Managing Threat Free Environment In Malls

By Mr. Sudhir Gauriar, Chief of Security, CB Richard Ellis South Asia Ltd, New Delhi, India.

Last decade has witnessed a continuous advent of several multi-national giants to our country resulting in the coming up of well-planned multi-storied buildings in and around the major cities of the country. Growing Malls and Multiplexes in every nook and corners of the cities has further pierced the skyline.

The concept of open markets is receding fast and is transforming to single roof shopping including entertainment and eateries. While it gives immense pleasure to see crowds of people visiting these Malls, their safety and security and providing them with congenial environment can only be gauged by an expert security professional. The fast deteriorating security scenario, increasing crime rate and the danger of natural disasters looming large on the future, the safety of these shoppers has to be perceived and planned much before the construction starts. It is mind boggling to visualize the tedious task of providing safety and security to these lofty Malls and its dwellers.

These Malls are not only the ‘assets of the nation’ but also houses innumerable precious lives, costly gadgets and valuable stores of the merchandise. The Security of these assets deserves to be planned and executed to an extent of providing a ‘complete congenial enjoying atmosphere’ and a ‘tremendous sense of security’ to its users. Ensuring an efficient security system to these Malls is one of the most important responsibilities of the Mall Managers. A well-secured and orderly Mall, not only automatically enhances the standard of maintenance but also add values to the reputation and cost of the building.

Access Control system is the crux of any efficient security system. While the access to the malls can not be controlled as in offices etc, yet, the access can be restricted by: -

1. sharp eyes of the security men who could filter out people who may cause danger to the decorum of the Mall.

2. Observation at the entry and further shadowing for few minutes helps in segregating the mischief mongers and innocents.

3. Use of CCTV cameras is deterrent, preventive and investigative.

4. Passing the public through a door frame Metal detector, besides detecting fire arms, weapons etc, also helps in creating a disciplined atmosphere within the Mall.

5. While all the visitors cannot be unobtrusively frisked, selective frisking of suspicious visitors sends message loud and clear.

6. While it is recommended that there should be minimum number of Entry Points in a Mall, it is simultaneously stressed that there should maximum number of Exit points.

7. Vetting and filtration of all visitors should be done at the entry point. The Security staff should be so trained that they are able to identify a possible hazard to the peace of the Area.

8. While on duty at the gate, the security personnel should be very ‘firm’ and at the same time be ‘very polite’. The best security staff is those who speak the least at the gate and allow their ‘smart turnout’ to speak for them.

9. The security personnel must be given training to understand the psychology of the people who venture the area.

10. The security staff should be trained to consider all those entering the complex as their ‘guest’ and remain completely ‘cool minded and warm hearted’ in discharging their duties.

11. It must be inculcated in their habit to remain cool, kind and courteous even in the height of provocation.

12. Onus of educating the staff and workers of their obligations towards security lies with the Management and senior echelons of the security setup.

To enforce ‘order and discipline’ in the Mall is another important responsibility of the security personnel. It is one of the invisible duties of the people responsible for providing security to the complex. Prevention of any thing that would affect the peace, harmony, discipline and order in the building is the prime responsibility of the security staff of the area. Timely information of the malfunctioning of any facilities of the building would certainly help in avoiding a chaotic scenario and avoidable commotion in the Mall. The security staff deployed in the Mall must be armed with enough powers by the Management to mobilize all the staff connected with the services to act and react to an emergency situation. They should be in a position to visualize these problems and alert the concerned staff of the impending failure of the system and get it rectified on time to avoid chaos and commotion.

Regulation of traffic discipline and enforcement of movement control is yet another important task of the security services. A thorough movement control of all vehicles is most important duty of the Security. The security staff must be trained in traffic discipline.

Simple rule of parking like: -

1. Nose of the vehicle to face outside when parked.
2. Vehicles to be parked in Neutral gear.
3. To be parked in the Parking Bays and not in Drive Way.
4. Long Cars not to be parked on the turns or curves.
5. Drivers to be contained in Drivers sitting areas only and not allowed loitering in the parking areas.
6. Any act of loitering of any individual in the Parking Area must be viewed with suspicion.

Enforcement of building bylaws, administrative guidelines and occupational instructions are also to be implemented by the security staff. Monitoring cleanliness affecting the health of the visitors is an essential duty of the security men deployed. Littering in the area by the visitors must strictly be denied by the security as it may affect the health of others.

Preserving Mall decorum is another task of the security personnel deployed at a Mall, thus, they should be deployed in depth inside the Mall to enforce a semblance of discipline inside of the Mall. Both in principle and in practice every nook and corner of the area must be under observation of either the surveillance equipment or the security staff. Relentless patrolling by watchful security personnel is a better way to observe the area than to deploy more and more men. The security staff must be thoroughly trained to discreetly observe the activities of visitors for any unwarranted activities.

Perimeter protection is as important as the access control at the gate. The perimeter wall surrounding the complex should be strong, well demarcated and non-negotiable. Above all, it should be always well-lighted and kept under observation of the security personnel or the electronic surveillance system.

Reporting of any incident of theft, loss or damage to the building at once to the Management is an equally important aspect of a good security management.

Crisis Management round the clock should be a part and parcel of the security drills and training. The security staff must be thoroughly versed with complete geography of the inside of the premises to an extent that they should be able to operate even in pitch darkness. The crisis management drills should be regularly inoculated and rehearsed to inculcate reactions while managing all unforeseen situations particularly fire and tremor. Several eventualities like dealing with: -

a) Scuffle among visitors
b) Injury to a visitor
c) Sudden ailment/ death of a visitor.
d) Armed attack to the complex
also needs to briefed to the security staff.

In face of the fast changing security scenario in the country, the security deployment, as in the past, is no more confined to the gates of the building. It has assumed a greater role of managing a complete threat free and orderly environment within and around the campus.

Besides providing a sterile atmosphere in the given zone, the planners of the security system must understand and take in to account the intelligence input to perceive problems and visualise the security quotient of the area. In an ideal security system, adequate use of modern security gadgets amalgamated with overlapping deployment of manpower is a necessity to cater for safety to its occupants.

Go Top

Bomb Threats & Physical Security Planning

Searching for Bombs is like searching for a needle in a haystack

By Mr. GB Singh, Editor, Security Today, India.

The following room search technique is based on the use of a two-person searching team. While there are many minor variations possible in searching a room, the following contains only the basic techniques.

When the two-person search team enters the room to be searched, they should first move to various parts of the room and stand quietly with their eyes closed and listen for a clockwork device. Frequently, a clockwork mechanism can be quickly detected without use of special equipment. Even if no clockwork mechanism is detected, the team is now aware of the background noise level within the room itself.

Background noise or transferred sound is always disturbing during a building search. If a ticking sound is heard but cannot be located, one might become unnerved. The ticking sound may come from an unbalanced air-conditioner fan several floors away or from a dripping sink down the hall. Sound will transfer through air-conditioning ducts, along water pipes, and through walls. One of the most difficult buildings to search is one that has steam or hot water heat. This type of building will constantly thump, crack, chatter, and tick due to the movement of the steam or hot water through the pipes and the expansion and contraction of the pipes. Background noise may also include outside traffic sounds, rain, and wind.

The individual in charge of the room searching team should look around the room and determine how the room is to be divided for searching and to what height the first searching sweep should extend. The first searching sweep will cover all items resting on the floor up to the selected height.

You should divide the room into two virtually equal parts. This equal division should be based on the number and type of objects in the room to be searched and not on the size of the room. An imaginary line is then drawn between two objects in the room; e.g., the edge of the window on the north wall to the floor lamp on the south wall.

First Room-Searching Sweep

Look at the furniture or objects in the room and determine the average height of the majority of items resting on the floor. In an average room, this height usually includes table or desk tops and chair backs. The first searching height usually covers the items in the room up to hip height.

After the room has been divided and a searching height has been selected, both individuals go to one end of the room division line and start from a back-to-back position. This is the starting point, and the same point will be used on each successive searching sweep. Each person now starts searching his/her way around the room, working toward the other person, checking all items resting on the floor around the wall area of the room. When the two individuals meet, they will have completed a "wall sweep." They should then work together and check all items in the middle of the room up to the selected hip height, including the floor under the rugs. This first searching sweep should also include those items which may be mounted on or in the walls, such as air-conditioning ducts, baseboard heaters, and built-in wall cupboards, if these fixtures are below hip height.

The first searching sweep usually consumes the most time and effort. During all the searching sweeps, use the electronic or medical stethoscope on walls, furniture items, and floors.

Second Room-Searching Sweep

The individual in charge again looks at the furniture or objects in the room and determines the height of the second searching sweep. This height is usually from the hip to the chin or top of the head. The two persons return to the starting point and repeat the searching technique at the second selected searching height. This sweep usually covers pictures hanging on the walls, built bookcases, and tall table lamps.

Third Room-Searching Sweep

When the second searching sweep is completed, the person in charge again determines the next searching height, usually from the chin or the top of the head up to the ceiling. The third sweep is then made. This sweep usually covers high mounted air-conditioning ducts and hanging light fixtures.

Fourth Room-Searching Sweep

If the room has a false or suspended ceiling and for that matter, false flooring, the fourth sweep involves investigation of these area. Check flush or ceiling-mounted light fixtures, air conditioning or ventilation ducts, sound or speaker systems, electrical wiring, and structural frame members.

Have a sign or marker indicating "Search Completed" conspicuously posted in the area. Place a piece of colored Scotch tape across the door and door jamb approximately 2 feet above floor level if the use of signs is not practical.

The room searching technique can be expanded. The same basic technique can be applied to search any enclosed area. Encourage the use of common sense or logic in searching. If a guest speaker at a convention has been threatened, common sense would indicate searching the speaker's platform and microphones first, but always return to the searching technique. Do not rely on random or spot checking of only logical target areas. The bomber may not be a logical person.

In conclusion, the following steps should be taken in order to search a room:
1. Divide the area and select a search height
2. Start from the bottom and work up.
3. Start back-to-back and work toward each other.
4. Go around the walls and proceed toward the center of the room.

Suspicious Objects Located

It is imperative that personnel involved in a search be instructed that their only mission is to search for and report suspicious objects. Under no circumstances should anyone move, jar or touch a suspicious object or anything attached to it. The removal or disarming of a bomb must be left to the professionals in explosive ordnance disposal. When a suspicious object is discovered, the following procedures are recommended:

1. Report the location and an accurate description of the object to the appropriate warden. This information should be relayed immediately to the command center, which will, notify the police and fire departments, and rescue squad. These officers should be met and escorted to the scene.

2. If absolutely necessary, place sandbags or mattresses, never metal shields, around the suspicious object. Do not attempt to cover the object.

3. Identify the danger area, and block it off with a clear zone of at least 300 feet, including floors below and above the object.

4. Check to see that all doors and windows are open to minimize primary damage from blast and secondary damage from fragmentation.

5. Evacuate the building.

6. Do not permit re-entry into the building until the device has been removed/disarmed, and the building declared safe for re-entry.

Handling of the News Media

It is of paramount importance that all inquiries from the news media be directed to one individual appointed as spokesperson. All other persons should be instructed not to discuss the situation with outsiders, especially the news media. The purpose of this provision is to furnish the news media with accurate information and to see that additional bomb threat calls are not precipitated by irresponsible statements from uninformed sources.

Bomb Incident Plan

1. Designate a chain of command.

2. Establish a command center.

3. Decide what primary and alternate communications will be used.

4. Establish clearly how and by whom a bomb threat will be evaluated.

5. Decide what procedures will be followed when a bomb threat is received or device discovered.

6. Determine to what extent the available bomb squad will assist and at what point the squad will respond.

7. Provide an evacuation plan with enough flexibility to avoid a suspected danger area.

8. Designate search teams.

9. Designate areas to be searched.

10. Establish techniques to be utilized during search.

11. Establish a procedure to report and track progress of the search and a method to lead qualified bomb technicians to a suspicious package.

12. Have a contingency plan available if a bomb should go off.

13. Establish a simple-to-follow procedure for the person receiving the bomb threat.

14. Review your physical security plan in conjunction with the development of your bomb incident plan.

Command Center

1. Designate a primary location and an alternate location.

2. Assign personnel and designate decision making authority.

3. Establish a method for tracking search teams.

4. Maintain a list of likely target areas.

5. Maintain a blueprint of floor diagrams in the center.

6. Establish primary and secondary methods of communication. (Caution-the use of twoway radios during a search can cause premature detonation of an electric blasting cap.)

7. Formulate a plan for establishing a command center, if a threat is received after normal work hours.

8. Maintain a roster of all necessary telephone numbers.

Bomb Search Illustrations









BOMB THREAT CHECKLIST

Exact time of call:
Exact words of caller:

QUESTIONS TO ASK

1.    When is bomb going to explode?
2.    Where is the bomb?
3.    What does it look like?
4.    What kind of bomb is it?
5.    What will cause it to explode?
6.    Did you place the bomb?
7.    Why?
8.    Where are you calling from?
9.    What is your address?
10.  What is your name?

If voice is familiar, whom did it sound like?
Were there any background noises?
Remarks:
Person receiving call:
Telephone number call received at:
Date:
Report call immediately to:
(Refer to bomb incident plan)

THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN THE JUL-AUG 2005 ISSUE OF SECURITY TODAY
FOR MORE INFORMATION: VISIT www.securitytodayonline.com

Go Top