The Tribune

Drawing on his experience of a long career in policing and private security, Paul Thompson offers advice on how the pubic can stop themselves from becoming victims of crime

It is a fact that New Providence is under attack from terrorists who are trying to change our way of life and destroy our economy.

In resisting this criminal assault, the Royal Bahamas Police Force has remained steadfast and has achieved commendable results. But the escalation of violent crime forces us to upgrade and extend security and safety measures in a variety of ways.

Since leaving the police force in the 1980s I have worked as a private security specialist in a number of sectors. Initially I was director of security at the Paradise Island Resort & Casino, now Atlantis. One of my chief responsibilities there was to provide security for a number of Very Important Persons (VIPs).

During my time on Paradise Island, special visitors we were assigned to protect included the deposed Shah of Iran (who was threatened with assassination); former American presidents; British royalty; well-known movie stars and high-profile politicians - both foreign and local.

In recent times, Bahamian police have had to deal with criminal attacks on senior politicians and other high-profile residents. And lately we have experienced frequent home invasions in middle- and upper-class neighbourhoods, often involving elderly householders.

Providing adequate security coverage at the private homes of officials requires the consideration and approval of the occupants, with their privacy needs taken fully into account. However, it is much easier to provide security at state-owned residences or facilities such as Government House.

Nevertheless, the security and safety of our leaders and essential public servants is of paramount importance. And we have an equal obligation under international law to protect visiting foreign dignitaries and resident foreign diplomats in this country.

Based on my experience, there are many enhancements that could be made to the way we protect high-profile individuals and national leaders in the Bahamas.

For example, the home of the Prime Minister, every Cabinet minister, judges, magistrates and senior civil servants should include an alarm system with police-monitored security cameras. And official vehicles should be fitted with tracking devices and other forms of communication for easy location and prompt response.

There should be reserved parking for top officials near their place of work, with police personnel visible on their arrival and departure. At least one armed police officer should be on duty at the criminal courts at all times.

Police mobile patrols should regularly pass by the homes of all Members of Parliament who live in their patrol areas, especially at night. Any high-profile individual who is concerned about personal security may wish to seek the advice of a specialist who could conduct a security survey at their homes and offices.

Police Special Branch knowledge of individuals living near high-profile subjects could be important. In most countries there are special parking arrangements for senior government officials and their immediate families in certain areas.

Perhaps it is time to consider a longtime police recommendation to reserve parking on Parliament Street exclusively for MPs and their immediate families. And security cameras should be installed for the protection of their vehicles.

Protect yourself

You probably consider yourself a VIP when it comes to safety and security. So here are some tips that you can easily take advantage of.

By far the most common threat in residential neighbourhoods is burglary. And most housebreakings occur during the day, when the occupants are usually at work. The first step to prevent this crime is to “harden the target” by making illegal entry as difficult as possible.

Burglars are more likely to bypass your home if it requires too much effort to break in. Most robbers will enter a home via the front, back or garage doors - or perhaps through a bathroom window. The back and garage doors are usually the weakest points as they provide the most cover.

High-quality locks should be installed on all exterior doors. A quality dead bolt lock will have a bevelled casing to inhibit the use of lock pliers to shear off cylinder pins. A quality door knob inset will have a dead latch mechanism to prevent slipping the lock with a shim or credit card.

Sliding glass doors are secured by latches, which are vulnerable to being forced open from the outside because of the inherently defective latch mechanisms. This can easily be avoided by inserting a wooden dowel stick into the track too prevent movement of the slider. Other blocking devices include charley bars and screwed-down track blockers.

Older sliding glass doors can often be lifted of the track to defeat the locking mechanism. To prevent this from happening, door rollers must be kept in good condition and there are devices available in quality hardware stores that will prevent a sliding door from being lifted.

All accessible windows should be secured with secondary blocking or anti-lift devices. An open window visible from the street or alley may be the sole reason for your home to be selected by a burglar. Upper windows become attractive if they can be accessed from a stairway, tree, fence or by climbing on to balconies.

When working late, always move your vehicle as close as possible to your workplace. Check outside before opening the door to leave, and have your car keys in hand. Be alert and If you think you are being followed, drive to the nearest police station.

Talk openly to children about personal safety and encourage them to tell you or a trusted adult if anyone or anything makes them frightened, confused or uncomfortable. Make sure that children do not tell anyone who calls that they are at home alone. And do not open the door to strangers.

Most of this information emanates from police training notes and from manuals on crime prevention education. But these days it is also available online. And there is a lot of new technology on the market that can dramatically improve your personal safety and security of your home or office.

There are at least four highly recommended security consultants operating in the Bahamas: Wemco Security & Collections Ltd, Security Systems International, Security Concepts and Zoltan Szasz.

NEXT WEEK: Crime and the public service

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