With celebrities high on the target list of terror outfits, the underworld and stalkers, their security is now a thriving multi-crore business
The recent attack on the Sri Lankan cricket squad in Pakistan has yet again sent shock waves across the world.
It has left security agencies flabbergasted at the vulnerability that stalks celebrities such as film actors, sportspersons, and top corporate and political leaders.
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With the government’s security apparatus proving inadequate, a host of private security agencies have come up over the last decade to fill the gap. The demand for private security has increased drastically in the last few years, not only in India but across the world. “The global market for private contract security services is forecast to advance 7.5 percent per annum through 2012 to almost $200 billion,” reports The Freedonia Group, a US-based market research firm.
As Frank Farmer, the protagonist in the 1992 Hollywood romantic movie The Bodyguard, played by Kevin Costner, takes up the challenge of shielding Rachel Marron, a pop star, played by Whitney Houston, he leaves no stone unturned to protect her from a stalker, even though Rachel resists his moves to beef up security. While the film has a romantic angle with the singer and her bodyguard having an affair, celebrity security in real life is very dull behind the scenes.
We talk to Arjun Walia, Founder and Chairman, Walsons Securitas, to understand more about this business.
How big is the celebrity security business?
Private security industry in India is valued at US$ 2 billion. However, the celebrity security business has not been quantified. Terrorism along with growing unemployment increased personal protection and executive protection. Celebrity protections vary from actors, models, concerts/bands and politicians.
Executive protection professionals share many characteristics with military and law enforcement agencies, though without authority as vested with them.
What equipment goes into providing security to celebrities?
The equipment could range from close protection weapons, escort vehicles, GPS, radio sets, night vision devices, low light surveillance cameras, bug and RF detection gears, doorframe and handheld metal detectors, under vehicle surveillance systems, baggage scanners, stun guns, pepper spray, bulletproof jackets, bomb blankets, alarm systems, super zoom surveillance binoculars, micro video and pinhole video cameras, surveillance and eavesdropping cameras and communication equipment, bulletproof vehicles, vapor analyzers, sound masking jamming and scrambling equipment, etc.
What preparations are needed before the arrival of a celebrity at an event?
An in-depth analysis of the advance survey and the vulnerabilities, understanding the detailed program with the organizers, route mapping, sanitization of venue and vehicles, etc. is done. The tabletop exercise allows us to decide upon, provide for and properly execute the planning.
[In addition, there is] liaisoning with police and government officials, fire facility services, promoters, entertainers and ushers.
Choreography of protection, that is, proper positioning/deployment, providing barricades and security rings/concentric rings and theory of protection, in-depth, are followed. Counter-surveillance techniques support the protective effort by watching the watchers.
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| Walsons Securitas provides private security solutions that also include celebrity security. The firm is present in 180 cities across India and has 12,000 employees on its rolls. The company has partnered with Securitas, the world’s largest security solutions company, which has bought a 49 percent stake in Walsons for approximately US$ 20 million. Securitas has 2,50,000 employees operating in 37 countries. Arjun Walia, 36, started Walsons in 1996 after a brief stint in a multinational organization overseas. Arjun Walia, Founder and Chairman, Walsons Securitas |
How do you ensure that no untoward incident (such as panic, stampede, etc.) takes place during celebrity movement in public?
Security companies have to ensure it is a foolproof system (check, double-check, cross-check, and ensure nothing to chance) with a combination of physical security and intelligence gathering. Highly well-defined programs, backup plans, proactive approach, extreme calmness, confidence level, body language, entry–exit defined, crowd management, liaisoning with police and government officials, fire facility services, promoters, entertainers and ushers [are needed].
Do security personnel get special training to protect celebrities?
Celebrity security personnel require different skill sets and are specially trained to provide executive protection. A split second can make the difference between life and death, both for the celebrity and the protection specialists. The focus of their training is to anticipate and be proactive rather than reactive. The emphasis is on avoiding trouble or getting caught in traps rather fighting it out. Protection of celebrities is more of a mental exercise.
A protection professional has to continuously keep thinking about what can happen next and how they are going to handle it. Through various tabletop exercises, they are trained to handle different situations. In celebrity security there is no time to think and give instructions, or to coordinate the efforts. This requires a very high level of planning, training and motivation. Training is imparted on crowd management, interpersonal skills, martial arts, fire safety and first aid.
What are some of the challenges in providing security to celebrities?
Executive protection is provided to global CEOs, government officials, delegations, politicians, models, stars, dignitaries, diplomats, religious leaders, etc. The security varies in different segments of celebrities. The challenges faced while providing security to a celebrity would be to handle the media, fans and general public. The skills required are vigilance, sixth sense, body language, proactive approach, calmness and presence of mind. Specialized training is required to handle all kinds of threat perceptions and also for intelligence gathering.
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written by Colin, May 28, 2009
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