Parliaments, often subject to arson, gunfire, bombings, domestic terrorists, and mobs, are under attack. Recent events, such as the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot, underscore the urgency to recalibrate security measures around legislatures worldwide.
In a hearing by the House Intelligence Committee, John Cohen, Head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis explained steps that DHS has taken to prevent domestic terrorism and violence since the U.S. Capitol building was breached by rioters on January 6, 2021.
After a lifetime in the protection business, the one constant in Washington that I’ve learned is that it takes tragedy to force change. The January 6 Capitol riot is not an enigma. This was a clear protective intelligence failure. The key finding of Retired Army LTG. Russel Honore’s report reviewing how the pillar of U.S. democracy could have been so easily infiltrated is that the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) must better integrate intelligence into its operations through improved awareness, assessment, sharing, and response capabilities. We can look at effective protective intelligence as a three-part story: Act I is identifying threats; Act II is building those threats into a cohesive profile; Act III is sharing and acting on that information in order to make nothing happen. Applying this framework to January 6 helps us understand how we can and must do better and provides important takeaways for corporations.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seeking information that will assist in identifying individuals who are actively instigating violence in Washington, D.C. The FBI is accepting tips and digital media depicting rioting and violence in the U.S. Capitol Building and surrounding area in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021, in which violent pro-President Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol Building, pushed past barricades and forced themselves inside the complex.
Since June, protests have been happening across the United States. As civil disobedience increases, law enforcement agencies will prepare for the possibility of protests across the country. The potential continuation of political unrest means private security professionals must also be prepared with a plan that is tactically sound and protective of people and property. Here are a few ways you can prepare to protect clients’ businesses.
The larger and more well-known the business corporations are, the more they attract attention and are a target when an outburst of rage occurs. What is enterprise security's role in riots and looting and how can they mitigate these risks and react when an event does occur?