What makes a school security system effective?
Paul Middlemiss examines the options a school might have to establish effective security systems on campus.
Hotels and schools
A few years ago, I was approached by a 5-star luxury hotel complex in southern Mozambique that needed a comprehensive security review. In carrying out the task, my experience in the British forces was essential: you had to think about the same kind of things: patrols, ambushes, observation exercises, infiltration, escape and evasion.
When I was approached, not long after, by the Director (Graham Hill) of the English School of Mongolia (ESM) in Ulaanbaatar to do something similar for his School in Mongolia, my proposal followed similar lines of action that I had recommended for the hotel in Mozambique.
Analysing the threat
The first step is to construct a picture of the possible threats to safety and security which were discussed with Graham using a Threat Matrix, designed to determine the main dangers to the school’ which might arise, for example, from petty crime, vandalism or kidnapping.
A school security system cannot begin to be rendered effective without gathering up-to-date and reliable information to put the threat analysis into context, so the next step is to identify useful sources of intelligence to inform a solution, in this case, as it turned out, from the (relatively) Open-Source information available from the Defence Attaché in Tokyo. The District Police Chief is also a useful person to cultivate: he or she will know exactly what is going on in the ‘patch.’
Designing the response
In designing the provision of security solutions, I am a firm proponent of ‘boots on the ground’: this belief might be entrenched from 35 years in the British Army, and in particular, the Scottish Infantry. I agree with the proposition that up to 75% of a school’s security viability emanates from the presence of a physical Guard Force – the on-site Security Team. Furthermore, this figure is, in my view. exponentially increased if the Guard Force members are well trained, professional, well-equipped, smartly turned out, motivated and treated well. It is crucial that Guard Force members are treated with respect, with care and kindness by all members of the community. They are not some sort of Second or Third XI but are individuals who may be the first to lay down their lives to protect the children and should be treated accordingly.
They can be outsourced or employed directly. My own view is that, if at all possible, the members should be integral and inherent members of the school staff – on the ‘books’ as it were, and not contracted out to a perhaps faceless security company. That way, should the School Director want them to all work on New Year’s Day, for some reason, they will be the school’s alone, to task. This is an important and salient point. The team must also include a female member, who we managed to recruit at ESM in 2022.
Consistent training
Having ‘your own people’ means you can also establish a consistent long-term training regime that can be aligned with the school’s ethos and values. I have trained the ESM Guard Force twice now – in 2022 and 2023. They are most receptive to training; they thrive on, and enjoy it, but the training has to be demanding. It is also important that word gets out that your team are good and know what they are doing.
The ESM is located in the busy and bustling Bayanzurkh area of Ulaanbaatar. The school is overlooked by many high-rise blocks of flats. The flat dwellers, as well as the passers-by, are able to witness the training being carried out. This in itself, represents a most positive aspect: word of mouth within Bayanzurkh travels fast and word of mouth is that the ESM Guard Force are being trained not just by day but also by night and at weekends, too.
This represents a most valuable and beneficial tool of deterrence and reinforces the view that the Security Team are being well-trained and well-motivated.
The question of technology
What role should technology play in providing security? Over-reliance on – for example – CCTV systems is in my view is a mistake. No matter how high-tech your system, you still need people. A system built around CCTV monitoring calls for a whole shift of CCTV watchers, back up watchers, a team to respond to the CCTV watchers and has less physical presence on the ground. The prevailing risk behind such a system is that the security team can become inured to and dominated by the CCTV technology, almost neglecting the all-essential human factor involved in ‘being seen’. An alert guard at the main gate will pick up the ‘vibes’ and will be all the more ready to react when something happens or goes wrong. A CCTV operator will, through no fault of his or her own, is in danger of working in blissful isolation.
Scenario enactment and communication
Drills, exercises and scenarios organised with the school’s leadership team, need repeating all the time, more and more. The first drill (lockdown, for example) will not go smoothly, and a lot will need to be rectified. The second one will be a marked improvement. Parents have to be kept informed, otherwise they will be sent a text by their children declaring that ‘the school is under attack by a group of terrorists, and everyone is under their desks’: this had happened at the ESM at one point and was a very salient lesson about communication was learned.
Community liaison
Regular meetings with emergency and blue light services are vital. It is exceptionally important to establish early liaison with not just the full range of emergency services (police, fire, medical) but also the closest military unit. Furthermore, it is a sound idea to work with a fire crew (with full appliance), flashing blue light etc, in order to make a record of time of travel, Organising a ‘free’ fire brigade display for the assembled school is also useful – and the kids loved it! One may do the same with a local police unit.
The human factor
If I had to make a choice, I would always invest in human beings rather than spending a huge amount of money on a suite of CCTV and intruder alarm devices. Not only do security team members strike up a relationship with the school children and all staff members, but they represent the very first face of the school: a smart, polite and firm security guard, manning the main gate is what the visitor first encounters and ‘first impressions’ really do count.
Paul Middlemiss is a security adviser and a former Colonel in the British Army.
For more information see: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/paul-middlemiss-18a70590
FEATURE IMAGE: English School of Mongolia, with kind permission
Support Images : Kindly provided by Paul and by Tasha Kostyuk on Unsplash