Posts By: Jacob Charles

The power of surprise

Peter Stolwerk outlines the risks faced by operatives during tactical breaching operations, and explores how hydraulic breaching tools can save lives and help increase conviction rates   Every day, police forces all over the world are faced with suspects who may be hiding in houses or business premises. In many cases these suspects are armed,… Read more »

Cracking Fallujah

As Iraqi government troops once again fight for control of the city of Fallujah, Anthony Tucker-Jones reports on the growing chaos in Iraq’s troubled Sunni triangle   Recent fighting for control of the Iraqi city of Fallujah is symptomatic of a much wider al-Qaeda threat that is slowly worsening right across the Levant and the… Read more »

Built-in security

Chris Driver-Williams examines how security and blast-mitigation can be designed into otherwise vulnerable buildings to limit the effects of terrorist attacks   As he neared the end of the bustling rush-hour journey through Downtown Oklohoma City, the former soldier-turned security guard reached down into the foot-well and calmly lit the end of the burning-fuse. He… Read more »

Two dogs and a bone

As tensions continue to grow over the Russian occupation of the Crimea, John Chisholm assesses the ethnic and political factors which threaten to pull the Ukraine apart   Ukraine has now had two liberal revolutions. The second proved bloodier, more drawn-out and more contentious than the first. With both the European Union and Russia pulling… Read more »

Eyes on the operation

Terry White discusses how HD wireless video cameras and satellite communications can transform surveillance and security operations, giving immediate and actionable intelligence to commanders   While global defence spending is on the rise, many governments and organisations around the world are still facing increasingly constrained budgets. At the same time, surveillance is becoming increasingly complex… Read more »

A second look at cargo

John Leach examines the latest dual-view screening technology and welcomes forthcoming legislation which will improve the security of freight shipping and handling   Dual-view X-ray technology has been available for several years now, and is widely seen in the aviation and freight transport industries as the future of bulk screening. But new legislation due to… Read more »

The standards approach

Alastair Henman argues that governments, standards bodies, manufacturers, installers and customers of security measures must all pull together behind common accreditation and test standards in the global war on terror and organised crime.   Nation states have fiercely defended their borders historically in the belief it will keep their citizens safe and secure. That is… Read more »

Regarding radicalisation

As the UK government warns of the radicalising effects of the Syrian conflict, Robert de la Poer asks Dr Douglas Weeks whether the UK’s Prevent counter-radicalisation strategy is working   RP: Some of our readers may not be aware of the work of the Handa Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (HCSTPV)…. Read more »

Fear and loathing in Africa

Anthony Tucker-Jones reports on the Islamist terror threat facing Central Africa   Outside Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, next to the international airport is a sprawling camp home to some 100,000 Christian refugees. They live in squalid conditions and in fear of their Muslim neighbours. This is symptomatic of the vast humanitarian… Read more »

Protecting the realm

The threat of attack by vehicle-borne IEDs remains a grave concern. Marcus Gerrard discusses how the PAS 68 anti-terrorism rating has driven the innovation of a new generation of vehicle-mitigation measures designed to protect critical infrastructure   Since 9/11, anti-terrorist bollards and barriers have become an integral part of the security market place. The purpose… Read more »