Exploring the Use of Roving Security Inspections to Increase Post 311 Rail and Bus Transit Security

1
Exploring the Use of Roving Security Inspections
to Increase Post 3/11 Rail and Bus Transit
Security in the US

• Transportation and Development Institute
• Of the American Society of Civil Engineers
• National Teleconference
• Thursday, March 25, 2004
• James F. Broder, CFE, CPP, FACFE, President
• Confidential Business Consultants, LLC
• And
• Eva Lerner-Lam, President
• Palisades Consulting Group, Inc.

2
The Problem How can we Prevent and Deter
Terrorism on Transit?

• Rail and Bus Transit Systems are open, and no
  matter how many video monitors or canine patrols
  are deployed, it is simply not feasible to check
  each and every passenger embarking on each and
  every segment of their journey

3
What is Practical?

• "I don't know that we ought to apply the same
  strategy that we're using with the airlines Is
  it practical to have magnetometers for everyone
  who gets on a subway? Is it practical to search
  every bag that goes on?"
• -- Asa Hutchinson, Undersecretary of Homeland
  Security, March 15, 2004

4
Roving Security Inspections

• Modeled after Roving Fare Inspections on European
  and US Light Rail Systems
• Currently used in several countries in Europe

5
Roving Security Inspections

• Frequent, unannounced inspections on buses,
  trains and in passenger terminals
• Aided by Explosives Detection Dogs (EDD) and
  metal detectors
• Inspectors would be empowered to issue citations
  and to make arrests

6
Advantages of RSI

• High visibility of such roving patrols throughout
  vehicles and terminals can provide effective
  deterrence to would-be terrorists and reassurance
  to the public of a security presence.
• Low cost compared to other security options, and
  can be used as a building block in deterring
  terrorism.

7
For Discussion Today

• What would be Standard Operating Procedures
  (SOPs) for Roving Security Inspections (RSIs)?
• How quickly can RSIs be established at rail and
  bus transit systems in the US?
• How much will RSIs cost transit agencies?
• What additional legal authority is necessary to
  enable effective RSI enforcement? (e.g., do
  transit police currently have sufficient
  authority to search and arrest individuals?)

8
For Discussion Today, cond.

• What additional training/skills are needed for
  RSIs?
• What types of public information programs for
  RSIs would be most effective?
• Would the RSIs themselves trigger an attack on
  board a transit vehicle? How can this risk be
  minimized?
• What is the appropriate frequency of RSIs on a
  commuter rail train? On a bus route?

9
1. Model RSI Standard Operating Procedures?

• The SOP for roving security inspectors can be the
  same as Code Compliance Inspectors at any of the
  light rail systems in the US
• Any modifications would be simple, but an
  adequate SOP, with minor changes, already exists

10
2. How quickly can RSIs be deployed?

• RSIs can be established immediately (in many
  cases they already exist)
• Trained personnel are  already available with
  little to no change in job assignment or duties

11
3. How much will RSIs cost transit agencies?

• Minimal additional cost, as the trained personnel
  are already available, in most cases

12
4. Additional legal authority necessary?

• Many systems employ transit police who have broad
  police powers, such as search, seizure and
  arrest, the same as any sworn police officer (it
  depends upon the jurisdiction)
• Even Code Compliance Inspectors have the ability
  to call in sworn officers at a moments notice
  when they see, or suspect a crime is being
  committed (And, because they wear uniforms and
  have badges (and radios)  they are often confused
  with sworn officers (Deterrence))

13
5. Additional training/skills needed?

• Probably not (Any uniformed transit security
  personnel should possess the required skills as a
  result of previous training)

14
6. Most Effective Types of Public Information
Programs for RSIs?

• As much publicity as possible using every media
  available
• First ,the riding public needs to be constantly
  reassured
• Second, the bad guys need to know that the
  targets have been hardened (deterrence)

15
7. Would an RSI Itself Trigger an Attack?

• NO--the absence of security often makes a target
  more attractive (the presence of security, if
  effectively deployed, can often act as a
  deterrence to an attack)
• BUT--in security there are no guarantees

16
8. What is the appropriate frequency of RSIs?

• All patrols MUST be random
• Set schedules should be avoided

17
Other Important Considerations

• The trade-off  to security is always cost and
  inconvenience
• We must avoid becoming paranoid and over reacting
• In the absence of continued threats, how much do
  we want to inconvenience the riding public?

18
In Summary

• RSIs may be a cost-effective, building block
  security strategy for transit agencies
• RSIs may be implemented quickly since
• SOPs already exist for roving fare inspection and
  can be adapted for security inspection
• Most training, skills and enforcement powers
  already exist at transit agencies