Travel Advice Feb 2010

Regarding the current threat, those intent on foreign travel from the UK (executives / close protection teams / travellers et al, will need to be aware of the the following changes and information in the travel policies from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Terrorism is a worldwide threat. Terrorist groups abroad have been known to attack foreigners and places where foreign visitors may gather, such as hotels, transport systems, nightlife areas and landmarks.


The Foreign & Commonwealth Office provides security advice for UK citizens who travel or live abroad.

Terrorism Abroad

You can take a number of common sense precautions to minimise the risk of being caught up in terrorism when you’re abroad:

• Regularly check our travel advice for the country you are visiting
• Subscribe to our email alerts
• Watch and read news about the country and region register with the local British Embassy or Consulate
• When you arrive be vigilant in public areas and places that attract foreigners and Westerners - embassies, Hotels, restaurants, bars and businesses look out for anything suspicious.
• Report it to the local police immediately – many terrorist attacks are foiled by the vigilance of ordinary people try to avoid routines that make you an easier target
• Vary the time and route of your regular journeys 

 

Before you leave make sure you:

• Check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) travel advice on their website or call 0845 850 2829
• Get travel insurance and check that the cover is appropriate
• Find a good guidebook and get to know your destination, including its local laws and customs ensure you have a valid passport and necessary visas
• Visit your GP at least six weeks before you go to check what vaccinations you need and whether you need to take extra health precautions
• Make sure your travel organiser has a policy for refunds and for bringing travellers home in the event that the company goes bankrupt (this should be backed up by an organisation offering financial protection)
• If your travel involves using airlines with which you are unfamiliar, you may wish to check their safety and reliability with a reputable travel agent
• Make copies of your passport, insurance policy plus 24-hour emergency number, and ticket details - leave copies with your family and friends
• Take enough money for your trip and some back-up funds, eg, travellers' cheques, sterling or US dollars
• Leave a copy of your itinerary and a way of contacting you, such as email, with family and friends
• The Foreign and Commonwealth Office website also produces specific travel advice for women, gay and lesbian travellers, young travellers, sports travellers, short-break travellers and backpackers.

Passport to do list:

• Fill in details of your next of kin on the last page
• Note down your passport number and date of issue and put these in a safe place, not with the passport itself
• Have you another form of photo ID to take with you
• Check that any children travelling on your passport will still be under 16 by the time they return (if not, they'll need their own passport - a child one if they will still be under 16 when they set off, and an adult one if they will already be 16)
• You should also check when your passport is due to run out and whether it is nearly full. Some countries will not let you enter if your passport has less than six months to run. The rules vary by country. For example, South Africa will turn people away if their passport has fewer than two blank pages left.
• If your passport is in its last year or is nearly full, you should check the rules of the countries you plan to visit before you book any travel. You can ask your travel agent or check with the embassy of the country concerned.
• If you need to renew your passport the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) can credit your new passport with any time (up to nine months) that the old one had left to run.

 

 

 

UK Threat Level - Now Severe

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) has changed the UK threat level from international terrorism from SUBSTANTIAL to SEVERE. The current threat level means that the threat of a terrorist attack is considered to be highly likely.

The information leading to this decision will have come from several different sources and a measured response has been to raise the level from what it was.


David Millerband the Home Secretary said -

"The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre has today raised the threat to the UK from international terrorism from SUBSTANTIAL to SEVERE. This means that a terrorist attack is highly likely, but I should stress that there is no intelligence to suggest than an attack is imminent."

Anyone working in a close protection environment will be having to make sure they are planning ahead even more so now, especially if foreign travel is involved.

DSG CP Firearms training in Slovenia

We have established a training course in Slovenia with which we can now run Close Protection courses and Fire arms training at a bespoke range in the west of the country in Narin.

Prices at the moment (net of flights - £100.00 approx from UK) are still being negotiated, but what we have at present is the following package:

£600.00 (net VAT) per person and includes:

• Accommodation: 3 nights
• 3 excellent meals each day
• Transport to and from Trieste airport arrival and departure
• Transport from Narin to shooting range (4 trips)
• Short weapons- pistol
• 500 ammo per person 9mm

Targets, glasses, ear defenders, weapon cleaning are all included in price.

If you would be interested in refreshing existing skills and having a few days relaxing in a beautiful country, then email me - jr@dsgconsultants.co.uk

  

DSG Close Protection Training Course March 2010

The next DSG Close Protection training course will be held in Bristol this March 15th - 28th. For a candidate information sheet email: jr@dsgconsultants.co.uk

Cost of the course is will be £1700, this includes VAT, all training, instructors, vehicles City & Guilds registration, the online multiple choice test, practical assessment folders and certification (x3), for the full award. Candidates who successfully pass the course are also entitled to a years subscription to NASP at half price.

The operations phase in the second week will take place in Bristol / Cardiff and London with live principles, realistic operational threats and attacks on the final exercise.

The last course in November 2009 achieved to centres highest ever result from the online close protection test.

Accomodation - whilst not included in the price can be sourced locally free of charge if needed.

SIA CP Network meeting London March 2010

The second Close Protection network meeting will be held on Monday 22 March at a central London location.
This event is an opportunity for those working in the sector to engage with the SIA and others in their industry. Delegates will be able to discuss and address relevant issues affecting close protection operatives.

Last years's event was quite useful with some interesting characters turning up off the circuit...

The SIA are trying really hard to engage with a the wider security audiance and whilst these meetings will achieve nothing in the way of formal change, they are a good networking tool and an interface with the industry stakeholders who can be bothered to turn up.

Boris Buddle (NASP) and I attended and found it both informative and interesting and to be honest we would both go a long way for a good brew and a few free biscuits.