARM shows that they involve in violent acts through direct action policy and causing major harms to people and properties. In addition, the group sends letter bombs; contaminate food products, gives death threats, and placing c-4 charges underneath cars and buildings. The risk and assessment plan for the residence will be prepared bearing in mind the above activities of ARM group.
Intent/Capability, Untreated Impact/likelihood and Treated Impact/likelihood risk matrix
Figure 2: Treated Likelihood Impact Matrix
Figure 3: Untreated Likelihood Impact Matrix
The risks identified from the threat and risk assessment includes intrusion, damage to property, acidifying of food products and water, letter bombs, hoax and creating panic.
Security plan
The following security plan will aim at preventing any type of threat from Animal Rights Militia. Below are some of the major actions that require immediate response in order to mitigate the above named risks:-
CEO’s residence
- An around clock surveillance will be implemented using circuit cameras located at strategic points around and within the residence. The cameras will be installed using high-class technologies to make sure no blind spot is left within the residence.
- The client’s house will be equipped with screens and computers to record images captured by cameras. In addition, the chief security officer will also have access to those recordings in order to detect any unwanted people in the residence.
Access to the residence
- A perimeter fence will be fitted with biometric access control systems that will control access into the residence. A database will be created with containing information of the people who are cleared to access the facility without raising alarms. These include the CEO family members, his security team, and recognized friends. Other visitors will undergo thorough screening before entering the premises.
- In order to minimize incidences of unwanted people and giving ARM agents an opportunity to access the premises, the database will only contain people who visit CEO’s residence on daily basis. This includes the family members and the other subordinate personnel.
Fire outbreak management
- Fire is another vital risk that can cause harm to CEO’s dwellings. ARM is known to cause any type of destruction including setting properties on fire (Miller, Vandome & McBrewster 2009). To deal with this issue, fire extinguishers will be placed at every floor of the house, at the entrance, stores, and any other area vulnerable to fire.
- An automatic smoke detector systems set to irrigate the home in case there is a fire breakout will be installed.
- A fire hose, about 200 meters long, with pressurized water outside the house will be situated outside the house to put out fire in case of fire outbreak, and
- All vehicles used by the CEO, his family, and his security team will be fitted with fully equipped first aid boxes. These first aid boxes will be used to deal with any accident that occurs outside CEO’s residence.
- The residence will also have compressed oxygen in case of biological attacks.
Detailed recommendations for the Physical Security
The physical security system was aimed at preventing any physical contact of ARM with CEO’s residence. The physical security measures to be implemented should focus more on restricting entry from unwanted individuals, surveillance of the area inside the CEO’s residence, and 100 meters radius outside the perimeter wall. Figure 4 shows the strategic location of cameras and man guards at CEO’s residence.
Figure 4: Level 1 OR –security plan for CCTV cameras and security personnel
Figure 5: Location of a perimeter wall Combermere Cottage
In figure 4, the direction away from the main road has a higher vulnerability to intruders and as such located as the probable intrusion zone. In figure 5, a strong perimeter should be constructed in this side, in additional to CCTV cameras and armed security personnel. Other recommendations for physical security include:-
- Installing biometric access grant points on the entrances such as the main gate and house doors. Biometric scanners are highly advanced access control systems. This will be a more secure approach because it eliminates risks of someone stealing others’ identity. The use of cards is not recommended because they can be given to other individuals, or stolen and used to gain access. The method is expected to limit access of authorized persons into the residence. The main body parts that will be are fingers and eyelids. Individual database will be created using information about fingerprints or eyelids and only recognized people will be granted access by the automated door opening system.
- ARM is known of gaining access to premises through private cars and carrying out an attack. To minimise such instances at CEO’s residence, screening of all vehicles entering is recommended. Professional security guards with the present-day technology will be located at each entrance to screen any vehicle entering the compound for explosive devices. In addition, explosives set to detonate in the compound might also be embedded in the vehicles calling for a through screening even using sniffer dogs. In addition, guards should be careful to inspect boots, bonnets, and any other part of the vehicle that attackers can hide explosives.
- Doors and windows should be fitted with auto-lock rocks that can be operated from a far distance. The above recommendation will allow residents to control opening of doors and windows whenever they sense a threat. In addition, the auto lock features enable users to lock their doors from any location within a standard area determined by the strength of the signal emitted by the device.
- One of the risky means that ARM can use to cause harm to CEO and his family is through food poisoning. On this context supply of food items from outside should be tendered from trusted people. The sourcing of the supplier will be performed under close scrutiny. All food products should undergo a laboratory test by a specialist to ensure they are fit for consumption. ARM has the capacity of putting harmful chemicals to foodstuff in order to kill their target (Miller, Vandome & McBrewster 2009, p. 125).
Detailed recommendations of any Man guarding deployment
Man guarding is very important for the physical security of the Combermere Cottage. The physical security of Combermere Cottage cannot be entirely dependent on the measures espoused earlier and other physical installations. In order to come up with an effective team of human guards, sourcing becomes an important aspect. The chief of security at CEO’s residence should source for security from recognized security firms, and look for people who are more conversant with the hotel location. Over time, hiring professional guards is a better option because it ensures the right entry procedure is followed. Moreover, professional guards undergo thorough training making them more productive and loyal to their duties.
The recommended general duties for man guarding at Combermere Cottage are observing and reporting, keeping good public relations, controlling movement of vehicles in and out of the hotel, finding and reporting physical hazards, patrolling, responding to emergencies, and controlling access into the premises. They will be responsible for protecting people, property, and information through keeping it confidential.
Firstly, four guards will be located at Combermere Cottage gate. See figure 4 above. The guards will share duties in a way that two are on the gate while the other two patrol the surrounding area to look for Arm attackers. Two guards on the gate will ensure no person gains entry into the residence from outside through the gate without passing a security check. All people gaining access into the compound pass through the erect ‘walk through’ metal detector. The guards will have to frisk and search all entrants for explosives, knives, guns and any other destructive material. In addition, all visitors will have to be escorted to the building and all their movements monitored by the guard on duty. The two guards at the anterior entry points also need to screen all vehicles entering the compound for explosives and other ammunition. These three guards are also responsible for maintaining a visitor’s book. Any person going through the gate will be required to surrender their identity card and record the arrival and departure time.
On the other hand, two guards will be stationed in the back exit. This is contingent to the construction of the passage way to the holding vault in case of emergencies (Bruce, 2007). These guards are not to allow anyone to gain access into the compound through this access point. To enforce this, a surveillance camera will be installed to specifically cover this area. Four guards will patrol the perimeter of the compound. Two guards will patrol the northern fence while the other two guard the fence on the southern end. These guards will also be equipped with metal detectors to scan the perimeter for embedded metals and other potentially harmful substances like explosives. They will also be armed with firearms in order to resist any forced entry into the compound. The guards will also have training guard dogs from the dog unit of the security company. All the guards will have walkie-talkies so that they are in constant communication with one another (Wells 2009). Another guard will be stationed next to the lake to will monitor the area for threats emanating from and the water body.
Detailed recommendations for personal security procedures for the client and his family including the client’s Journey Management Plan
The most pertinent matter in order to ensure the personal security of the client is and his family is the understanding that any security installations, although inconveniencing are for the purposes of enhancing the security of the client and his family (United States, 2008). In this regard, it is recommended that the client and his family cooperate in following all the security protocols incorporated. At a personal level, the client will be required to ensure vigilance in all his undertakings.
Firstly, the chief security officer in charge of the CEO’s security matters should organize all journey management plans for all family members. The best secure mode of transport should be sought that introduces fewer risks and makes the family less vulnerable to ARM attackers. In this context, the client will be transported in an armored vehicle to and from his pharmacy. A 6-ton class vehicle capable of moving under different terrain, high mobility is recommended. The vehicle design should focus on protecting the client against ballistic threats, artillery splinters, letter bombs, and any ambush. For more safety precautions, the vehicle is recommended to have a strong engine, about 285-hp diesel, capable of attaining a speed of 60 miles per hour on road within 5 seconds. The vehicle will provide its occupants composed of the CEO, two crew members and a maximum of four security personnel with high level security. It should have the capability of detecting an explosion within 3 miles range and retract where necessary.
On the other hand, his family members will be transported in a range rover vehicle with bullet proof with bullet proof materials. A group of five security officers armed with guns will be require to accompany the CEO and his family whenever they move out of the premises. During the travel process, no unexpected stopovers will be made unless under forcing circumstances.
Secondly, the chief security officer will receive any information about the client’s intended destinations a day prior to the journey. This plan aims at allowing the security officer time to check the routes, and look for desired stopover areas for snacks or bathrooms. In addition, the security officer is required to plan for alternative routes and hide points if at all an attack happen while on the way. In addition, the travel plan should contain information about the nearest police stations and hospitals for emergency purposes
Detailed recommendations for Emergency Response
Emergency response system should alert the associated security group of any threat in the CEO’s residence. To implement this process, a recommendation for an automated emergency response system is made. The system will be able to raise an alarm in case of any emergency associated with AMR attack, fire, or any other kind of a threat. Other simultaneous actions will involve automatic messages sent to the security company for an emergency response unit to be sent. In addition, contacts will be made with the local policed department so that distress calls will be relayed to them for immediate action. The automatic locks on the doors will automatically lock the doors from the inside.
On the other hand, it is recommended that a patrol vehicle be patrolling the area around the premises regularly in order to identify any threat and notify the relevant authority. The vehicle will be located at strategic places around the perimeter wall where security personnel have a wider view of the surrounding. In addition, the vehicle should be equipped with effective communication gadgets such as walkie-talkie, Geographical Positioning System (GPS) for easier location, a map of the premises, and an alarm system.
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