Cash and transit protective equipment

K

ked00005

Banned
Hello

Recently I have noticed that out of the various cash and transit operators I see on a daily bases there are only a minority who wear a stabb/bullet proof overt vests. My question is what is the reasoning behind this? The only reason I can think of is that this miniority may have higher risk assignments. Could anyone please enlighten me on this matter.

Thanks

Kenny
 
Maybe the others are cleverer than you think and wear 'Covert Armour'.
Always the better route in my opinion.
 
The reason for it is quite simple and one that has come from years of political wranglings with the management and the unions.

It stems from the fact that if you put a bullet proof vest on a CVIT operator, the criminals going out to rob will (more than likely) arm themselves to the level to which they need to threaten the life of the said operator.

The vast majority (not all!) robberies are a simple threat of harm with a bat type weapon to which the operator will (or should!) react as per their training and SOP's.

The worst that can happen is a few broken ribs, bruising and post traumatic stress of which is very likely. The very worst is that they could be beaten to death but as of yet, I've never heard of this happening and I hope it doesn't.

The helmet and visor provide good protection to the head, bruises and breaks will mend and the the PTS can be dealt with. If that is a bad as it gets, it's a result, nothing is risk free.

Now, you give the CVIT operators body armour......what to the criminals do!? Arm up and go out doing the same thing they would have previously done with a baseball bat but with that hightened threat of potentialy killing someone, even if it's by accident!

I would agree with body armour being provided to all CVIT operators but only providing it is in responce to the hightened threat that they may or more than likely may encounter.

The guys I use to work with were always going on about it asking for body armour but I always asked them this......what would you like in you face!? Someone holding a metal pipe, or a very nervous bloke with his finger on a trigger!?

As for the assignments / runs they are given, without going into any inside info and SOP's, one job is just as a higher threat than the next, unless the criminals have inside info, there is no way of telling whats in that black box, they all have the training and procedures to follow, if they do follow them, the threat level is massively reduced.

Walks
 
Walks99 thank you very much for this information. It alone has broadened my knowledge of this role and the risks involved. So do all companies provide vests and then it is the operators decision if he wants to wear one or is it still a fighting battle to get vest of certian companies?

My interest stems from general security work outside the close protection area as we all have to keep our options open in today's working climate.
 
As I said, not all companies will issue them and some will never have any intention of doing so until the threat level is high enough to force a change in their policies and SOP's.

The CVIT guys aren't ever given an option in anything that they do apart from the actual route and times they drive to the jobs that should be changed and adapted as much as possible. This is good practice and good security awareness. You have set ways of doing things (SOP's etc), if you don't follow procedure and you get 'hit' the operator will not get anything in the way of insurance, help or assistance if it went to court and the company will probably be the one taking you to court as they won't get the insurance payout. It's a screwed up sector of the security industry and one of the very few that is still heavily run and reliant on Unions to get a good deal.

Again, the reasoning is, the threat asessment has ben made and procedures put in place to mitigate that risk. Follow it to the letter.......you're doing your job, you're covered your as safe as can be. If you don't, you are the one putting yourself at greater risk.

I did know of a guy who brought body armour (Police issue one), and was told that if he wore it out on a run, he wouldn't be insured. He didn't have a leg to stand on, the Union couldn't fight his corner and as a result he was left with no option but to flog it, never to be worn again and it got to the point where he left as he didn't trust the SOP's he'd been given.

I'm sure things have, will have, moved on and that some companies may issue them in time but until then, it's still in the hands of the company conducting the risk assessment and mitigating the risk to within acceptable levels for them and more importantly the insurance company, the same as all other sectors of the security industry.

Cheers

Walks
 
I remember a case where they used a LAW .
Whats the use of a body armor if people use anti tank rockets to force them to stop and hand over the loot :) .
you're not safe in an armored car lol
Ofcourse this was a one time case. but still
 
We had an instance in the UK where the guys transporting bulk load of cash (circa £2.5m) were caught up in a seemingly small traffic jam when a JCB approached from the rear and started ripping into the rear of the van.

Once inside the guys took what they could carry and did a runner.

Both the driver and co-driver just sat it out in the cab happy as larry(!) without any physical threat or harm to them. Had they got out the escape hatch and done a runner, they would have put themselves at much greater risk.

If I came nose to nose with a LAW, hands up and take what you want........is your life worth the amount in the van!?

It does beg the question though, had they used teh LAW, they would have just blown the loot up with the van!

Walks
 
I would imagen that they are standard issue and most staff will find them comfortable as it is worn over the clothes, as apposed to under. Some have pockets, so useful storage also.
 
Hi walks99 new to forum its interesting about the insurance not being valid by wearing your own covert body armour as i did just this for about 2 years before my branch got in body armour for us, my managers knew and never said anything about me not being able to wear it? Was very relief when we finally got the body armour from them as i could take it off on the van as in the summer it was a nightmare as the aircon on most didnt work and was very uncomfortable with mine on underneath my shirt...
 
How does wearing protective body armour negate insurance.
All you are doing is taking reasonable precautions.
 
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