Benchmark Risk Management in Australia the UK and USA - Research Paper Example

?RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN RELATION TO PROTECTION OF PHYSICAL ASSETS BY POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN UK, USA AND AUSTRALIA Research Scope The scope of this research includes a comprehensive review of police departments’ best practices in relation to management of risk related to physical assets. In this regard, the police departments of United Kingdom, United States of America and Australia have been taken into consideration. The research considers various strategies and actions devised by the selected police departments to counter any threat related to physical assets. Since the greatest threat to physical installations and assets is from terrorist activities, therefore, it is pertinent to review what planning and strategies have been defined by the selected police departments in countering terrorist acts and risks associated with them. Geographic Scope United Kingdom, United States of America and Australia Summary of Best Practices related to Risk Management of Physical Assets and Infrastructures Integration of security and safety plans and strategies, so as to ensure that the whole system operates with full force and concentration. Communication and coordination with community in order to bring down risks associated with potential threats. Effective communication of potential threats and risks with concerned authorities and stakeholders. Making use of technology to avoid or prevent damages from unforeseen events. Categorical assessment of risk related to physical assets and infrastructures, so as to understand the degree of risk associated. Integration of controlling, coordination and command for risk management. UNITED KINGDOM London Police Department The London Police Department is divided into four directorates which assume different responsibilities. For each of the directorates, a separate risk management strategy is devised by the police department, under the leadership of Stephen Rimmer, the Director of Strategy Modernization and Performance Directorate. In the coming lines, the researcher would discuss a number of risk management strategies adopted by the London Police Department, in order to protect its physical assets from terrorist attacks, natural disasters and riots, but the focus would be on terrorists’ attacks as this factor is considered as being more destructive for physical assets of London Police Department. KEY STRATEGIES TO COUNTER RISK ASSOCIATED WITH PHYSICAL ASSETS London Police Department uses a 360 degree mechanism for its field operators to report any damage in case of terrorist attack, accident or natural disaster. Besides, wireless cameras are also installed on the site where physical assets are installed by the Police Department. Risk Management Process and Mechanism By communicating with field operatives, the staff sitting at the central monitoring area fetches information about the damage occurred to the physical assets of the organization. After receiving the information about the damage, the central monitoring area’s staff evaluates the level of risk assumed by the field operatives, occurred to a physical asset. These physical assets might include security check points, railway stations, heavy traffic points, hospitals, shopping malls and etc. The figure given below would help the readers to understand, how this whole process works: As it can be observed, that this is a simple process to avoid any damage from the previously mentioned incidents, that may result in an unfavorable impact on the physical assets of the London Police Department. From evaluating, the process enters into the policy formulation or mitigation plan development phase where the experts designs a risk management plan to ensure that the organization does not loss on the monitory value of the physical assets mentioned. The installation of surveillance cameras is another strategy that London Police Department has used wisely over the years to overcome the monitory loss that it incurs from the damage to physical assets of the organizations. These surveillance cameras provide real time view of the physical installations of London Police Department. The installation of cameras is also beneficial as the city monitoring staff reports immediately to the field operatives about a potential threat to the organization’s physical assets on field. Once a threat is identified and is reported to the concerned field operative, the later has to decide what mitigation plan he or she should adopt. For this purpose, proper training facilities and provided to the field operatives before they are stationed at a location. This training module contains valuable tactics to counter threat of damage to the physical assets from terrorists attack, local riots and protests and natural disasters. With the installation of on-sight cameras, London Police has become efficient in reporting and responding to a threat of damage to physical assets, within few seconds, thus increasing the efficiency of the organization’s functional units. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT The New York Police Department has devised numerous strategies and plans to manage risks related to acts of terrorism or in the event of natural disasters. It is pertinent to mention here that there are no particular or expressly stated measures or strategies defined for managing risks related to physical assets of the New York Police Department. In fact, a generalized framework has been developed by the Department for the purpose of managing risks related to the community it serves. KEY STRATEGIES TO COUNTER RISK ASSOCIATED WITH PHYSICAL ASSETS Having witnessed the unforgettable destruction caused by 9/11 attacks in the city, the New York Police Department has placed risk management in relation to terrorist attacks on top priority. It has been therefore stressed upon by the Police Department that the residents of New York City shall “think strategically and practically about the physical security of their buildings”. The Department has outlined certain strategies for mitigating or managing risks related to buildings and other physical infrastructures located in the city of New York. Among these strategies, there are certain measures identified for assessing risks related to certain key installations and buildings. Risk Management Process and Mechanism The risk management process at NYPD is based on identification of the risk associated with each of the asset identified as critical. For this purpose, the Department makes use of a predetermined formula for assessing risk. The formula as follows: Risk = Threat x Vulnerability x Impact These factors are evaluated for each asset on certain bases, which are listed in the table below: Risk Factors Identification - New York Police Department Threat 1) Threat Profile 2) Target Attractiveness Vulnerability 1) Adjacency 2) Accessibility 3) Structural Performance Impact 1) Maximum Occupancy or Height 2) Transportation Criticality and Proximity 3) Critical Infrastructure Proximity Upon completion of the evaluation process, the asset is then categorized as a low, medium or high risk tier asset. After having identified the respective risk tier in which an asset falls, the NYPD considers how risks can be managed in light of its predetermined standard operating procedures. In this regard, it is important to mention here that the Department asks for the assistance of owners and community at large. In addition, third parties, which include owners of the infrastructures and other installations, are also required or asked by the New York Police Department to frequently assess their risk and coordinate and communicate on the matter. This in turn helps in effective and efficient management of risk associated with such installations, buildings and other assets. Apart from this, in order to detect potential threats to physical assets, the NYPD has a comprehensive security system in place. This security system is established in collaboration with other third parties and governmental departments. In this regard, surveillance systems, monitoring devices and equipment, scanners, screening systems and other security measures are used to ensure prevention of potential risks and threats. AUSTRALIA WESTERN AUSTRALIA POLICE Western Australia Police (WA Police) has an intense focus on the strategic elimination of potential risks which are associated with physical assets, infrastructures, installations etc. Although the risk management plans do not precisely cover the physical assets and infrastructures of WA Police, these strategies are sufficiently applicable to the security management and the elimination of potential risk to its assets in particular. These general management strategies are, fundamentally, focused towards the security of national assets and infrastructures. However, its efficiency and appropriate deliverance in emergency risk situations designate it to be precisely applicable on police assets and installations. KEY STRATEGIES TO COUNTER RISK ASSOCIATED WITH PHYSICAL ASSETS All of the terrorist activities in the contemporary world have significantly congealed the priority list for risk and security management. Terrorism and terrorist attacks have become the top most priority to be encountered and eliminated. As this congealment has taken place, the risk management strategies for the security of physical assets have been developed in concordance with the top most potential risk. These risk management strategies are primarily focused on the safety of the responders, as they are the most crucial element for encountering this potential risk of terrorism. The second step includes safety to the affected lives, if any physical asset comes under attack. Another important element to these strategies is to develop sufficient coordination among all of the involved agencies. The focus is reduced upon three essential components which are command, control and coordination and this will be visually described in the diagram below: Risk Management Process and Mechanism The system of emergency management is highly systemized in which a top down approach is utilized by WA Police. It begins with the State Emergency Coordinator (SEC), who is usually a police commissioner, as he delivers appropriate briefings regarding any emergency situation. The information gets transferred to the State Emergency Coordination Group (SECG) which further briefs the situation to the Operations Area Management Group (OAMG). OMAGs are the key factor of practically eliminating the potential threat that has caused emergency situation regarding physicals assets or installments possessed by WA Police. OMAGs are controlled or supervised by the District Emergency Coordinator (DEC), who is usually a police superintendent. The OMAG operates and acquires the assistance of Incident Management Group (IMG) which is comprised of the incident controllers and other officers associated with several involved agencies. This team delivers the public and asset safety protocols to minimize the risk of damage or harm. IMG is supervised by the Local Emergency Coordinator (LEC), who is usually the OIC (officer in charge) of the sub-district. LEC is dependent upon the geographic location of emergency situation. This mechanism is performed on the emergency situations, which depicts the efficiency of WA Police and its strategies to reduce risks for the assets, infrastructure and installations. Moreover, there is another crucial part of this mechanism which is called after taking control over threats. This team is Incident Management Team (IMT) which is responsible for bringing the asset to normal and operational again in a rapid manner. This is the management process and its efficient mechanism which helps WA Police to reduce the degree of risk. REFERENCES United Kingdom http://www.met.police.uk/foi/pdfs/policies/business_risk_management_policy.pdf http://www.met.police.uk/foi/pdfs/policies/covert_human_intelligence_sources_policy.pdf http://www.met.police.uk/foi/pdfs/policies/critical_incidents_policy.pdf http://www.met.police.uk/foi/pdfs/policies/business_continuity_policy.pdf United States of America http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/counterterrorism/nypd_engineeringsecurity_low_res.pdf Australia http://www.police.wa.gov.au/LinkClick.aspx?link=PDFs%2fEmergency_Management_Strategy.pdf&tabid=1525 Read More