CHAPTER 4: MONITOR AND SCREEN ITEMS
- Control position of items and carry out physical search and screening, using equipment that is fit-for-purpose.
- Monitor items and equipment to promptly identify prohibited or dangerous items.
4.1 Control position of items and carry out physical search and screening, using equipment that is fit-for-purpose.
- It takes a combination of strategies and tactics to manage the position of items or prohibited items.
- These strategies and techniques must be adapted to the area or organisation’s security demands and risks.
Prohibited or dangerous items and explosives may include:
- Anti-theft case designed to give an electric shock.
- Blow gun or blowpipe.
- Commercially made catapult/slingshot without a brace.
- Dart projector designed to propel a dart with elastic material.
- Gas injector device designed to inject gas or other substance into an animal.
- Handheld electric, sound, or electromagnetic self-protection device.
- Self-protecting offensive, noxious or irritant spray.
Methods to control the position of items:
- Screening.
- Search techniques.
- Surveillance.
- Limiting access to specific places.
Methods and techniques for physically searching items:
- Pat-downs.
- Bag searches.
- X-ray screening.
- Metal detection.
- Vehicle searches.
4.2 Monitor items and equipment to promptly identify prohibited or dangerous items.
- Modern CCTV systems may identify potential criminals and perform advanced threat detection using facial recognition.
- The efficient utilisation of resources provided by analytical reports and automated systems facilitates control in emergency circumstances for an organisation.
Methods for monitoring items and equipment to identify prohibited or dangerous items:
- Checking equipment to ensure correct working order or need for calibration.
- Ensuring the appropriate flow of people and personal effects through screening points.
- Identifying alarms (audible and visual).
Procedures for selecting a random sample of persons for screening with handheld equipment:
- Determine which group of employees you want to use handheld screening devices on to preserve security.
- Choose how many people you wish to include in your sample.
- Pick a sampling technique suitable for your target population and the screening’s available resources.
- Before starting the screening, have the participants in your sample give their informed consent.
- Ensure the screening is carried out privately and confidentially and the equipment is calibrated and maintained correctly.