Saturday, May 14, 2011

War of words, waged on small battlefields


But more often they unfold on smaller battlefields. Recent examples include:
In Detroit, the city transit system is locked in a legal struggle with groups who sought to use advertising space on the sides of buses for controversial messages on “honor killings” of Muslim women. After the city rejected the ads as too political, the groups behind the ads — Stop Islamization of America and the American Freedom Defense Initiative — sued the city, and won. Detroit is appealing.
·         In Temecula, Calif., a group called Citizens Concerned about the First Amendment this month held a protest outside the local high school, where they handed out fliers that labeled the teaching of Islam in the school’s social studies program as “brainwashing.” The fliers offered links to national anti-Islam groups.
·         In Texas, the board of education passed a resolution last September to reject the purchase of textbooks that include “pro-Islamic, anti-Christian half-truths and selective disinformation.” The debate is expected to resurface with the review of new textbooks this year.
·         At least 20 states are considering “anti-Shariah” measures, which in various ways prohibit the courts from considering Islamic law in their decisions. Muslim advocates say the measures are legal gibberish that promote fear and hatred, while drafters portray them as a bulwark against creeping Islamization.
No one is immune from the theological tug-of-war, as administrators learned last week at a small Washington community college sandwiched between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains that decided to run a special lecture series called “Islam in America.”
Since it launched the series in January, Everett Community College has been battered by forces far beyond its normally quiet campus.
“I knew it would be controversial, but I thought it was going to be more internal,” said Craig Lewis, dean of communications and humanities at the school. “I had no idea we were going to get national attention.”a

Where Islam is discussed, controversy follows.


Though the 9/11 attacks by Islamic extremists are almost 10 years past and al-Qaida boss Osama bin Laden is dead, the American debate over Islam is still raging, as evidenced by numerous conflicts over public events around the country.
The battles — a kind of holy war for American hearts and minds — feature a changing cast of players, but they typically array some of the dozens of groups dedicated to exposing the threat of radical Islam in the U.S. against dozens of others established to protect the rights of Muslim Americans and defend their religion as peaceful.
Charles Kurzman, a professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, says the clashes over Islam point to two powerful prevailing currents.
“One trend is heightened alarm and suspicion on the part of people concerned about domestic security,” he said. “The other trend is increased assertiveness and political activism on the part of Muslim Americans.”
At a national level, the conflict played out in controversial congressional hearings in April, which featured testimony from witnesses warning of a threat posed by Islamic radicals within the United States. Meanwhile Muslim leaders and civil rights groups — who were largely excluded from the proceedings — held press briefings comparing the hearings to red-baiting of the McCarthy era.

1 arrest as BP bars door to Gulf Coast protesters


 Scuffles between protesters and security guards marred BP's first annual shareholder meeting since the Gulf oil spill Thursday, as investors registered their disapproval with sizable protest votes against company directors.
Five Gulf Coast residents who had planned to tell investors about the loss of their livelihoods and health problems after the spill were denied access to the meeting, prompting confrontations with police and security guards outside the building.
Diane Wilson, a fourth-generation fisherwoman from Seadrift, Texas, was arrested after evading security to enter the foyer of the building, where she covered herself in a dark syrup to represent oil.
"I've come all the way here from the Gulf Coast," Wilson said. "My community is gone, and they won't let me in." Police later said a 62-year-old woman was arrested for breaching the peace.
Inside the venue, hundreds of BP PLC investors who have watched the company lose a quarter of its market value — about $55 billion — over the past year and lost their dividend payments questioned board members about excessive executive pay packets and a lack of transparency on safety improvements.
Preliminary voting results released by the company showed significant disgruntlement among shareholders.
Around 25 percent of investors who voted before the meeting, representing 60 percent of shares, voted against the re-election of the head of BP's safety committee, William Castell.
About 7 percent voted against the re-election of chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg, who has been criticized for his soft response to the spill, and just over 11 percent voted against the company's remuneration report because of bonuses awarded to Iain Conn, BP's head of refining and Chief Financial Officer Byron Grote for work not related to the oil spill.
Former CEO Tony Hayward also grabbed headlines with a $17.9 million pension, $1.6 million payoff and about $13 million in share options despite a series of public gaffes that led to his ceding the CEO post to Bob Dudley, the first American to head the London-based company.
The results contrasted with data from Pirc, the investor advice service, which show British company directors were, on average, last year re-elected with less than 2 percent of the vote against them.
Still, some shareholders were clearly ready to move on, with frequent smatterings of applause for Dudley, including for his opening statement that "BP remains a great company with a great history and I believe a great future."
"Not every company gets such an opportunity and we don't intend to squander it," he added, referring to lessons learned from the Gulf disaster.
As a mark of respect for the upcoming anniversary of the Macondo well explosion, Dudley read out the names of the 11 men killed in the April 20 incident, which has cost BP around $40 billion so far.
Dudley attempted to appease major institutional shareholders, including Calpers, the biggest U.S. public pension fund, and the Florida State Board of Administration, which are unhappy about a lack of transparency over safety improvements at the company.
He said that management intended to recommend to the board the appointment of an external expert to implement the recommendations of an internal report into the spill — as it did after the deadly Texas City refinery explosion in 2005 in which 15 people died.
"We're finding it isn't so easy to find someone," Dudley said. "We want to make sure that person is independent and experienced."
Dudley stressed the company's three priorities post-spill as strengthening safety, winning back the company's reputation and restoring long-term value for shareholders, but he also insisted the company would press ahead with deepwater drilling and would double its exploration efforts.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Why One Security Expert Chooses NOT to Fly


I fly an average of 40 segments on commercial airliners each year. Like most Americans, I have watched with increasing alarm and dismay the disjointed, draconian and ineffective "security" measures put in place by the inept powers to be at the TSA.

Unlike most Americans, I have spent the last 35 years of my adult life training security personnel and assessing security weakness and vulnerabilities across the United States and for a wide variety of environments.

On October 20th I was subjected to the new "pat-down" procedure not once-but twice prior to boarding my flight. The TSA officer who conducted the pat-down obviously had no prior experience conducting a physical search. While reciting a memorized list, the guard ("officer" implies a degree of training and professionalism) failed to make eye contact with me once, never listened to my responses to his questions, never observed my body language.

At the conclusion of the examination, a supervisor stepped in and told him to "do it again" which he proceeded to do, while a third TSA representative removed my wallet from my pocket and walked away with it without a word. When I turned to see where the guard was taking my wallet, I was told to "keep my eyes front". When I informed them I wanted to keep an eye on my wallet I was told "nothing has ever gone missing". Remember the date? October 20th? In less than an hour, the news would report multiple indictments of TSA representatives including a supervisor for theft.

Capricious searches that have no foundation in either intel or observed behavior continue as crying children, embarrassed nuns, and humiliated senior citizens are subjected to clumsy, painful poking and prodding with no defined or discernable value by improperly trained guards while the overwhelming volume of luggage and cargo is loaded into the belly of the plane without evaluation, review, or inspection.
A percentage of my work involves interviewing inmates in State and Federal Prisons across the United States and including "Super Max" facilities and death row inmates. The screening procedure to enter these facilities is less intrusive, yet more effective.

The TSA continues to ignore the advice of experienced security experts like Rafi Ron with a proven track record for making airports and airliners safe and secure. Indeed, when I spoke at length with the TSA supervisor after my free medical exam, I was stunned to discover that he had never seen a presentation by Ron or any other number of experts who had practical experience in operating effective, incident free airport facilities.

The myriad "holes" in current airport security are glaringly obvious to a trained professional and it would be unethical and improper for me to list them here. Suffice it to say, that current measures implemented by the TSA are "eyewash" security ie: measures that have little or no real or substantive value, but are rather, intended to reassure an uninformed public that all is well.

A comprehensive "tiered" approach to security is critical in order to protect the perimeter, exterior and interior of our transportation hubs, as well as reasonably reducing the probability of a terrorist event in flight.

Until such time as meaningful and effective strategies and measures are put in place to protect the traveling public, I choose to avoid flying whenever possible.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Akal Security


Throughout the communities we serve, Akal Security is known for providing exceptional service to its clients. The reputation is justly earned with Akal employees fully committed to living Akal’s mission, vision and values in their daily work.

Akal’s mission, vision and values not only guide the company’s actions and decisions, but also serve as the foundation on which Akal builds relationships with clients, co-workers, local communities, and others. Of particular importance are the values. Employees are expected to embrace and incorporate them into the performance of their jobs.

Company History :

Since its establishment in 1980, Akal Security has grown from a small local firm to one of the largest contract security companies in the United States. Started with a $1,200 loan from one of our founders, Akal has grown steadily by exceeding client expectations, and by remaining dedicated to service and employee development.

Today, Akal is the largest provider of contract Judicial Security services, protecting federal courthouses in 40 states. Akal specializes in providing security for critical federal government facilities, state and local government agencies and military installations.

Akal also provides security for corporate clients, including leading companies in transportation, energy and technology.

Akal is one of America’s largest security personnel firms. We’ve grown over 26 years from a small New Mexico start-up, securing small businesses in our local communities, to a major global services provider, and one of the top 100 government contractors in America. Akal Security’s unlimited commitment to serving our clients, employees and communities remains the foundation of the exceptional services our people provide every day, across the nation and around the world.


U.S. owned and operated since 1980.
The largest judicial security contractor in the United States.
Protecting facilities vital to our nation’s security in 40 states and 20 countries.
Named America’s top employer of disabled veterans in 2005.
Ranked as one of the top 100 civilian contractors in the United States by Government Executive Magazine.
Delivering a focus on Quality, Training, and Compliance through its innovative QTC Program.





Sunday, January 2, 2011

Afghan government disbands private security firms


 The Afghan government is determined to shut down all private security companies operating in the country and has already disbanded 57 such firms, the Interior Ministry official in charge of the process said Tuesday.
President Hamid Karzai issued a decree in August ordering all private security companies to be disbanded by Dec. 17, but a shortage of qualified police led to a deadline extension in several cases, such as for companies protecting development and aid projects or diplomatic sites.
Gen. Abdul Manan Farahi said 57 private security firms have already been shut down and 3,000 of their guards disarmed. He said companies protecting aid and development projects and diplomatic missions would be able to continue operating but only within the premises they are guarding.
"They should be inside their premises, not outside," Farahi said, adding that the security guards "should not interfere" in police work outside their own sites.
Many of aid and development companies had said they would have to cease operations in volatile provinces in the south and east if they could not use private security guards to protect their workers and their projects.
According to the government's plan, all other employers of private guards will gradually start using a special police unit called the Afghan Public Protection Force.
Karzai has said the existence of dozens of private security firms undermines the Afghan security forces — creating militias that often flout Afghan laws and regulations.
There are about 30,000 to 40,000 armed security guards working in Afghanistan, about 26,000 of them employed by the U.S. military or government, according to Afghan and U.S. officials.
Farahi acknowledged that there were security concerns but that the capabilities of the Afghan police have been increasing.
"I would like to clearly state that the (Interior Ministry), in order to fill the gaps and build the capacity and increase the capability of security, has taken essential steps," he said. "And with the new capacity, these private security companies will be disbanded and will be replaced by police."

Monday, November 29, 2010

Government employment overall was little changed in October

The number of unemployed persons, at 14.8 million, was little changed in October. The unemployment
rate remained at 9.6 percent and has been essentially unchanged since May. (See table A-1.)
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for adult men (9.7 percent), adult women
(8.1 percent), teenagers (27.1 percent), whites (8.8 percent), blacks (15.7 percent), and Hispanics (12.6
percent) showed little change in October. The jobless rate for Asians was 7.1 percent, not seasonally
adjusted. (See tables A-1, A-2, and A-3.)
- 2 -
The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) was about unchanged over
the month at 6.2 million. In October, 41.8 percent of unemployed persons had been jobless for 27 weeks
or more. (See table A-12.)
Both the civilian labor force participation rate, at 64.5 percent, and the employment-population
ratio, at 58.3 percent, edged down over the month. (See table A-1.)
The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary
part-time workers) fell by 318,000 over the month to 9.2 million, partially offsetting large increases
in the prior 2 months. These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back
or because they were unable to find a full-time job. (See table A-8.)
About 2.6 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force in October, up from 2.4 million
a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally adjusted.) These individuals were not in the labor force,
wanted and were available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They
were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the
survey. (See table A-16.)
Among the marginally attached, there were 1.2 million discouraged workers in October, an increase of
411,000 from a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally adjusted.) Discouraged workers are persons not
currently looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them. The remaining 1.4 million
persons marginally attached to the labor force had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding
the survey for reasons such as school attendance or family responsibilities. (See table A-16.)
Establishment Survey Data
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 151,000 in October, reflecting job gains in mining
and a number of service-providing industries. Private-sector payroll employment rose by 159,000
over the month; since December 2009, employment in the private sector has risen by 1.1 million.
(See table B-1.)
Within professional and business services, employment in temporary help services continued to
increase in October, with a gain of 35,000. Temporary help services has added 451,000 jobs since a
recent low in September 2009. Employment in computer systems design and related services increased
by 8,000 in October and has risen by 53,000 since a recent low in June 2009.
Health care continued to add jobs in October (+24,000). The gain was in line with the average increase
over the prior 12 months (+20,000).
Retail trade employment rose by 28,000 in October, including increases in automobile dealers (+6,000)
and in electronics and appliance stores (+5,000). After reaching a trough in December 2009, employment
in retail trade has expanded by 128,000.
Within leisure and hospitality, a job loss in arts, entertainment, and recreation (-26,000) in October
offset a gain in food services and drinking places employment (+24,000). The food services industry
has added 143,000 jobs since a recent low in December 2009.
Mining employment continued to trend up (+8,000) over the month. Since a recent low in October
2009, mining has added 88,000 jobs.
- 3 -
Employment in manufacturing changed little in October (-7,000) and, on net, has essentially been flat
since May. The industry had added 134,000 jobs during the first 5 months of this year.
Elsewhere in the private sector, employment in construction, wholesale trade, transportation, information,
and financial activities showed little change in October.
Government employment overall was little changed in October. Employment in local government, excluding
education, decreased by 14,000 over the month and has fallen by 123,000 over the past 12
months. The number of temporary decennial census workers fell by 5,000 in October. After peaking at
564,000 in May, there were only about 1,000 temporary decennial census workers remaining on Federal
payrolls in October.
The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 hour in October
to 34.3 hours. The manufacturing workweek for all employees also increased by 0.1 hour, to 40.3 hours,
while factory overtime was unchanged at 3.0 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Notice for Private Security of UAE


                                All things which exist in the earth are not fully secure in every time. We cannot think, what will happen in few moments so man are now alert from these harmful activity. This thinking gives birth of security. Security is the type of work done by guard called security guard. Who protects people, property, information and some special things is in his duty. Likewise today there are many necessary for security in private life and other ordinary life. Many countries are very aware from this thinking so we can give an illustration of private security guard of UAE. We know these countries have their own idea but I want to tell something about Private Security Guard about UAE. I hope you will get some new things from my small idea presented in following articles.
                   Notice for Private Security of UAE
The UAE and its 7 emirates are Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Umm Al Quain, Fujeriah, Dubai, Ajman, Ras Al khaimah. You are in a Muslim culture that mixes with cultures from around the world. The main role of private security in UAE is prevention. Companies and guards work together to make contacts are met. Immigration law states that you must have a proper visa. Labour law states that you must have a work permit.
                             The PSBD which is unit of Abu Dhabi police is responsible for security licensing and standards. Security companies must be licensed and are responsible for ensuring employees have proper licenes, permites and equipment. Security guards are responsible for making sure they have a current license and that uniforms are worn properly. Security guards must say who they are when asked by someone. They must comply with direction from PSBD inspectors. Security guards have a responsibility to their employers and the public. You will be successful if you provide a good service to clients and the public.
                             Private Security is about protection with a focus on prevention. They protect people, property and information. Private Security can be offered on contact or as in-house security. Private Security is not just guard services, but also the range of other activities. Security can be provided for manmade and natural hazards. There are many methods and tools to provide protection, for both people and property. Site orders are used to give guidance to security guards about requirements at a site.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Security Guard

Notebooks are important things or tools for the security guards. It should be completed in the same way every time. Notebook should b kept when full. Corrections should always be made in a notebook in the proper way. A professional is a person with skills and attitude to do their job the best way possible. Always try and understand how you can be the best guard. Understanding public relations is important to you and your company. Ethics is knowing between good and bad, right and wrong, recognizing moral duties and obligation. Having ethics is a part of professionalism. Causes of misconduct include peer pressure, opportunity, rationalization and frustration. Good teamwork is working together towards a common goal. Remember the importance of good teamwork. Teamwork can happen whether you are working in a group or alone. Remember the 4 ‘C’s of teamwork, collaboration, cooperation, creativity and clarity. Security guards can be judged as to how they wear their uniform, how they behave, their posture and conduct. Ensure that your uniform is always in good repair. And see your supervisor if you need something replaced.
Security guards are expected to remain aware of their surroundings. The key of awareness is knowledge. Problem solving depends on good awareness. Good security awareness prevents crime. Security guards can play a role in crime prevention by being aware, making suggestions, being visible, talking to people, sharing information and writing good notes and reports. Observation skills allow us to gather information that is useful, understand what we have seen and use that information as need. One of the basic roles of security guard is to observe and report. Part of the role of security guard is to asses an event and decides whether it is routine and requires action. Not all observation need to be shared, only those which have an impact on the security of your client or customers. Observation skill can be reactive or proactive. Take notes as soon as possible after event.
Reports are the guard’s way of passing on information. Reports are generally either administrative or operational. Good reports are factual, accurate, objective, complete, concise, clear, correct and well organized. Reports are read by many different people so reports should have an introduction, what the incident was about and a brief summary about incident at the end. A good narrative has an introduction, a body and a summary. Use headings when necessary. Remember 5 ‘W’s and the ‘H’ when writing a report. They are who, what, where, why, whom and Why. Avoid slang and bad language in a report.
An incident scene is any place where an event requiring investigation has occurred, where or not it is a crime. There are three important considerations for security guards in attending an incident scene. They are maintaining scene security, handling evidence, dealing with witnesses. Evidence is use to determine facts, recreate events and identify people or things related to an incident. There are three types of evidence verbal, documentary and real. Evidence should be treated very carefully and not contaminated. It is important to maintain continuity of evidence. Evidence found is a security guard should be documented. Witness to an incident should be identified and if possible, encouraged to wait for police. Witness statement should be recorded in your notebook, with all their contact information. And any worksite can be hazardous. There are 4 considerations is preventing work site accidents :a)know your work site, b)take control of your work site, c)wear and use safety equipment, d)report and document hazards. Hazards to look for are physical hazards, machine hazards, biological hazards and material handling hazards. Always know your work site.
Communicating effectively is very important skill a security guard to have. Effective communication is skill to being able to give someone the right message in the right way to ensure that it is understood as intended. Good communication can be set up by being present and through talking clearly, presenting the right message, speaking confidently and listening. Security guards should not become the centre of attention. Good listening is as important as good speaking; it includes focusing on what is being said, watching the speaker, asking questions and being sympathetic. Things that can break down communication include cultural differences, stereotyping or prejudice, jumping to conclusions, lack of clarity and differences in language. Dealing with difficult people is part of job of being a security guard. There is no single correct answer when trying to dealing with a negative contact. Try to prevent a situation from happening by being willing to help, explain when necessary and not making assumptions about customers. You can turn a situation around by acting professionally, being confident in your work and trying to solve problems before they become bigger.

UAE Law and Legal Authority System

Private security supports the role of the police by making sure it is a safe society. Police forces have many roles in each Emirate it is important for private security to work together with the police. The police should be called when there is an emergency. If the police come to your work site officially, you should obtain information from them for your report. A crime can involve doing something’s against the law or fating to do something the law requires. Shari’ a (Islamic law) is the basis for law in the UAE. Statute or penal law is part of the penal code of the UAE. A crime has legal, moral and material elements. Customary law can also be used to decide disputes law can be either criminal civil law involves disagreements between people or commercial interests. Criminal law can be made up of felonies, misdemeanors, or contraventions. Landlord, tenant disputes are part of civil law and guards guarding property come across this a lot. Punishment in court cusses usually depend on the kind of offence, the seriousness of the offence and the kind of law the offence breaches. Security guards appearing in court should be on time, be prepared and should act professionally. When questioned in court, guards ensure they understand what they are being ask and should always give truthful answers, even if the answer is “I don’t know”. When giving testimony in court guards should always follow the instructions of the judge.
An arrest is a detention according to and under the authority of law. The authority for police and citizen power or arrest is in the penal code. Police have a regular process for their actions at a crime scene and when arresting a person. A person has been arrested when they have been detained against their will; a person can only be arrested when there is evidence a crime has been committed. If a person suspected of a crime refuses to cooperate, they must either be arrested or released. There are four duties required by a security guard if they arrest a person. They are: Identify yourself; tell them the person they are under arrest; tell them are now in custody or if necessary restrain them. If a security guards arrests a person, they must call the police immediately. Police are allowed to search and arrested person and take certain items they find off of them and put in safe keeping. Security guards should make sure they are aware of their company policy on searching arrested persons. Searches should only be conducted if there is suspicion an arrested person has a weapon. If any item is seized as a search, it should be given to the police. The use of force is a difficult decision for a security guard at that time make a note of the points and discuss with your instructor. Not all use of force is illegal. Security guard must be able to justify using force and that force used was reasonable, necessary and not excessive.

Private Security Business Department

DEFINITIONS

The following words and phrases shall bear the meanings assigned to
them as stated below wherever they occur in this Order unless the context
otherwise denotes:
State: United Arab Emirates.
Emirate: any Emirate in the UAE.
Ministry: Ministry of Interior.
Minister: Minister of Interior.
Law: Private Security Companies, Law.
Order: Executive order for Private Security Companies, Law.
Police G.H.Q: Police General Headquarters or Department in each
Emirate.
Competent Authority: the Department or Section that has the authority
to deal with, supervise and follow up Security Companies business, be it in
the Ministry or any Police G.H.Q.
Concerned Party: Licensing Authorities in the Emirate concerned.
Training Course: Security Training program that is approved by the
Ministry.
Definitions
2
Private Security Business Department
Cash-in-transit Vehicle: the vehicle intended for transporting money,
valuables or negotiable bonds ,the specifications and type of which are
identical to those specified by the Order.
Cash Center: buildings used for receiving, counting, putting and keeping
cash money or valuables.
Cash-in-transit Guard: Security guard, who renders, administers or
supervises the service of transporting money, valuables or negotiable
bonds.
Armed Guarding: the existence of a police guard of the Police G.H.Q or
the Competent Authority.
Cash-in-transit Service: the service rendered by the Company through
the duties that the Money-transporting Guard performs.
Study Completion Certificate: the certificate issued by the Training
Institute.
Crew: the guards working in the Cash-in-transit Vehicle.
Test: the test set by the Competent Authority or the Training Institute.
Explosive: any explosive material as per the meaning stated in Firearms,
Ammunitions & Explosives Law.
Firearm: any firearm as per the meaning stated in Firearms, Ammunition
& Explosives Law.
3
Private Security Business Department
Inspector: any person assigned as an inspector by the Competent
Authority and has the authorities of following up, inspecting and monitoring
as specified by this Order.
Training Experience: having a provable level of experience in the field of
delivery, teaching and training once the Competent Authority judges that
there is enough experience to give the approved training.
Security License: the license issued to the Company by the Competent
Authority.
Individual License: the license issued to the Company employees by the
Competent Authority Infringement: any deed committed by the Company
or person that infringes the rules of this Order.
Basic Qualification: the training given to the Company staff to provide
them with a general idea about the work of a Security Guard in the State
and details of their job roles prior to their starting off to do the job they
are entrusted with.
Shackles/Means of putting shackles: any device or means that can
shackle person including handcuffs
Staff: the Competent Authority staff.
Company/Security Company: a security company or institution or
any government body that renders security service alone or with other
activities.
4
Private Security Business Department
Security Employee: the person that is employed or assigned in the
company and performs some private security task.
Security Guard: includes all security guards with all their categories as
stated in the Order who perform, convey, or inspect one or more of the
following activities either with formal uniform or casual clothes on:
A: Watching people, property or information
B: protecting people or property from damage or any other illegal
activity
C: controlling the access to the companies protected
D: preventing the stealing or exploitation of goods, money or any
other valuables.
E: retaining persons who are suspected of committing theft or
exploitation of any goods or money or any other valuables
F: rendering the service of responding to security alarm
G: maintaining order and safety during sport activities, concerts
or any other public events.
Security Trainer: the person who teaches, instructs, trains or gives
specific lessons in an approved course
Security Service: the service rendered by the Company
Security Zone: it includes but is not limited to police departments,
competent police G.H.Q, Central Bank, other banks or any other security
zone as specified by the Competent Authority
5
Private Security Business Department
Legal Respite: all the days determined in the Order shall be counted as if
they were successive; thus they shall include weekends and holidays.
Training Institute: a security training institute, school or center that is
approved and licensed by the Competent Authority
Weapon/Weapons: firearms, explosives, chemical sprayers, or any other
harmful substances or the police truncheon or short stick or any other
thing that is made or intended to be used as a weapon
Work Permit: work permit issued by the Ministry of Labor in the United
Arab Emirates
Contractor: the person, authority, company or establishment that concludes
a Security Service contract with the Company

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Passenger Screening Progress

After more than a decade, two aborted programs, and a false start, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has begun the transition to its Secure Flight internal passenger prescreening program. The change is expected to reduce the nagging inconvenience of false positives, in which innocent travelers are flagged because their names are the same as or similar to one on the national terrorist watch list. Experts, however, say that the critical security risk of false negatives will remain due to the ease with which terrorists could fraudulently obtain legitimately issued government identification.

Passenger prescreening began in the late 1990s with the Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System (CAPPS), which assigned passengers a risk score based largely on the extent of their personal business data history—drawing on items such as credit data and frequent flyer program enrollment.

Aviation security consultant Douglas R. Laird Sr., who helped develop CAPPS while head of security at Northwest Airlines, is frank about the program’s greatest shortcoming: an 80-year-old grandmother flying for the first time might receive a high risk score. Laird, however, also points out that nine of the 19 9-11 hijackers were selected by CAPPS for secondary screening, which amounted to inspection of their checked bags for explosives.

Soon after 9-11, the new TSA rolled out CAPPS II, which set the framework for passenger prescreening through this year. Under that program, the TSA provided airlines two subsets of the national terrorist watch list daily, one a “no-fly” list, the other “selectees” who are subject to secondary screening before being permitted to board.

CAPPS II’s greatest shortcoming was its reliance on names as identifiers. That led to the much-publicized problem of false positives, whereby travelers were subject to secondary screening or denied the right to board flights because they had the same name as a person on the terrorist watch list.

A related problem is similar-name matching. A passenger might purchase his ticket under the name Robert Smith at a time when that day’s TSA lists included the name R. A. Smith. Decisions about similar-name matching fell to the judgment of individual airlines, sometimes in consultation with federal authorities. The delays created by that process at check-in quickly became a critical concern to the airlines.

On the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 mandated that TSA assume responsibility for vetting air travelers against watch lists internally. Secure Flight, unveiled that same year, called for airlines to provide passenger names to the TSA, which would vet the names internally and send the results back to airlines. The program, however, stalled for five years as TSA worked to satisfy conditions set forth by Congress.

TSA originally proposed that airlines submit only passengers’ names, and do so no later than 24 hours prior to departure. Under the agency’s final rule for the program, however, airlines must provide each passenger’s name, date of birth, gender, and if available, the ticketholder’s itinerary and tracking data concerning travel records. Information must be provided 72 hours prior to departure, or as soon as possible for travelers who buy tickets after that point.

Collection of data beyond the traveler’s name serves to reduce the incidence of false positives and reduce confusion due to similar-name matching. According to Cathleen Berrick of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the decision software will consider similar name matches and incorporate its determination into a passenger’s risk score.

The score thresholds for selectee and no-fly determination fall to the discretion of TSA, which must balance security against the strain secondary screening places on airlines trying to get passengers into their seats, GAO reports. (See related article in the September “Intelligence” department, titled “Streamlining Air Passenger Security Screening.”)

TSA began Secure Flight’s rollout in March with a requirement that passengers purchase tickets for domestic flights under the name that appears on the government-issued ID they will use to check in. In August, TSA began requiring date of birth and gender. At the end of this month, U.S. carriers must provide the same information for international flights. By the end of 2010, prescreening for U.S.-bound international flights, which is administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection using passports as identity documents, will be folded into Secure Flight, according to TSA.

While these measures may reduce false positives, the threat of false negatives remains, experts say. A would-be terrorist could obtain legitimate government-issued identification through fraudulent means or could use another individual’s ID and boarding pass.

With 2005’s REAL ID Act, lawmakers sought to mitigate that risk by setting minimum standards for state-issued drivers’ licenses that could be used to board commercial airline flights. REAL ID’s unfunded mandate, however, led to a revolt in which 19 states passed laws either dissenting from the measure or rejecting its implementation altogether. After the REAL ID deadline of December 31, 2009, residents of “revolt” states won’t be able to use their driver’s license as an ID for the purposes of commercial air travel; they will need a qualifying ID, such as a passport or passport card.

A pending bill, the PASS ID Act, would extend compliance deadlines; it also originally included language that would prohibit airlines from denying boarding to passengers who did not hold compliant drivers’ licenses. An amended version of the bill leaves the matter at the discretion of the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, TSA’s parent agency. But it’s unclear whether the bill will pass.

Former Bush Administration Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Policy Stewart Baker told Security Management that getting a legitimate, government-issued ID through fraudulent means is still “the most obvious way to defeat our security system.”


Laird, has a slightly different view. He says that REAL ID or no REAL ID, aviation security comes down to reinforced cockpit doors and robust screening of passengers and their bags. “I just don’t trust names,” he says. “I think the most important thing is denying the person getting on the plane an opportunity to commit sabotage.”

The Price of Afghan Security

A recent United States congressional investigation confirmed unsettling reports that subcontractors, which are providing the U.S. Army with critical trucking support for remote combat outposts in Afghanistan, have paid massive amounts of cash to tribal warlords in return for local armed guard escorts and safe passage through their territories.

It may never be known where all of the security payoffs made under the Host Nation Trucking (HNT) contract ended up. Terms such as the “the Taliban” and “insurgents” and “warlords” are used by different people to describe the same entities in Afghanistan. Yet one snippet from HNT meeting minutes, included in the House committee’s report, provides an idea of the problem’s scale. There, a participant raised the issue of how to “stop funding the insurgency [with] what is estimated at 1.6 - 2 million dollars per week.”

Why would an insurgency seek to profit from the resupply of its enemy? “They’ve found a method to raise revenue while making life difficult for the international forces,” says Vanda Felbab-Brown, an expert on Afghanistan’s illicit economies and a foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. “They’re quite realistic about not being able to disrupt all the traffic, so why not make money from it?”

Experts agree on the root causes of the problem along Afghanistan’s highways: a military coalition unable to hold territory across the country’s expanse, which is about the size of Texas, and unprecedented reliance on contractors because they are affordable, nimble, and a step removed from direct political accountability.

The potential problems of contracting are exacerbated by the use of subcontractors. Investigators found that a skeleton HNT oversight staff housed at a U.S. base in the country had neither the personnel nor the means to oversee what was going on “outside the wire.” The program’s prime contractors were little more than brokers who subcontracted out actual operations with only one effective condition for satisfaction of the contract: delivery.

U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) rules forbid use of private security contractors (PSCs) in situations where enemy contact is likely, and they limit PSCs to weapons that are no more powerful than standard U.S.-issue rifles and pistols. Congressional investigators found the Army “grossly out of compliance” with these regulations. Investigators found that the local guards assigned to subcontracted convoys frequently brandished rocket-propelled grenades and launchers, while the Associated Press has reported that local guards often take pot shots as convoys pass villages, further alienating the Afghan population from the coalition war effort.

The revelations set in motion an effort by the U.S. military to investigate conditions along U.S. supply chains in Afghanistan, modify procurement processes and contract language, and oversee compliance with both contracts and DoD regulations regarding the use of PSCs.

To that end, the Pentagon has established two new units: Task Force 2010 and, more recently, Task Force SPOTLIGHT to handle subcontracting and private-security issues, respectively. U.S. forces expect “tangible results” from the Task Force 2010 effort this month, such as improved contract procedures, regulations, and direct oversight, U.S. Air Force Captain Joel Harper, a spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan, told Security Management.

Beyond ensuring transparency in contracting and restricting the activity of PSCs, Felbab-Brown says the military can either directly escort supply convoys with overwhelming force or keep paying off local leaders, which she says is to some extent “an inevitable part of war.”

Yet even the best-case outcome of an undesirable situation—security payoffs staying in the hands of regional militias versus getting to the Taliban or al Qaeda—runs contrary to the U.S. counterinsurgency (COIN) strategy that bore fruit in Iraq and is being tested again in Afghanistan. COIN frames counterinsurgency as a competition between insurgents and a country’s government for legitimacy in the eyes of the populace.

Similarly, a secure outcome in which power and the perception of legitimacy are enjoyed by tribes instead of the central government is contrary to the goals of the U.S.-led coalition. Felbab-Brown warns against viewing militia leaders that are pro-government and pro-President Hamid Karzai at any given time as devoted proponents of an Afghanistan led by an enduring central government. They are simply working the system for their own strategic and financial gain, she notes.

Felbab-Brown offers options based on the U.S.-led coalition’s endgame. If the coalition abandons the goal of a strong, sustainable Afghan government and hopes only to contain the Taliban’s control of territory, it could continue doing business with warlords and achieve that end, she says. But she warns that such a compromise is unlikely to result in long-term stability in the country.

She offers a cautionary tale about co-opting tribal militias: During its 10-year war in Afghanistan, the former Soviet Union co-opted and armed tribal militias in its own fight against Mujahideen insurgents. After the Soviets left in 1989, those tribes turned against one another amid ongoing civil war to settle scores old and new. Amid the chaos, the Taliban emerged to power by the late 1990s, primarily, Felbab-Brown says, because they were able to provide security

U.A.E. Scrutinizes Residents for Iran Ties

The United Arab Emirates, a neighbor and trading partner with Iran, is taking a closer look at government workers and foreign residents due to concerns about possible infiltration by Iranian agents, according to The Wall Street Journal.

A directive reviewed by the WSJ indicated that since May, the U.A.E’s internal security service has been empowered to approve or reject all new appointments, promotions and assignments in all government ministries and agencies. Previously only sensitive posts required security clearances, the newspaper reported.

Some civil service workers—both Emirati citizens and expatriates—have been reassigned or stripped of responsibilities, and some private sector workers suspected of ties to Iranian-linked groups like Hezbollah, a Shiite militant group in Lebanon, have lost their jobs, according to the WSJ.

A government official told the newspaper that the possibility of Iranian-linked sleeper cells sabotaging critical sectors such as energy, banking and transportation is a “significant” security concern. A government spokesman, however, said that the May directive was not a response to a specific Iranian threat but was a part of continuing efforts to improve national security.

The WSJ report comes just days before the proposed 123 civil nuclear agreement between the United States and the U.A.E. is expected to come into force. Named for a section of the Atomic Energy Act, a 123 agreement creates the legal framework for American companies to transfer nuclear equipment or materials to foreign countries for civil or peaceful purposes. The U.A.E. agreement, which Emirati officials have aggressively pursued, will likely make the federation of emirates the first Arab country in the Persian Gulf to develop a nuclear power sector.

As reported in our October issue (see “Nuclear Energy Agreement Raises Concerns”), lawmakers at a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing in July expressed concerns about introducing nuclear technology into a volatile region, especially given the U.A.E.’s close trading relationship with Iran and questions about the country’s commitment to strengthening export controls to prevent illicit goods from passing through its ports.

At a Senate hearing this month, senators echoed the concerns about the U.A.E.’s relationship with Iran, but, like their colleagues in the House, praised the agreement for “requiring rigorous international inspections and a strict ban on enrichment and reprocessing technology,” according to Abu Dhabi-based English-language newspaper, The National.

The U.A.E. 123 agreement was backed by the Bush Administration and is also supported by the Obama Administration. It will come into force this month unless Congress takes action against it.

How to Secure Sensitive Data

Various laws and regulations, plus good business practice, make it imperative for businesses to protect sensitive data, such as a customer’s Social Security number. But achieving that objective can be difficult.

One challenge has been that many organizations don’t know where their most sensitive data resides within the network. Another is that once an employee accesses data, there are relatively few existing solutions to prevent that employee from sending it through unsecured e-mail or downloading it onto an unprotected USB stick, making it easy to steal or lose.
But one solution, called data loss prevention (DLP), is gaining

acceptance. DLP’s precise definition can vary slightly. In the past, some saw it mainly as technology that scanned for sensitive data across an organization, including in servers, file sharing programs, desktops, and laptops. Others saw it primarily as a solution that could block or automatically encrypt information. Increasingly, though, it’s seen as a combination of the above—and then some.

In the past few years, the products have gotten better at detecting content. Most solutions have traditionally scanned for personally identifiable information (PII), which refers to data such as Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, driver’s license numbers, and birth dates. Newer algorithms are generating fewer false positives and enabling companies to search for ever-expanding types of data. They can spot language referring to subjects such as intellectual property, racism, or sexual harassment, for example.

Customers can set DLP products to search for data based on regulations or laws. At least one vendor, RSA, the security unit of Hopkinton, Massachusetts-based EMC Corp., lets customers scan for California driver’s license information.

DLP can be seen as a more sophisticated, next-generation version of Enterprise Digital Rights Management (EDRM). The latter typically involves a common file server. Individual employees can “lock” documents or applications, usually with a user name and password. But the reliance on employees to take that extra step has been one of EDRM’s chief weaknesses, says Scott Crawford, a research director at the IT consulting firm Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) of Boulder, Colorado. Some vendors are considering coupling the two solutions, providing EDRM with automation and a more centralized administration.

Vendors are also increasingly bundling endpoint protection into their broader DLP suite solutions. Such technology can keep employees from copying sensitive data onto removable media.

Aside from DLP, another relatively common business use for scanning technology is for purposes of e-discovery, related to legal matters. Another use is for life-cycle management, which frequently involves shifting data among locations, often into storage.

Most DLP customers have been mid- and large-sized companies. But small organizations are starting to look at the technology, says Crawford.

Among the sectors taking this approach are healthcare and financial services. The solutions are also becoming more popular in educational institutions, which typically hold large amounts of sensitive student data.

Following is a look at how two companies phased in different DLP solutions. Their experiences illustrate what is entailed in adopting this approach

Protecting the Nation From a Distance

Since the 9/11 attacks, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has focused considerable effort and resources on identifying and combating security threats prior to reaching U.S. shores. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) accomplishes this in three ways – screening cargo at its port of origin, screening people at their airport of departure, and biometrically screening people upon arrival in the U.S. These programs allow the United States to address potential threats at their source. These programs also save the U.S. government millions of dollars in inspectional costs as well as saving companies millions of dollars in costs associated with transportation, storage, and fines. Depending on the nature of the business, the entire security operation could be affected by these programs, and understanding how they work is the key to realizing some of the potential benefits inherent in them.

Cargo Screening

The Container Security Initiative (CSI) was established shortly after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States by the CBP’s predecessor. CSI is designed to allow U.S. officials to identify high-risk shipments prior to their departure from a foreign port of entry and partner with customs officials at those foreign ports to examine those shipments and pursue intelligence generated by such examinations. According to CBP, 86 percent of all containerized cargo headed to the U.S. is prescreened prior to arrival on U.S. shores. Currently, CSI officers are posted in over fifty-eight foreign ports and eventually will include Halifax, Canada; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Bremerhaven, Germany; Piraeus, Greece; Hong Kong, China; and Dubai, UAE.

There are various requirements and responsibilities established for countries that agree to participate in the CSI program. These requirements were recently converted into federal law via section 205 of the Security & Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (SAFE Port Act). Customs officials must be able to inspect cargo “originating, transiting, exiting, or being transshipped” through the country. Examination equipment such as X-ray machines and radiation detectors must be available for such inspections. The Customs organization in the host country must share shipping data and intelligence with CBP, establish programs to ensure integrity of its processes, and must also assess and address port security vulnerabilities. The relationships established between CSI staff and their host counterparts are vital to maintaining the security of both the host country and the United States.

In addition to the numerous security benefits conferred on the United States by such a program, host countries are presented with several advantages as part of their participation in the CSI program. The information and intelligence sharing advantages realized from the United States importing an astronomical volume of goods from around the world are one benefit. Furthermore, should there be a terrorist attack, CSI ports, by virtue of the port security assessments mandated for participation in the program, would continue moving shipments to the United States while a non-participating port likely would not. CSI examinations significantly decrease wait-time for freight upon arrival in the U.S. because it has already been reviewed by CBP officials. Section 205(j) of the SAFE Ports Act authorizes DHS to "treat cargo loaded in a foreign seaport designated under the Container Security Initiative as presenting a lesser risk.”

In a similar vein, CBP also established the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI).The initiative was established by section 231 of the SAFE Port Act of 2006. It is a joint initiative between DHS, the State Department, and the Department of Energy. Current SFI ports include Hong Kong,China; Southampton, United Kingdom; Busan, South Korea; Salalah, Oman;and Karachi, Pakistan.

SFI requires shippers to provide CBP with ten specific data elements relating to their shipments 24 hours in advance of the shipment being loaded for transport to the U.S. As with CSI, shipments bound for the U.S. will be scanned using nonintrusive and radiation-detecting equipment. The scanning requirements, in the case of SFI, are actually statutory in nature, as described in Section 231 of the SAFE Port Act of 2006. The radiation-detection equipment mentioned here is also part of the Megaports Initiative, run by the U.S. Department of Energy. Any problems or issues resulting from inspection with those devices will either be resolved locally by the host country through physical inspection or CBP will advise the shipper not to load the shipment.

Technology involved in the cargo scanning includes Radiation Portal Monitors, which measure the radiation emitted by a container against the natural background radiation. If the measurement suggests the presence of radioactive material, an alert is generated. If an alert is identified, a hand-held scanner called a Radiation Isotope Identification Device is used to try to identify the radioactive material. Large-scale X-ray or gamma ray scanning equipment is used to image whole containers at a time, decreasing the need for manual inspection of an entire container, which could take hours to offload and re-load. Advanced upgrades to these technologies are planned in the near future.

SFI is described by CBP officials not as a replacement for the Container Security Initiative, but an enhancement of it. SFI responsibilities are carried out by existing CSI teams. The focus of SFI, however, is the data transmission and timing. The 24-hour window mandated by SFI allows both the host country and CBP personnel more time to evaluate incoming shipping data and target potential threats, thus enabling those threats to be resolved at a distance rather than on U.S. shores. Consider the scenario of a dirty bomb detonated at a U.S. seaport. The ship doesn’t have to be tied to the dock – it doesn’t even have to be in the harbor. To detonate such a device at the entrance to a U.S. port would have a devastating effect on both the U.S. economy and a substantial portion of the U.S. population. These programs are designed to mitigate the likelihood of such a scenario.

The CSI and SFI programs impact private security professionals in a variety of ways. A security professional involved, for example, in port security operations will likely have to adjust operations based on situations initiated by the operations of the CSI or SFI programs. Containers denied boarding would need to be either stored or removed from the premises. Containers deemed a radiological risk could result in emergency plans being activated for the vessel, seaport, or surrounding areas. Information may need to be obtained, confirmed, verified, or reported by security personnel regarding shipments, the container holding the shipment, the vehicle that brought the container into the port, the individual operating the vehicle, the individual loading the shipment, or the vessel the shipment is being loaded onto.

The information sharing encouraged by these programs may require the security professional to form new relationships or reinvigorate old relationships with government officials involved in these programs. The value of these types of networking relationships cannot be understated: to effectively work with government officials in furthering the aims of these programs may lead to other opportunities for shared training, operations, even a position with the government. Illicit activity encountered in a CSI/SFI-denied shipment may attach criminal or civil liability in either the host country or the United States that a security professional may have to investigate or report on. Security staff, in addition, may be called up on to secure the container in question until it can be relocated, removed, or even seized by authorities.

Dubai as a potential target of terrorism

Dubai, the second largest of the United Arab Emirates and one of the fastest-growing, has been designated a potential target for extremists by several Western governments. Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office warns of the risks of travel to the country based on its central location in the Persian Gulf, the nearby hostilities of the Iraq war, and regional anti-Western sentiment.

Other Western countries have issued similar warnings. Foreigners are advised to be vigilant when visiting public places including hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and entertainment spots where expatriates congregate.

But the booming emirate's central city, with its a la Las Vegas neon lights running along wide desert boulevards, does not give any hint of danger on the ground, and security experts who live and work there see little risk.

"The Emirates are stable enough, well-run enough, well-enough policed, economically prosperous enough, and have competent enough security services to not be an attractive target and not to have the conditions within their own society that foster extremism and terrorism," says James Blount, the general manager of the Middle East region for the London-based Control Risks consultancy.

Local security experts say Dubai has been unfairly tarred by the same terrorism brush that smears places like Yemen and Saudi Arabia. "If you look at those travel warnings in more detail - those from the Australian, U.S., and French embassies, for example - it's actually just a renewal of the generic threat around the region as a whole," says Paul Mercer, operations manager for the Middle East Crisis and Security Consulting wing of Control Risks.

Other experts say terrorists will not target Dubai because they might hurt their own money laundering operations, which benefit from the emirate's position as a hub for finance, commerce, and international tourism.

"I don't think any terrorist organization will conduct any huge operation in Dubai or in the UAE, because it's just like shooting yourself in the foot," says Rabih Fayad, intelligence manager for the Middle East and Africa for International SOS. Money laundering is facilitated by the UAE's status as a major financial center, light regulation of informal banking, and the country's use as a transshipment point for drugs from Southwest Asia.

Politically, Fayad says Dubai does not incite the fury of extremists because it is not viewed as a 'pro-Western Muppet' like nearby Saudi Arabia. "The ruling family is not known to say yes all the time" to Western wishes, he says. Case in point, Dubai refused to allow Western coalition troops to use its facilities during Desert Storm.

And whereas the heavy Western presence in Dubai would seem to make it a juicy target for terrorists, security analysts say the opposite is true based on a lack of indigenous dissent and the high standard of living enjoyed by all.

Dubai is unusual in that its population of 1.3 million people consists mainly of expatriates. The majority hails from South Asia and Southeast Asia, while the bars, restaurants, and offices teem with more than 100,000 Britons and other Westerners.

The relative minority of nationals enjoy a per capita income among the highest in the world. "There is no large section of disenfranchised indigenous people here," says James Le Mesurier, an advisor for Olive Group, a global security risk and management company headquartered locally.

The risk of a terrorist attack is also mitigated by the security measures the emirate has implemented at its borders. In addition, the government has begun shoring up its military, with help from the West. "There is a lot of spending here by the Brits and by the Americans with regard to the UAE armed forces and lots of training," says Stuart Adam, regional security advisor for International SOS in the Middle East and Africa.

Security experts praise the UAE's installation of biometric technology and its overall tight security at ports of entry. "They've got a forward-thinking approach toward the use of technology," says Le Mesurier.

While they are more sanguine than Western governments, the region's security officials do not rule out risk entirely. "When you drive around, you don't think about it, because Dubai doesn't make you feel like you are in the Middle East. It feels benign," says Adam. But, when asked if an attack will come, he responds: "One day it probably will."

Relocating for that Perfect Job in UAE

The UAE is a great place for adventurous and skilled people to relocate to for work. The UAE has an ever-growing economy that supplies great job opportunities to those who qualify. If you are a skilled worker
, you will find big corporations willing to give you highly competitive contracts with great benefits. Moving to the UAE for your ideal job is a great way to further your career
while increasing your income at the same time. Before you take the plunge, here are a few things to consider when relocating to the UAE.

Secure a Job
Before you move to the UAE, you will want to make sure you have a secure job offer. It is not advisable to visit hoping that you'll find job opportunities while you're there. Instead, take the time to research jobs online, visit employment agencies and look into the corporations that interest you. It's important to secure a job first so that you can focus on other aspects of your big move. By having a contract before you go, you will also be able to secure a visa from your company to live and work in the UAE.

Relocating Your Family
If you decide to relocate your entire family, you will need to secure visas for all of them. With a family residence visa you will be able to sponsor your spouse, children or parents to come live with you. Make sure you begin this process well in advance of your move to ensure you and your family meets all the necessary requirements.

Property
Unless your employer has secured housing for you, you will need to look into property to rent. The best way to do this is to start looking after you have arrived in the UAE. Make sure you book yourself into a hotel for a few weeks in order to allow yourself enough time to search for a residence without stressing yourself out. Once you have found your apartment, try to lock yourself into a long lease so that you can avoid any costly future hikes in rent.

Getting Around
For the first couple weeks in the UAE you will likely be reliant on taxis for getting around. However, once you are settled you will want to consider buying or renting a car to help lower your expenses. In order to drive in the UAE, you will need to transfer your current driver's license. To do this, you will need to provide your residence visa, passport, original driver's license and any necessary forms. You will also be required to take an eye exam and pay a fee for the new license.

Relocating to the UAE can be a very exciting experience for you if you make sure to take the necessary steps to secure your job and living situation. Keep in mind that you will be living in a country that is very different from the one you live in now. Make sure you are familiar with the laws and culture in order to avoid any trouble. By being organised and thoughtful, you'll be able to make the most out of living in the UAE and pursuing your dream career.

CCTV Camera for Better Security System

Closed circuit television is commonly known as CCTV. CCTV camera allows us to monitor
and keep track on every activity. We can view and record high-risk areas to prevent theft, control inventory, increase productivity. CCTV allows remote monitoring of parking lots and building exteriors to improve employee safety.
CCTV is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors. It is different from normal broadcast television in which signal is openly transmitted. CCTV is often used for surveillance in areas that may need monitoring such as banks, airports, major government institutes military installations, and convenience stores. CCTV is generally used for continues monitoring or only as required to monitor a particular event.
Below are some of the applications for CCTV
• Monitoring traffic at traffic junctions
• Keep watch on people at railway stations, airports etc
• Production control in a factory
CCTV applications are endless. Now a days more and more places covered by CCTV surveillance. Now days different types of CCTV cameras are available in market. Below are some of major types of CCTV cameras
• Dome Cameras
• Standard Box Cameras
• Day/Night Cameras
• Hidden Camera
• High Speed Dome Camera
• Wireless Control Camera
The benefits to the installation of CCTV systems are both numerous and practical, and include:
• Reducing potentially insurance premiums upon installation
• Increasing staff productivity
• Identifying criminals
• Monitoring various areas at which you can’t reach
• Deters theft, malicious misbehavior and wreckage
• Constant and consistent surveillance 24 hours a day, every day
CCTV UAE security systems are available for your indoor, outdoor, and even underwater surveillance needs, and one system can be expected to last at least five years. For a small amount of pocket change per day, you can protect your business and know that should anything happen, you can always rely on the evidence from your camera.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

What's Happening with Dubai?

After several months of suffering numerous criticisms, the United Arab Emirates finally yields to political antagonism. Dubai Ports World has ordered the removal of the facilities from the five ports they have purchased from the United States. Dubai has announced their decision right after the meeting between the Republican representatives in both the house and senate
was concluded. In the private meeting held in the morning, the leaders told Bush that that transaction between the U.S and the United Arab Emirates was destined to fail.

Some business factions said that this mounting paranoia in the U.S Senate could possibly harm future trade investments.This defeat, some warned, may come back and haunt the U.S because it may damage the relationship between both countries. It should be noted that the UAE is an important ally nation of the United States in the Middle East. In an act to save the rapport between the two countries, UAE's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum has decided to hand the operations of the P and O Ports North America Inc. to the supervision of the U.S.

Just last February, DP World has announced that they will put their plan to take over the management of six US ports after numerous bombardment of criticisms by several parties. Concerns over the national security of the U.S were voiced out if ever the deal were to take place. It is a well-known fact that the Middle East is home to the terrorist group Al-Queda with some members coming from the United Arab Emirates. Critics who opposed the deal used this as the basis of their opposition, saying that handling the management of the ports to a nation with questionable association to terrorists would compromise national security.

England, along with some officials, defended the deal. They said that paranoia should not be allowed to rule the minds of the people. They added that this is exactly what the terrorists want to happen. Administration officials have repeatedly said that although the management of the ports is going to be handed to the DP World, the national security will still be under the U.S entities' supervision such as the Coast Guard and the Customs of Border Protection.

However, this assurance didn't stop the House to vote in opposition to the deal, and quite overwhelmingly. After reviewing the transaction under the agreed time of 45 days, the House vote resulted in a 62-2 vote against UAE's management of the U.S ports.

According to white house officials, the decision came about after the meeting of the congress and DP World. It has also been said that the senior officials of the administration had no direct involvement in the meeting. Several upper bodies of both governments discussed the issue and worked out a result, which was for the United Arab Emirates-based company to back out. After several weeks of controversy and heated discussions, the conclusion came surprisingly swift. It is still unknown how the company would formalize its departure but DP world would not suffer any substantial economic loss.