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Executive and personal protection takes over from bodyguards and minders.

private security and personal protection

Kidnap threats, ransom demands, hostage taking, blackmail and many other forms of terrorism directed at individuals are real-life issues and happen more often than we are led to believe. Bodyguards and minders are deemed to be essential to today's superstars and big appearances wouldn't be the same without them! Some of their 'qualifications' may be questionable, as well as their real skills in dealing with confrontation - afterall are they just there for cosmetic reasons and to massage the ego of the paymaster? Remove them from this equation for a moment and take a look at people in a real world as opposed to 'Tinsel Town'.

Personal protection takes over from minders and body guards. Generally a personal or executive protection operative employed by a specialised security company is selected not only on their previous public or private sector experience in close protection, but on their ability to conform to any environment unobtrusively and in a manner that denotes the client's lifestyle. The majority will have previous military, police or security experience which is enhanced by other skills such as fire control, para-medicine, detection and disposal of improvised explosive devices, evasive and defensive driving, communication skills and additional skills in threat assessment, psychology, firearms, unarmed combat and anti surveillance. Needless to say that no single individual can be fully trained in every possible discipline - except of course our Oscar winning actors who can make us believe in super heroes on film and then employ bodyguards and minders when off screen.

A businessman may have received a kidnap threat or a form of blackmail - these generally come with the standard "don't contact the police" caveat. I don't care who you are, if you receive such a personal threat, you cannot make a clear decision and you can trust no one, not even your key man or personal assistant. The police always advice anyone to make contact and report the threat but your mind is ringing with all sorts of conflicting information. The last thing you want is someone hanging around you that looks like a thug - or even worse, someone that looks like a policeman. It is more than likely a loved one that will become the physical victim and their life depends on you making the right decision. Do you pick up yellow pages and look under 'Bodyguards' or 'personal protection specialists' ?

Your mind is not functioning properly, these may be your own personal thoughts, If you contact the police will it cost a life ?, would the police be happy in simply acting as negotiators and mediators - or do they want to bring the terrorists to justice? It is a tough call, however if for one moment there was a specialist firm who are more interested in the clients interest than in the name of justice, who would you call?

"operator, get me a firm of negotiators and mediators "

The Internet is a wonderful thing, pick a search engine - I chose www.google.co.uk because I think Google is the best, now type in 'negotiators and mediators' click here for the results. Enter Carnelian International . This company came up number one. I had another flash of inspiration, Carnelian International are based in Essex, so I contacted the Essex Chamber of Commerce and asked if they could let me have contact details of any members who are involved in Security Risk Negotiations .... I thought that would throw them but it didn't and Carnelian International's full details were given to me, so the next move was to call them. The Chamber gave me 01245 380 683 and I spoke with Mark Phillips.

The first thing that becomes apparent is there is no cloak of secrecy and one gets the impression that Mr.Phillips had heard it all before and he took my 'kidnap scenario' very seriously indeed. He also reassured me that kidnap, blackmail, ransom and hostage taking are not the only things that need professional negotiators and mediators.

The word 'Conflict' seems to be the hub of this business and all elements of this security and risk management industry stems from conflict. In businesses conflict can occur from a number of different sources, such as Competitors, Pressure or Lobby groups, Political regimes or even employees. In addition, some industries face further confliction issues with Environmentalists, Animal Rights or Anti Capitalist extremists, who have inflicted wide spread economic and emotional damage to many companies. Through boycotts, demonstrations, abusive and threatening letter-writing campaigns, criminal and terrorist acts, and lurid charges of animal abuse targeted at animal researchers, livestock breeders and even farmers. To highlight this Daniel T. Oliver, a research associate at the Capital Research Center, USA wrote a report relating to so-called 'animal rights activists' and found that; animal rights groups routinely use false and unsubstantiated allegations of animal abuse to raise funds, attract media attention, and bring supporters into the movement. and animal rights groups have imposed significant costs on the individuals, businesses, and concerns they have targeted. Moreover, these costs are borne by all of society—for example, when raids on research laboratories destroy studies that seek to better understand fatal diseases. Legitimate businessmen whether they are executives to research labs or indeed farmers looking at the future of GM crops may well need close protection at some time.

It isn't just the animal rights issues that attract conflict and need risk management, it is;

Aviation & Tourism
September 11 will be recorded at the worse act of terrorism ever and questions will be constantly asked as to the security on that day.
Computers & Information Technology
Like animal rights, we also have 'Human Rights' and extremists who will cause conflict in the computer and IT industry.
Construction
The very bare bones are exposed as a building is developed, followed by the internal organ. At some stage we reach a time when security is critical. We are not talking about manned guards and unformed security but specialists who can survey and 'sweep' the site for anything from explosives to surveillance devices.
Fashion & Clothing
Designer labels cost thousands but even before any material is cut, the pattern itself, the template is worth millions, the black market is deadly to any legitimate industry and counterfeit goods are a threat their business.
Financial Services
Banking institutions have always fallen victim to robbery but as the days of a cashless society draw nearer, smart crime and fraud increases.
Oil and Minerals
Executives of the cash rich oil and mineral industry are not the only people under threat in this business. Ron Sanders an American oil worker, who was among a group of foreigners kidnapped in Ecuador was shot in the back, and his body wrapped in a white sheet on which was written: "I am a gringo. For non-payment of ransom." In contrast Elaine Broom, a senior cashier with an Aberdeen oil service company admitted embezzling more than £800,000 from her employer.
Pharmaceuticals
A frightening number of medical drugs sold in South East Asia are fakes. Scientists have found anti-malarial drugs that were useless, meningitis vaccine made from tap water and contraceptive pills that consisted of nothing but wheat flour.
Satellite and Cable Telecommunications
A European Parliamentary committee is advising computer users to encrypt their e-mails if they want to avoid being spied on by the Echelon eavesdropping network.Echelon is the name given to an international electronic eavesdropping network run by the intelligence organisations of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. IT security is extremely important.

What do firms like Carnelian International do? I spoke with Mark Phillips. and asked him about the ethos of Carnelian International

" The main objective is to allow companies to prosper and operate free from conflict within the UK or worldwide.

Carnelian provides interventions that address such conflicts in three distinct responses:

Preventive deployment: Measures are taken in order to stall or prevent conflict; such measures would include the provision of Close Protection and/or Conflict Negotiators.
Fact Finding: In a given situation Carnelian can gather the appropriate information that will help your company to address or resolve the Conflict situation.
Advise: In many cases individual companies have their own mediation service and often act on their own behalf. In such cases we can provide additional support or advise your management team on additional conflict factors. "

What other services do you provide?

" Broadly speaking, we will involve ourselves in any aspect of your business that may involve a measure of risk or conflict. This can often involve providing highly trained chauffeur drivers and vehicles, overseeing travel arrangements, transporting valuable documents or even data protection, such as IT security or Surveillance equipment.

Although these services are provided to companies who have enlisted our Conflict Resolution service."

How much does your service cost?

Every conflict case is different; hence the operational make up of the management team may vary depending on the task presented to us. However, the cost is reasonable compared to the fee of employing each specialist individually or training your own management team to cope or advise with conflict variables.

If I was undecided as to whether we need your services, is there anything else I should consider?

" If you operate internationally then such factors such as War on Land or International Politics will effect your investments. For example, in cases of deprivation there maybe an inability to export finished products from the foreign investment. Moreover, political changes may lead to Forced Abandonment of mobile assets due to the foreign country's deteriorating security situation, or confiscation of such assets by third party or government. Or Law, Order Decree or Import/Export Restriction, foreign government may place restrictions on corporate investments that may result in an inability to operate or pursue trading activities.

Within the United Kingdom, your investments can further be damaged by conflicts arising from: members of the public including employees, clients or Criminal individuals; Property Terrorism and Sabotage, Strikes, Riots and Civil Commotion, or Malicious Damage."

Contact Information

Carnelian International,
4 Lubards Lodge,
Rayleigh,
Essex SS6 9QG
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 1245 380 683

Fax: +44 1245 382 894

Email: enquiries@carnelian-international.com

www.thewordis.com

News Release By

Peter Yexley
Hertfordshire Internet
The Granary,
Redwell Wood Farm, Ridge,
Herts, EN6 3NA

Telephone 01707 646457
Fax: 01707 646475
Email.peter@ukhq.com

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