Personal Security

Counterintelligence: Crime and Violence Prevention

Foreword

Counterintelligence with regards to crime and violence prevention provides building blocks to help people to avoid dangerous situation before it occurs. Being knowledgeable is the first step in any type of prevention. Next step is using the knowledge to keep you physically, mentally, financially and spiritually safe and healthy. It prepares you from being a target or vulnerable to physical, mental and spiritual misguidance, aggressions, questionable practices and/or exploitations. A healthy understanding of personal security will help prevent crime and violence from creeping into your life and your friends' lives.

Personal Security and Self Preservation

Personal Security allows an individual takes to proactive steps to avoid a becoming a crime victim. These security guidelines include:

	Utilizing skills that makes you a less vulnerable target.
	Avoid crimes and dangerous situation by being proactive.
	Determine what action or resources are required to prevent unanticipated dangers, victimization and injury.
	Trust your instincts. If you suspect a threatening situation, you could be right. Do not dismiss anything. Report them immediately to the proper authority.
	Work with law enforcement officials to the best of your ability.
	Make sure that you avoid misinformation, misguidance and questionable practices.
	Use your judgment to determine the best course of action.
	Create a crisis management plan to address personal security issues.
	Prepare yourself by doing your own research in personal security.

Implement these basic safety tips to avoid becoming a target.

	Act confident and analyze your environment.
	If you sense danger, do not be afraid to make a scene.
	Always be prepared for any threatening situation. Carry money and small change for an emergency phone call.
	Avoid alcohol and other drugs. It impairs judgment. Makes people more vulnerable to seen and unseen physical, mental and spiritual influences and attacks.
	Change your daily activities.

Personal Safety tips for the home

	Keep strangers out. Check references and ID's of all strangers.
	Avoiding telling anyone you are alone. Avoid giving out personal information to strangers.
	Use proper lighting and other security features to make your home less vulnerable target.
	Avoid entering a house or apartment if you perceive a threat of any kind. Notify the police. Use your judgment.
	Keep doors and windows locked. Use deadbolts or special security devices. Avoid hiding a spare key in an obvious place.
	Recruit trusted neighborhoods friends to watch your place of residents. Inform your neighbors of any suspicious activities. Offer your phone number for emergency use and keep in touch with your neighbors.
	Using elevators properly will reduce the risk of becoming a target. Enter with a group. Avoid being alone with a stranger. If you are alone, stand away from the door. If you feel threatened with a stranger, leave immediately. Stand near the alarm and floor button, if necessary press the alarm button.

Personal Safety tips for the Streets

	Travel in groups and avoid hitch hikers.
	Avoid Con Games.
	Dress appropriately so walking, fighting or running is easy. Avoid wearing expensive, flashing money and showy items.
	Protect your valuables. Carry only what you need. Avoid setting valuables down and carry them close to your bodies. Carry your wallet in a front or inside pocket. If you carry a purse, hold it close to your body with proper restraints. Hide money or valuables.
	Plan a safe travel route or shortcut that is near people. Avoid isolated travel routes, parks or parking lots. Identify likely places for proper assistance.
	If you suspect that you are being followed act suspicious, change directions, go into a public place and get help immediately. Give as much information about the person to the police.

Car protection techniques

	Keep keys ready.
	Check under and around your car for suspicious activities.
	Keep doors and windows locked. Hide valuables from views.
	Park in well lighted places. Criminal do not like lights.
	Never pick up hitch hikers. Avoid comments from other that encourages such actions.
	If you break down, raise the hood. Put on emergency flashers. Tie a white cloth to your antenna or outside mirror. Stay inside the car with windows up. Ask anyone who helps to call the police or local service station.

Protect yourself against crime when using public transportation such as buses, subways and taxis.

	Wait in a well-lighted areas and among people.
	Have your fare or ticket readily available.
	Stay alert for possible suspicious activities.
	Choose a safe seat that is near the conductor or driver but not to close to the exit where a criminal may be able to reach you.

Protect yourself in hotels and motels.

	Leave valuables in a safe at the desk not in your room or luggage.
	Always keep you room key ready.
	Close the door securely and use all locks.
	Tell the clerk not to give out your room number.
	Do not invite strangers to your room. Call the desk for verification.
	If you see suspicious activity, report it to management.

Avoid Gangs.

	Do not wear gang colors or clothing.
	Avoid gang members and report gang activities.
	Participate in Anti-Gang Programs.
	Do not believe the claim that gangs offer protection. Simply put, gangs mean crime and violence.

Safe Dating Practices

	Know your date. Avoid blind dates. Go with other people. Go to a public place. Exit at first sign of trouble.
	Be sure you can go home alone. Arrange your own public transportation. Do not be afraid to leave if you feel uncomfortable.
	Set clear limits. Make sure your date understand your limits and that "No means No" before you enter a sexual situation.
	Avoid Alcohol and Drugs. Insist that your date does the same. Alcohol and Drugs makes you a vulnerable target from unseen and seen physical, mental and spiritual influences.
	Remember it is okay to say no sex or other uncomfortable activities.
	Avoid leaving your drink alone or drink something that someone gave you. Date Rape drugs can be slipped in a drink. Avoid being victimized.
	Avoid playing games that are unhealthy physically, mentally, financially and spiritually.

Reacting to an attack can prevent physical, mental, financial and spiritual trauma.

	Evaluate the situation. What resources are available? What is the state of the attacker's mind. What course of action do I need to implement?
	Stay alert. Listening and observing carefully can allow a person to make the proper decision now and late, provide incriminating evidence to the proper authorities.
	Decide how to respond. As the potential victim, only you can decide the best response in an emergency situation. Be realistic about your ability to protect yourself. Use skills that will help prevent the situation such as Self-defense, yelling, hitting or running. Do whatever comes naturally and do it immediately. Each emergency is different and you must decide what is the best course of action.

Follow these basic guidelines to report a crime. After the person reaches safety, Reporting a crime is the victim's top priority.

Call the police as soon as possible.

Identify yourself.

Give your location.

Tell them what happened. No suspicious activity is too small to report.

Use your judgment. Watch our for questionable practices.

Listen to the suggestions of the law enforcement.

Try to remain calm, cool and collected in order to help the police.

Provide as much detail as you can.

	Tell the police everything about the situation which includes appearance, clothing and criminal activities.
	Pay attention to the details of incident such as time and place.
	Remember the car's make, color or license plate number.

	Cooperate with the police and press charges. Make sure there are no other suspicious activities around your environment such as internal politics or problems. Remember police can not stop crime without your help. Make sure you understand the process and the dangers that go with it.
	Notify outside law enforcement agencies if you feel uncomfortable, confused, ignored or threatened in order to ensure proper support, protection and guidance in such matters. There may be internal, spiritual or political problems within the organization. Take everything seriouslly regardless if it appears minor.

Ask for help from the following resources:

Find a professional who understands all aspects of your physical, mental and spiritual situation. Be careful that you are not mislead or overpowered by physical, mental and spiritual undue influences. Do your own research. Hire experts. Recruit people. Avoid frivolous law suits.

If you are harmed physically, emotionally and spiritually, get medical attention or other help.

Talk with someone who can help such as friends, mental health professionals, clergy or special law enforcement people. If necessary, look for counseling even if it happen a while ago.

Look for written information such as booklets.

Network, Seek Assistance and Check out with extreme care:

God and/or spiritual support resources

Law Enforcement and Intelligence communities

Crime and Violence Prevention Centers

Neighborhood watch or community support group

Hotlines, Shelters, legal aid services

Family Service Associations & Guidance and Marriage Counselors.

Family therapist, psychologists and psychiatrists.

Mental Health Centers, Social Services and Agencies.

See Special Contact List & Guidelines

See Mental Health Crime and Violence Prevention

See Spiritual Crime and Violence Prevention

See Professional Crime and Violence Prevention

Continue improving your business and personal life.

Conclusion:

With proper security guidelines, a person will be able to minimize the chance of becoming a target from seen or unseen physical, mental, financial and spiritual corruption. Trust your instincts and take a course of action that is necessary to keep you physically, mentally, financially and spiritually healthy. Prepare a crisis management plan to address security issues to prevent crime and violence in your life. Know when to ask for further help to deal with incident.

Warning: Please investigate policies and procedures, laws and regulations and history of the organization. If you become suspicious or threatened, find help elsewhere. Guard against questionable practices, carelessness, negligence, criminal activities, off the record conduct, biases, misinformation, re-victimization, misguidance and misdirection when seeking assistance. Know your individual rights, the right to collect information on any subject matter and the right to use other resources, if necessary. Check your instincts from time to time. Proper help is not always available. As a result, other healthy socially accepted methods must be established. Know when to request professional backup for protection.

E-mail: Fhawk@Ccil.org

Disclaimer: This research material is to provide accurate information in regards to the subject matter covered. The author, business and other entities accepts no responsibilities for inaccuracies or omissions; and specifically disclaim any liabilities, loss, or risk, personal, business, financial or related catastrophes which may have incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly as a result of using and applying these principles. The research material is not a substitute for legal, medical, financial or expert advice. If expert assistance is required, seek the service of a competent licensed professional.

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