This week, we're going to look at another "peripheral" topic regarding #situationalawareness--risk.
I think most will agree that risk is integral to proper SA, but most approach it on the fly. I propose that it is best approached intentionally. If you don't recognize that risk (the product of recognizing danger) exists, you won't really recognize the need for SA.
Risk analysis is a practice that is used at almost every level of industry and corporate security. Within our regular day-to-day, however, it seems to be somewhat ignored. So how can you fit #riskanalysis into your daily life? Here are a few areas you may want to consider when conducting analysis regarding your routes and destinations:
1) Crime; what are the crime trends (people, places, specific crimes, etc.) en route to, and at your destinations?
2) Special events; is there anything en route to, or at your destination that may draw an abnormal number of people? These could include anything from sports and concerts to protests and political rallies. Large crowds also tend to draw criminals and [possibly] terrorists.
3) "Assets"; do you have friends that can provide emergency assistance? What type of first responder presence can you expect, and what is the expected response time? If there is a special event, how will it impact all of these?
4) Weather; wait, weather? In the same vein as special events, look at season-specific weather patterns and/or natural disasters. Especially in the aftermath. Recovery periods often bring out looters and others looking for illicit opportunities.
Once you have identified all of the risks, your next task is how reduce their likelihood and/or severity. It is impossible to remove all risk, but it is possible to mitigate it. How you do that has almost endless options based on almost innumerable variables. How to fight risk is, honestly, up to you.
Obviously, this is not an all-inclusive list; nor is it a primer in risk analysis. BUT, it can give you a basic framework to reevaluate your activities.
To learn more about risk and planning, and how to #commandyourspace, contact us at pete.w@defensiveapplicationstrainninggroup.com.
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