| 1: Research the recent history of the Country you are | | | | rats, they seek a way out. It would not take a security |
| visiting. Don’t just focus on prior history as the | | | | genius to figure that these rebel forces could shift their |
| threat level of a country or region can change | | | | focus to the tourist part of Sri Lanka and target |
| dramatically at a moment’s notice. For example | | | | tourists to gain finance and global publicity. |
| overnight the Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva | | | | 7: Purchase travel Insurance. Ensure you purchase |
| declared a state of emergency during the second | | | | travel insurance and don’t be sold on the cheapest |
| week of April 2009 after his troops and police had to | | | | package. |
| fire sub machine gun bursts into the air over the heads | | | | 8: Purchase Kidnap for Ransom Insurance. This is |
| of violent protestors. The UK Foreign Office has just | | | | probably the least understood of all insurance |
| warned against travel to Bangkok and Thailand as the | | | | packages available for tourists. It’s a myth that |
| Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of | | | | kidnap for ransom insurance, or K&R as its |
| emergency. | | | | known in the security trade, is only available for |
| 2: Visit the web site and click on the kidnap for ransom | | | | diplomats, corporate executives and wealthy |
| link on the home page. Complete the threat | | | | celebrities. K&R is available and advisable for any |
| awareness brief questionnaire, which will identify your | | | | tourist and it’s not as expensive as you might think. |
| risk category for the country or countries you intend | | | | Visit the kidnap for ransom link on the home page. |
| visiting. | | | | 9: Attend a 1 to 2 day security awareness training |
| 3: Read recent kidnap for ransom articles and case | | | | programme. Observation and awareness is everything. |
| studies. Visit the web site and read up on recent | | | | Just about every TV and press reporter who travels |
| kidnap for ransom cases. You should be able to | | | | overseas attends one of these security training |
| identify the modus operandi of criminal and/or terrorist | | | | programmes. You will learn so much in such a short |
| groups actively targeting victims for kidnap for ransom. | | | | period of time and your security awareness levels will |
| You can easily flag your computer search engine | | | | rocket. Another bonus is that it may reduce your |
| provider like Google to send you e-mail alerts of all | | | | K&R insurance premium. |
| articles posted relating to kidnap for ransom etc. | | | | 10: Purchase a home study threat awareness security |
| 4: Collate press and media articles about levels of | | | | lesson from Confidence is key. You should be looking |
| organised crime and terrorism, pay particular attention | | | | to adopt the mind-set of a predator and not a victim. |
| to crime and terrorist gangs who specialise in kidnap | | | | To understand the modus operandi of a professional |
| for ransom. | | | | kidnapper you have to think like a kidnapper. |
| 5: Check out your government’s travel advice. For | | | | Finally: when considering The Security Experts Top 10 |
| British tourists The UK Foreign Office, for Americans | | | | Tips To Prevent Being Kidnapped, Mark Yates the |
| the State Department to see if any recommendations | | | | British American Security Expert advises, don’t |
| against travelling to the Country or Countries you | | | | morph into a Touron. A Touron is a combination of a |
| intend visiting have been issued. | | | | tourist and a moron. Sadly too many tourists throw |
| 6: Contact your travel agency before you book your | | | | caution and common sense to the wind the moment |
| holiday to see if there have been any recent criminal | | | | they step on an aircraft or boat to begin their vacation. |
| or terrorist incidents against tourists. Do not be | | | | One of the greatest mistakes victims make is to |
| seduced by a significantly reduced holiday package | | | | believe that foreigners are less intelligent than they are |
| price to an exotic location. For example I noticed | | | | simply because they don’t speak English. |
| recently that all inclusive holidays to the exotic location | | | | When overseas you should aim to become a |
| of Sri Lanka have been significantly reduced. These | | | | ‘Grey Man or Grey Woman’ and blend in rather |
| holidays are being heavily advertised in the UK press. | | | | than becoming the focal point of any group. Adopt the |
| What the advertisements don’t tell you is that the | | | | exact same security procedures as you would if you |
| Sri Lankan government has recently taken a very | | | | had to travel at midnight through the most dangerous |
| proactive stance against rebel forces in another part | | | | area of your home region. Listen to your intuition, |
| of the Island which resulted in the loss of hundreds of | | | | because that is the greatest defensive security |
| lives. When cornered criminals and terrorists are like | | | | weapon in your armoury. |