Checklist
  • Always consider the possibility of weapons being used to threaten, dissuade or harm you if you are dealing with criminal elements or people in positions of power with much to lose from your investigations.
  • Be vigilant in looking for potential sites where you can be ambushed and hijacked.  Minimise the possibility of either from occurring rather than hoping to be able to defend yourself.
  • If you are able to see a situation developing, try to avoid it as much as possible by changing your route, taking an unexpected turn or simply leaving the scene as quickly as possible.
  • Use escape routes where possible and try to draw attention to your situation to dissuade your assailants from pursuing or taking further risks to ambush you.
  • If you are cornered, think positively of escape and use whatever technique offers the lowest risk and greatest control to effect an escape.
  • Your vehicle may well become a weapon itself and be used to scatter your assailants - al­though you should not attempt this if there are weapons raised in your direction.
  • Think of your vehicle as a potential weapon if used against you and do whatever you can to protect it from tampering and from having devices attached that can be operated remotely and discretely.
  • Consider any possible tampering as being serious - do not attempt to remove, examine or otherwise touch any device that is discovered on your vehicle.
  • Notify the authorities of any signs of devices attached to your vehicle - they are much better equipped to handle such devices and can defuse or explode them safely.
  • Never take your personal security lightly, never disregard any threat made against you, your operatives or your family. Notify the authorities of any such threat and allow them to investi­gate fully. You can still carry out basic precautionary measure yourself but in the knowledge that you are being protected by trained officers who can defuse the situation before  weapons are used against you.