Companies must plan for terror

By Will Smale BBC News Online business reporter

The HSBC building in Istanbul in the aftermath of the attack

Even before the dust had settled after the twin explosions in Istanbul, the first foreign companies had begun to pull out of Turkey.

Global security firm Kroll, for example, had already started the contingency evacuation of one of its client companies from Istanbul.

Amid the fear and chaos, its operatives on the ground immediately helped the staff and families of its business client to get out of the country.

The decision to pull out was made by the client, a UK financial business, and Kroll simply carried out its long prepared evacuation plan.

By the end of the day everyone connected to the firm, which Kroll will not name because of strict confidentiality, had been whisked away.

Yet far from Kroll's staff fitting a Hollywood movie stereotype of heavily-muscled, sunglasses-wearing, gun-toting bodyguards, discretion is the order of the day.

Special forces

The company, like its competitors in the field, wishes for their operatives - and their clients - to maintain the lowest profile possible in sensitive parts of the world, so as not to indicate they are a target.

This could mean a UK business's Turkish office taking down its Union flag, removing its name plate from the entrance, or getting rid of the chauffeur-driven Mercedes Benzes.

Certainly the terrorism will continue for the foreseeable future Michael Raper, security expert

But if an attack does happen, the staff of Kroll and other firms in the business - like Control Risks of the UK - are well prepared. Most of them are ex-special forces, be it SAS, SBS or US Delta Force.

With global terrorism, and more specifically attacks on Western interests by al-Qaeda, appearing to be escalating rather than going away, more and more UK businesses are reviewing and strengthening their security measures, and making their offices more anonymous.

In this uncertain climate, risk assessment and security firms such as US-owned Kroll and Control Risks Group are finding their services more and more in demand.

Both firms offer complete packages to their clients, and agree that preparation is everything - a business must have all its security measures and contingency plans, including evacuation, in place before any attack.

To leave it until afterwards is not an option.

Vigilance

Nigel Churton, chief executive of Control Risks, said the increased security threat should not be a surprise to UK companies.

"Since 9/11 British interests have been closely allied to the United States and so unfortunately this has now come [the attacks in Istanbul]," he said.

Mr Churton added that maintaining vigilance abroad was essential.

"One has to keep looking and see if you can move people away from your premises and see who your neighbours are," he said.

"Anonymise your building if you can - just making yourself anonymous in your community."

Close protection

Michael Raper, head of security consulting at Kroll, said clients must be given a very in-depth service.

Businesses should ensure: Security is in place Maintain a lower profile A contingency plan is ready - in the event of an attack

"From close protection teams on the ground to hold their hands, so to speak, to constant updates from us on the political situation, security threat assessments, and crisis management and evacuation plans all in place."

He added: "With evacuations there are a number of steps that are worked up through. Such as evacuating families first, then non essential staff.

"And when you are evacuating everyone you have to make a decision on whether you will able to go back. If not, then you need to secure facilities, equipment, documentation."

Mr Raper says the group's phones have not stopped ringing over the past year, as companies fall over themselves to hire Kroll's services in light of the ever more tense global situation.

And he believes the terrorism is only going to increase.

Cover

"Certainly it will continue for the foreseeable future, that is my personal opinion," said Mr Raper.

"Companies need to cover themselves, not just for the human issue, but the liabilities they will face otherwise.

"They have to be prepared, they have to keep their profile as low as possible."

A spokeswoman for the Control Risks Group said the security situation had changed beyond recognition over the last two decades.

Communication

She said: "Twenty years ago the situation was a lot more straightforward.

"The only high risk a company faced was if it was in a country with political or violence problems, and these were restricted to very specific regions.

"Today security is a major issue everywhere."

She added: "Companies need to ensure all their staff are aware of the issue and be as best prepared for any eventuality. Communication is key."

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it had procedures in place in almost all countries, whereby any guidance on security risks would be passed down to British companies.

Yet despite the terrible tragedy of the events in Istanbul, almost all analysts believe foreign investment will remain in Turkey.

Michael Thomas, chairman of the Turkish British Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said: "Foreign companies are probably reviewing their immediate situation, but I think investors will take a very long term view.

"This is a short term very nasty situation, but one hopes the Turks will get this under control and we'll be back on stream. Turkey is a great place to do business."

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