CP Operational Security?

[Rich H]

All,

I would be very interested to hear your views on the following:

To what extent do you believe that Close Protection operational security is detrimentally affected by forum discussions, books or other media?

Many threads on this forum have included several posts by different forum members stating that operational security for CP in general could be affected by comments made by posts of other members.

If specifics such as amount of ammunition carried, radio frequencies used, manpower strength and identities of team members, VRN's, counter-surveillance/ attack teams etc is not disclosed then do you believe that topic conversations including how a BG reacts in certain situations is against opsec given that many books are written on the subject?

Do you believe that some people may be a little alarmist and over sensitive to the issue?

Thanks.


Rich H

[kenpsd]

Well Rich H,

As usual, you really put together a great post, no doubt this one will generate some rises in blood pressure. My two pence worth? Well as you rightly point out, a lot of what could be considered to be 'restricted' information is out there in the public domain and relatively easily accessed by any spotty teenager with a computer and internet link. This includes the make up and manning levels of various high profile teams, vehicle types and makes, there are even sites that publish the locations of the servicing garages of the UK Security Services vehicles.
However, it is when personal details or information that makes a specific operator or operators easily traceable and then puts them at risk, then it becomes a problem.Having said that, any group who want to target a particular individual will spend time and effort on recces. But hey, why make it easy for them!
BTW how much ammo do I carry.....sh*t loads, mainly because I am a crap shot!
Take care.
Kenpsd.

[Rich H]

Many thanks Ken,

I agree with everything you say but then again I think we have much a similar background - Ex Para/ Rmp CP?!

I have to say that personally, I can never get too excited about this. Many posts here have been slated and yet I could never see the big deal? It just leads me to believe that there is some truth in that an issue is made to 'big' the slater up. It must be emphasised that a clear difference exists between the provisions of information supplied in a book or a forum being open to the public domain for the subsequent possible use by terrorist/ criminal elements and the physical training practise, additional knowledge and application of skills needed to counter any ‘Reaction to Attack’ drills or covert protection and Surveillance methods put into operation by professional CP and surveillance teams.

Not wishing to upset the hornets nest - do the moderators not agree?


Rich H

[M4MED]

Hi Rich,

good post mate and very relevant.

I think OPSEC is essential in CP and is something we should all be cautious of breaching, especially in the places we have operated.

Chatting generically about tactics etc on here is fine, if that information can be found in any book or website. Chat away..... (within reason)

The problem arises when additional information and specifics are divulged, such as tactics and drills relating to specific; teams, places, clients, theatres, operations etc

This boils down to the individual CPO or team to manage.

However, just because the information is out there and freely available, doesn't mean we should draw more attention to it, unless for learning purposes.

Most generic posts on here are fairly harmless, although a few have come close to the bone and I wouldn't be impressed if a team mate was chin wagging about our drils and skills like that.

The administrators / moderators have picked up on this and nipped a few posts in the bud or removed them.

Stay safe

M4MED

[Rich H]

Thanks M4Med,

On the same wavelength. What would you think of a book that explained 'Reaction to Attack' drills including BG and team responsibilities? Drills that covered vehicle anti-ambush, IBG and embus/ debus reaction to attack options? Do you think that a book, written in an informative way as opposed to finite detail and written in a way from the author's perspective and thoughts on the issue as opposed to explaining what military and government teams actually do? Would this also be acceptable and if not why and what further 'secrets' are being given away?


Rich H

[sw1paul]

No need to worry too much about OPSEC,you can allway rely on the clients to divulge critical information/timings,locations on the phone or by email,or other type of info,thats if they are not busy setting you up by arranging meetings at the same time same location every day for a month."But yes the meeting does have to be at this same time,otherwise Mr Hadji will be having his siesta for the day"

Oh but you should brief them I hear you all say in alarm !!

Yeah right,whats the saying about leading a horse to water ??

Sorry to be a cynic on the subject.

[M4MED]

Fair play Paul, you're right. It is a Team Leaders nightmare trying to advise / educate / help / coerce a client into changing a routine or getting them to see the potential dangers. 99% of the time it doesn't happen and all we can do is plan around it and reduce our OPSEC output.

[M4MED]

Rich H,

Good question mate. I have just finished the Tac Med book I've been promising, so have been mulling over a lot of questions like that recently. I see the angle you're coming from and will have a think and get back to you asp.

Stay safe

M4MED

[Daisy]

Interesting...

Our methods in the private Security are very similar to those in eg. the MET...
With the current Public Coroner Inquiry to the shooting of de Menezes going on, i think it's good that this subject to be brought up, and discussed.

My personal opinion is that people should think of Persec and Opsec at all times. However many will vouch: there are far to many people who either disregard, or simply don't understand those concepts.

Some good questions to ask yourself as an Operator are:
'What will you do when Security has been breached,'
'How are you going to react',
'Which changes are you going to make to your working methods, etc.'
'Am I practising in a professional manner.'
I'm certain a lot of you (Rich?) can extend that list...

No matter which way you look at it, just a CP course and an sia badge do not make a CP, nor a Security Expert. With a lot more being published now than say ten years ago, it's definately something to think about and work on continuously.

Freedom for the public to know everything, is dangerous.

[M4MED]

Fair 1. You're right OPSEC is not something you learn overnight from a course. It becomes in ground over time by hearing horror stories or guys getting malleted, losing their jobs, getting battered or at best, making themselves look stupid and feel like they've let the side down. This stretches from compromising Op details over the net, mobile phone, emails, throwing reports in the bin (& not shredding) etc.