As a public service to help increase safety and awareness in our communities, a free live webinar (online seminar) was coordinated Apr. 4 by Arthur J. Gallagher , one of the world’s largest insurance and risk management companies.
It was dubbed “Protecting our people and place: security and safety strategies for Jewish schools, synagogues and businesses”.
Partnered with the Canada Israel Chamber of Commerce, the webinar offered Canadian Jewish businesses, non-profits and leaders access to an unparalleled team of global security experts who discussed risk management.
Security of Jewish organizations and businesses is an urgent concern today, especially in light of the B’nai Brith report that noted anti-Semitic incidents are up 28 per cent since 2012.
Over 100 senior Jewish leaders from organizations across Canada joined the webinar, including leadership from the CIJA and UJA organizations in BC, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec as well as from synagogues, camps and schools across Canada.
Among the many items covered were: how to conduct a threat assessment to identify weaknesses in a facility, to be prepared for worst case scenarios, plan measures for protection of events, and developing emergency response protocols.
The webinar featured keynote speakers:
Nir Maman, an elite anti terrorism trainer and law enforcement officer who teaches police departments and security and military forces all over the world, including the FBI and Homeland Security. He was an Israeli Defense Force Commander and Counter Terrorism Instructor, Canadian Law Enforcement Officer, Security threat and risk assessment specialist.
“Having served in fields of military, policing, and security all over the world, I have many years experience in dealing with a wide spectrum of threats ranging from criminal all the way up to terrorism,” said Maman.
Maman warned schools to not let strangers “piggyback” into the building after someone in front of them has been buzzed in. He also explained how to avoid a facility being a “soft target” – one with no measures in place to prevent attacks.
The first step, he said, is to be aware of likely would-be terrorists scoping out the premises, monitoring people and security protocols. They may ask for a tour, pretending to want to be a member, they may ask for directions or ask to use the restroom – all allowing the perpetrators to assess information to coordinate an attack.
“Nearly every act of terrorism is preceded by a lengthy investigation,” he said, particularly today, it is easier when recording devices can stealthily be hidden to be unnoticeable.
He outlined two possible terror attacks that can cause heavy damages: a vehicle-born improvised explosive device, and a shooter.
Of the former, he reminded attendees that the First World Trade Center bombing in 1993 killed six and injured more than a thousand, when the terrorist used some 1,300lbs. of explosives in a car bomb.
Moreover, at the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, nearly 170 were killed and nearly 700 injured when 4,800lbs. of explosives were used. That attack damaged more than three hundred buildings in a 16-block radius, he said.
He then defined an active shooter – one who methodically hunts and shoots innocents – from a terrorist, the latter of whom will not stop killing until they are killed. He warned there may be up to 80 Jihadists identified as Canadians.
“There has been an exponentially greater amount of people killed in active shooter attacks across North America than people killed by fire in public places! Yet, there are no laws in place that govern safety protocols to keep people safe from active shooters,” he noted.
It typically takes two police squad cars up to ten minutes to show up at a shooting incident, he noted, whereas the shooter could have covered thirty rooms in that timeframe.
That is why the “5D” approach is critical:
Deterrent – “When you have a proper and effective security platform in place that integrates human and technology elements, you will visibly be a harder target.”
Detect – stop hostiles from surveillance
Deny – physical barriers to entry (walls, doors, windows, alternate entry points).
Delay – find ways to keep the hostile from proceeding
Defeat –take immediate action (run, hide, fight)
Max Hazin, is CEO of Northern Force Security, which specializes in security for Jewish institutions. He was a former security agent for Prime Minister of Israel Olmert and former Chief Sergeant, Israeli Defense Forces. He also trains police all over the world.
Hazin offers some examples of what individuals can do to stay safe:
“It’s important to have a mindset of personal awareness and precaution. In everyday situations, as a security professional, I look out for suspicious vehicles. Are they parked in one spot for an extraordinarily long time? Do they seem abandoned? I am cautious, especially, with cars parked in front of shuls and schools. With individuals you may encounter, stay on notice for people whose appearance looks irregular or irrelevant for the current weather or season. The key word would be awareness. Know that you might be vulnerable, be proactive and prepared.”
With regard to special events, he advised that multiple staff know all of the emergency procedures.
For schools, he advised hiring a security guard, creating an emergency kit containing critical names and numbers, having a buzzer system, school walkie-talkies, as well as implementing regular safety drills.
When asked by a participant whether it was better to spend limited resources on electronic surveillance or a security guard, he responded that while cameras record the incident, a guard can prevent it.
Sam Feldman, is senior VP, Alberta Region, Arthur J Gallagher Canada. He is a board member of Calgary UJA Federation. Feldman offers practical advice for synagogues, as he insures many synagogues in Western Canada.
“It’s vital that our Jewish centres, synagogues, schools, camps, organizations and businesses remain safe places for the Jewish community to gather. With the growing threats and pressures around the world now making their way into North America, safety and security can’t be taken for granted,” says Feldman.
Vishal Kundi, Director of Sales and Marketing for Arhtur J. Gallagher Canada
Prior to his appointment of Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Arthur J. Gallagher Canada Limited, Vishal served as Vice President, National Sales and Marketing at the Noraxis Capital Corporation. Before joining Noraxis, he was with RSA Insurance for 17 years in senior strategy and business development roles across Latin America, Asia, and Europe.
Vishal graduated with a B.Sc. (Honors), majoring in Business and Management and became a Chartered Marketer in 1996 after completing a post-graduate diploma from the UK Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Kundi noted that there may be funding available for vulnerable organizations, via the Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Program (SIP) from Public Safety Canada, that could cover security equipment such as:
- alarm systems
- fences
- gates
- lighting
- security film for windows
- closed circuit television systems
- exterior cameras
- relocation of existing exterior cameras
- anti-graffiti sealant
- motion detectors
- signage and landscaping.
Paul Bassett and Justin Priestly, live via video link from the United Kingdom. They are former British Army Officers involved in Counter Terrorism and Bomb Disposal.
Justin Priestley GM is the Head of Arthur J Gallagher’s Crisis Management Consulting Practice.
Since joining Arthur J Gallagher, Justin has pioneered their consultative approach to special risks and acts as Project Sponsor for all major projects. He is regularly requested to speak at risk management conferences worldwide on the subject of terrorism threat.
Justin served in the British Army as an Ammunition Technical Officer (ATO) and Logistics and Staff officer, retiring in August 2000 to take up a Consultant’s post within Control Risks Group.
Justin spent his last six years in the Army involved in Counter Terrorism and Bomb Disposal duties. From 1996-98 he was responsible for Explosive Ordnance Disposal support for the United Kingdom’s Special Forces (SAS) and from 1998-2000 was involved in National Contingency Plans for incidents involving Weapons of Mass Destruction.
During this time Justin was also involved with supporting the Security Services in a Counter Terrorism technical role. As well as being the commander of bomb disposal operations, his duties entailed operational support, consultancy and lectures/advice to the police, Home Office and other government departments. This included foreign governments and international organisations.
He joined Aon in 2001 to lead the counter-terrorism risk management team in Aon’s Crisis Management and resigned from there as the Global CEO of Crisis Management in 2012; this included Crisis Consulting, Insurance broking and Crisis Response.
He was awarded the George Medal for gallantry in November 2000.
“The first thing they [Jewish institutions] need to do is understand the threat to the organization… look through the eyes of the terrorist, and how you might be vulnerable,” remarked Priestley in the webinar. “Just by observing what you’re doing on a day to day basis… it is obviously key to building resilience for your synagogue or school.”
Paul Bassett MC – Paul Bassett is the Managing Director of Arthur J Gallagher’s Crisis Management team, based in London. He heads up activities with regard to risk transfer and risk management solutions for terrorism, kidnap and ransom, Crisis Resilience and Crisis Consulting. Prior to joining Arthur J Gallagher Paul worked for JLT for two years and at Aon in various positions in London for 15 years, most recently as the Global CEO for Aon Crisis Management.
Bassett elaborated on their crisis resilience model created at Arthur J. Gallagher, which is a “combination of twenty years in the insurance industry and ten plus years in military”.
Launched in the UK and Canada recently, the product covers the integral aspects of: anticipate, prevent, respond and recover phase.
For $1,000 a year, any organization can receive up to $100,000 worth in round-the-clock crisis response advice. Some of that will include data on visual cues that terrorists most look out for when staking out a target, and how best to alert authorities of the threat, and how to remove yourself from the threat.
The webinar can be reviewed at this link
