INTRODUCTION
Since 2007, when I began distributing free Worship Without Worry safety and security material, I have received a tremendous number of requests from places of worship outside the United States. Many of those are under constant and extreme threat of deadly attacks.The reasons for the attacks include:
•Differing beliefs and faith systems
•Conflict between factions
•Political or governmental repression
•Hatred of an ethnic group or nationality
•Anger about perceived influence
•Fear of outsiders
•Revenge
•Other motives, often specific to the place of worship or the worship leader
Some of those who request safety and security material are in urban areas and some are in very remote locations, but all are looking for practical, usually non-tactical,low or no cost measures to help keep themselves andtheir families and worshippers safe—or at least, to reduce harm if the worst happens.
Iworried that the regular material I distribute would not be enough for such dire circumstances. As a result, I developed this document to accompany that material, even though I know it falls far short of what might be needed in some cases. I havebeen gratified to hear how it has been applied andadaptedas well as forwarded and translated to assist many more. Although these suggestions are certainly not all-inclusive,I know theyhave been helpful and I hope they will help you as well.
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Update, 2012:
In thepast, hatred and bigotry have motivated crimes and deadly attacks against places of worship in the United States. That problem seemed to decreasesomewhat with the increase in general acts of violence by deranged individuals. Sadly, targeted hate-crimes have once again threatened the safety and security of worship for many.
When I am asked for suggestions about those high-threat situations, I send this document, along with the other items. Some of it may seem extreme and overly dramatic, although it is not at all extreme for many worship situations in the world. My goal is to show that worship leaders and their congregations can help prevent or reduce harm, even when there is an unusual level of threat.
If you received a paper copy and want an e-file so you can copy and paste, contact me.
Best wishes to you!
Tina Lewis Rowe
Denver, CO, USA
sECURITY MEASURES FOR HIGH-RISK PLACES OF WORSHIP
This material was developed for places of worship, worship leaders or worshippers in situations where there is a high possibility of being targeted for a deadly attack. That judgment may reflect recent activities, a pattern, specific threats or temporary or continual circumstances that make it likely.
Plan With Specifics In Mind
Stay Aware of the Big Picture
Even though your concern is about violence, many other situations can harm worshippers. Make sure you are aware of all the people, places, property, processes and programsof your place of worship. That covers many things, but all of it is important. A wide-focus on safety and security will help keep people prepared for almost anything. Among the issues:
Security for the families and homes of leaders of worshippers: When places of worship are at risk, so are worshippers and worship leaders. This and other material can help you develop safety and security plans for home, work, travel and shopping.
Use a wide range of resources: This material barely begins to cover the wide range of information that would be helpful for you. Fortunately,there has never been a time when so much is available to assist you. One of the best Internet resources for high-risk situations is:
That site offers a lengthy document that covers many security matters. Among them:
*Search planning
*Evacuation planning
*CCTV guidance
*Personnel security
*Improvised explosive devices
*Suicide attacks
*Chemical attacks
*Firearms and weapons
*Checklists of “good practices.”
•Extra high-risk:Even though theNACTSO site is useful, it does not address groups that must meet secretly or in locales where there is no technology or police assistance. If you are in that situation, you are probably very creative about staying safe. However, there is always risk. There is even risk that your own worshippers may jeopardize you inadvertently or purposely. In addition to this material, a good resource will be a network of worship leaders and religious workerswith experience in your kind of situation. Their experiences and advice may be just what you need.
Scenarios for Attacks on Places of Worship
The history of violence against places of worship in your locale can give you scenarios for planning and practice. The following six scenarios represent most armed attacks.
1. An individual or a group appears to be harmless, until they attack with weapons or an explosive device.
2. An individual or a group presents an obvious threatas they approach with weapons (firearms, knives, torches, explosives, etc.)
3. An individual or a group shoots randomly into a building, at worshippers or at a targeted person or group. Worshippers can be caught in crossfire, even though they are not the target.
4. An individual or group throws or launches an explosive device.
5. An explosive device is concealed at a worship site or left nearby or in a vehicle, to be detonated by a timer or remotely.
6. A vehicle is rammed or crashed into a building or a group of people, or is driven through gates or fences to gain access. The vehicle may explode or the crash may signal the beginning of other actions.
Applying Basic Security Concepts
It may seem impossible to stay safe in the listed scenarios. However, many things can help to reduce the risk of harm and increase the ability of worshippers to protect themselves. Traditional security concepts can help worshippers be prepared for those situations and others.
Questions That Lead To Plans and Procedures:
Consider each of thesix attack scenarios and ask these questions related to each service or meeting at your place of worship.
•How many worshippers and others would probably be present?
What age groups or specific people might be present?
•How capable would most be to protect themselves and help others?
*Who would be the least capable and what assistance would they need?
*Who would be the most capable? What could they be counted on to do?
*What could be done to increase the ability of worshippers to protect themselves?
•What features or spaces could provide shielding or shelter?
*How could people get there?
*What are the least safe areas?
*How could all areas be made more resistant?
•What could be done for injuries, if help is not immediately available?
*Who could provide basic aid? Who has advanced skills? Where are supplies?
•What would be the ability to put out a fire, deal with smoke and fumes or see in darkened conditions?
*Are equipment and supplies ready in every area of the site or building?
•How could those present get assistance from outside?
*How long might it take for help to arrive?
*If responderscould not help worshippers immediately, how could worshippers stay sheltered?
•If worshippers leave the building or site, where will they go?
(Consider a variety of weather and other conditions.)
*What do they need to take with them?
*Are flashlights, blankets or other items available? Where?
*How safe will people be if they leave? What will they do next?
•Are there items that should be hidden, sheltered or destroyed, prior to leaving the location? Who will be responsible? Could several areas be developed?
•What special precautions or plans are in place for children, the elderly or the disabled?Who will have responsibility? Have they practiced?
•What other questions need answered, for your place of worship?
•Remember, if you are in a high-risk worship setting, your home and business may be at risk as well. Consider all of these questions with the big-picture in mind.
When,not if: A good approach is to plan for when a harmful event happens, rather than if it happens. That is a fearful thought, but it can help you be better prepared, with specific people and conditions in mind.
Staying Aware of Threats
Indications of Potential for an Increased Risk
1.When there are violent events or negative actions involving other places of worship. This is especially true if individuals or groups with the same views are within close distance to you.
2. If your group is viewed as responsible for violence or negative actions locally or elsewhere.
3.When there are incidents that may be connected to a threat against your place of worship. For example, if there is an unexplained explosion in a car or a residence close to your location, especially if it belongs to a member of a threatening group.
4. A sudden decrease in worshippers or many fewer people than expected at a meeting. Both of those may indicate knowledge of a planned attack.
5. Hints, warnings and rumors, above the usual level.
6. A crackdown on a threatening group in your area, especially arrests of leaders. This could lead to revenge activities or efforts to show the failure of authorities.
7.Anniversaries of significant events or special days for your group or the threat group.
8.A nearby social event or other activity involving a group that is a known threat. (Such gatherings can encourage spontaneous actions.)
9. The arrival in your area of one or more known leaders of a threatening group.
10. Activities planned by your place of worship that are advertised or that attract attention.
11.Hostility or violence against another group,which is extended to include yours.
12. An increase in hostile talk or writings about your group.
13. A personal or business quarrel between someone in your group and someone outside it. (May use high threat level as a cover-up or may stir up trouble.)
14.Improved relationships between your faith or place of worship and other groups. Assailants may use violence to show disagreement.
15. Increased surveillance: Strangers observing in the area, strangers in the buildings, members questioned by neighbors or coworkers.
16. Suspicious things happening in or around the area—vandalism, fires, reports of prowlers.
In Most Situations, Do Not Attempt Covert Observation
You may provoke a severe response if you or others are caught trying to watch a threatening groupto detect their plans.Others are alert for surveillance just as you are.
Communication withGovernment and Police:
If you are in a location where the police are activelyinvolved in stopping attacks, you may be able to easily communicate and share information. If not, you may need to be more cautious about your police contacts, even though they still can be helpful.
•Even if you are not sure of the support you have from authorities, try to develop at least one or two police or government contacts. If you do not feel you can talk to them about your worship activities, talk to them about your work or residence. Develop a relationship that encourages contact.
•Communicate regularly and in person, so you recognize each other’s faces and voices.
•Ask for a business card and ask them to write their best contact number on the back.Keep the business card with you. It may be helpful to show that you have communicated with that person. Try to have several such cards for various levels of authority.
•Have an agreement about what might indicate danger or being under duress.Develop a code word or phrase, if it seems the situation calls for that. Agree about where you will and will not request a meeting, if there is concern about false messages.
•A calm, courteous and confident approach will be more effective than showing fear, distrust or resentment. That is true even in low-risk situations—but it is especially true in locales where the threat-level is high. Talk to worshippers about the best way to communicate with authorities and the best way to respond to questions about worship and other activities.
Communication withYour Worship Network:
Develop or participate in a security network with other places of worship near your area. Develop a network outside your locale, if you can safely communicate. The ideas that apply tosecurely communicating with government and the police apply to those contacts.
•Be aware of what you can expect from those in your network, in an emergency.
•Secure all contact information. Communicate regularly to keep the network active.
TEN ACTIVITIES For High-Risk SituationS
1. Establish an Ongoing Program of Safety and Security Inspections/Assessments.
Use or adapt the security assessing methods recommended in the document, Assessing the Safety and Security of Places of Worship.Notice that the recommended program is ongoing and continues throughout the year. It is the only way to know the status of everything in detail.
During site assessments, keep the list of questions posed previously about attacks, to ensure you are considering prevention, protection and resistance, detection and response.
Secure all material: Assessment reports and security plans are among the most highly sensitive material your place of worship will ever have. Keep them in the most secure way possible, preferably on a password-protected portable USB drive, kept concealed.
2. Establish An Active Security Committee or Group.
A security committee or group can help keep the focus on safety and security. Use them to develop and teach about plans for emergency responses and to do security assessments.
The Security Committee can also have oversight over a Security Team or Emergency Response Team.This is very important in situations where security teams are hired from outside. (There is more information about security committees in the larger material.)
Security teams: How you use asecurity teamwill depend upon your locale, prior events and the current threat level.
•Some high-risk congregations have the resources to hire a full-time security team. In some locales, these are essentially military teams and are prepared for major attacks.
•Hired officers or teams may come from security companies or they may be police officers working as secondary employment (off-duty). Some places of worship have volunteers who are current or former police, military or private security.
•Volunteers with no former special training can also be effective, even in high-risk situations. Their main responsibilities will be to stay alert, warn and assist others and call for police assistance if that is possible for the circumstances.
•The documents, Developing a Security Team and The Security Role of Greeters and Ushers, have information that can be helpful. There are other documents, books and websites that discuss security teams and their activities in more detail.
Emergency Medical Response Teams: Every high-risk group should identify those who are willing and able to help others in mild to extreme medical emergencies. Medical supplies should be quickly available in every part of the building or worship area.
A medical background is not required for EMRTs, but team members should at least know basic First Aid skills. In high-risk places of worship, it is a good idea for all adults to know how to deal with injuries and wounds.
The document, Developing an EMRT, has information about such teams. Even though it is not about high-risk places of worship, the concepts can be useful.
Use the Knowledge and Skills of Worshippers: Among the areas in which congregation members could provide assistance to the Security Committee: Carpentry and construction, door and window security, electrical, plumbing, technology such as alarms, first aid and medical training, teaching, firefighting, self-defense, weapons, negotiations,language, and other topics related to your situation.
3. Develop Security Plans
In emergencies,some people will find avenues of escape, safe places to hide and ways to protect themselves while others may not be able to do so. People will be more likely to have that ability if they have planned for what they will do and have confidence it will work.
Emergency Plans should be clear and complete. The advice by firefighters in many countries to, “Stop, Drop and Roll”, is an emergency plan in four words. When people have been taught short advice like, “get down andstay down”, or, “push everything against a door, then get away from it”, or, “leave the building and don’t come back until we tell you to”, they often can help themselves and others better, even under terrible conditions. Plans give people something on which to focus.
Written and unwritten plans: In some high-risk settings, the less that is written, the better. In those cases, only trusted adult members should know most plans for protection and response. In most cases, everyone who may need the information should have it and be trained about their best actions in an emergency.
The document,Developing Security Plans discusses quick and practical ways to develop plans and put them together in a manual or notebook.