A Growing Culture of Risk
By Rob Bates – During the last 6 months we have seen an increase in attacks on high-profile individuals, including politicians, celebrities and footballers. With lives being played out for all to see and follow, the question of personal protection and the need to review how a digital footprint can magnify the chances of being targeted, is in growing demand.
In today’s turbulent world, it is sometimes difficult to define who needs protection from whom and from what. Be it the physical protection of a bodyguard or greater acceptance of personal security on social media.
The threat to both individuals and companies has never been so diverse. Advising people that require or want protection is something that not everyone is qualified to do especially given the interconnectivity between the different types of threat. Understanding this space and recognising how threats change depending on the situation and circumstance is imperative, especially if you are responsible with discussing a clients protective needs.
In today’s connected and ‘always on’ culture, social media is a mandatory medium and without such access, people are not and do not feel suitably connected. However, the vastly increased exposure driven by this culture, leads us to share our lives in ways inconceivable in the past. Given this, is there a connection between an individual’s social media footprint and the threats they may face? Again, if threat and risk are moveable elements, does it seem sensible to increase or decrease the protection provision depending on the actions of the individual?
Celebrities
The recent robbery of Kim Kardashian at an exclusive hotel apartment in Paris, is a prime example of someone who has an extremely high profile and whose social media is monitored by both fans and potential criminals alike. Kim by definition courts attention as part of her daily life and became a victim of a violent crime. Given the amount of information openly available, did either the Kardashian family office or the Protection Officers assigned to Kim, ever question the levels of protection and resources available? A realistic and honest assessment would have easily highlighted the need for extra coverage of the exclusive apartments. Whilst much media attention has blamed the single bodyguard for being away from Kim Kardashian’s side when she was robbed, the reality is that a single unarmed security officer versus a group of armed attackers will only delay the inevitable. A better question might be to ask whether after such a high-profile display of wealth, why was the security coverage not increased or the target building hardened? Especially as information regarding Kim’s stay was commonplace in conventional media. In addition, the combination of the attacker’s level of planning and the fact that Kim had stayed in the building before, also raises the possibility that the criminals may have used insider information to gain access.
Six weeks after Kim Kardashian’s robbery, Bollywood Star Mallika Sherawat was attacked from behind and sprayed with tear gas. The attack took place in an upscale neighbourhood just 2.7 miles from where Kim Kardashian was staying. Mallika also has a huge online footprint with over 2 million twitter followers and regularly posts about her life across the social media sphere. This once again raises the question of how was she targeted? Did the criminal fraternity take advantage of the strain on the French Police and their attentions being focused on the Islamist terror threat and use this to profile a soft target without fear of reprisal. Equally did Mallika Sherawat even consider the need for either a Protection detail or some advice about situational awareness and sensible security precautions?
Politicians
The death of Labour politician Jo Cox, the stabbing of Stephen Timms and the Hoax online execution of Peter Bones son all highlight not just the threat, but also the sad reality of how words can become deeds. Despite the annual cost of security advice at Westminster increasing by almost £500,000 between April and June 2016, the security and protection of the UK’s politicians is a moot point. Is there a disconnect between what is provided and the actual threat? Could the attack and subsequent murder of Jo Cox in a Yorkshire street have been anticipated given the revelations that the accused assailant had far right sympathies and had complied an extensive and terrifying dossier on his target?
In June of this year, MP Jo Cox was murdered after being shot and stabbed multiple times in Birstall, West Yorkshire, shortly before she was due to hold a constituency surgery. When her attacker Thomas Mair was stopped by the police 20 minutes later, it was claimed he held up his hands and told them ‘It’s me……I am a political activist’. Three days leading up to the murder, Mr Mair had visited public libraries in Batley and in Birstall where he used computers to look up Mrs Cox’s Twitter page and a Wikipedia page about her. He also wanted an answer to the question, ‘Is a .22 round deadly enough to kill with one shot to the head’?
MP Peter Bone was a victim of trolling, there was a mocked-up photograph purporting to show the execution of his son which was sent via social media. Mr Bone and his wife have also received death threats. Other incidents included ‘two bullet holes caused by air pellets in a constituency office window and an attack on his house. Mr Bone said he had dialled 999 just once over safety fears in his first 11 years as an MP, but three times since the EU referendum.
Back in 2010 MP Stephen Timms was stabbed twice at a constituency surgery in revenge for his vote for the Iraq war. At the time the 21-year-old student Roshonara Choudhry was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 15 years. It was discovered that Ms Choudhry had also drawn up a list of other MPs who had backed the UK’s military action in Iraq.
Senior Cabinet Members receive Specialist Police Protection, that in some cases include armoured cars, motorcycle outriders and 24/7 armed police protection. Whilst these provisions are gradually reduced after they leave office, how can someone be under threat for two years whilst in a senior position and then receive nothing two months later after leaving their post? By definition however, all protection operations cost a great deal of money and there are a number of people who regard this as being far too expensive and a waste of taxpayer money. The question is therefore, where do the authorities draw the line? Should all politicians receive protection or is it sufficient to give them a security briefing when they first become an MP and then nothing else unless they rise to a lofty position in the Cabinet. Whilst politicians themselves will argue that they need to be accessible to their constituents, at what stage do the police or suitably qualified private security companies step in to provide a discreet physical presence? Given the events highlighted above whose responsibility is it to suggest or request coverage. Could vetted private security companies ease the burden of an overstretched police service and provide both advice and the appropriate level of protection?
Footballers
The highest profile examples of the targeting of Premiership footballers has involved Andy Carroll, Jordan Ibe and Tom Cleverley. All three are an example of how criminals have moved away from committing burglaries at footballer’s houses to actual physical attacks. Whilst, these may be isolated cases at the moment, is this the start of a worrying trend.
West Ham striker Andy Carroll was held at gunpoint not far from the West Ham training ground. Two bikers pulled alongside his £100,000 Mercedes-Benz G-Class and threatened him with a gun. Luckily Mr Carroll managed to drive off at speed and lose them. Back in 2010 his chrome-plated Range Rover was torched on the driveway of his then Newcastle United colleague Kevin Nolan.
Four days after Andy Carroll was held at gunpoint, Bournemouth midfielder Jordan Ibe was robbed at knifepoint when thieves rammed his car in Surrey Quays, South-East London. Mr Ibe had his £25,000 Rolex watch stolen.
Everton midfielder Tom Cleverley and his family were threatened with baseball bats in a £175,000 raid on his Manchester mansion. The England player and his reality TV star wife Georgina Dorsett had their designer handbags, watches and jewellery stolen, as well as two £50,000 Range Rovers.
It is perhaps no surprise that a footballer earning a weekly wage that far exceeds the amount some people earn in a decade is a prime target for criminals, and both regular and social media keep vast audiences informed of the lifestyles, cars and the wealth of players and managers. Waiting at the team training ground, one could easily identify which of the players leaves in their new and expensive car. Subsequently following them can allow criminals to easily identify a pattern in a regular route along which an ‘ambush’ can be sprung. Do footballers have any input about basic situational awareness and do clubs understand what a financial asset they are and do enough to protect that asset?
Conclusion
I am not suggesting that all MPs, celebrities and footballers need close protection, however, Blackstone Consultancy can advise with social media, cyber, due diligence, residential/commercial property surveys and close protection when required. When armed with the most pertinent information, Blackstone Consultancy will ensure an effective and proportional repossess to an individual’s security issues.