Heathrow Workers Learn to Identify Suspicious Behavior

Jan. 24, 2006
Customer service representatives at Heathrow Express, the rail link transit system that offers a fast way to travel between downtown London and Heathrow Airport have completed behavior pattern recognition training.

Behavior pattern recognition (BPR) focuses on the observation of people and suspicious behavior, including what people are wearing, bags they're carrying and any mannerisms and behaviors that do not fit the environment.

"Employees are probably your best assets to detect an imminent attack. Training all personnel to notice suspicious behavior and irregularities can be the most important element in any security system," said Rafi Ron, president of New Age Security Solutions (NASS), which provided the training. "When employees act in time, lives can be saved. In Israel, suicide bombers have been stopped by sharp-eyed bus drivers."

The training is also being recognized by HSBC, one of the world's largest banking and financial services organizations. Heathrow Express is a finalist for the HSBC "Rail Safety and Security Excellence of the Year" Award in the United Kingdom, to be announced in February. The NASS BPR training program implemented at Heathrow Express was judged by the panel as the one of the most innovative railway safety and security improvements to be introduced by a train operator during 2005.

Other agencies that have undergone BPR training include U.S. Park Police and Statue of Liberty personnel, TWU Local 100 members in New York City, University of Maryland Police, U.S. airports including Minneapolis-St. Paul and key law enforcement agencies in Boston and New York City.

For more information about BPR training, visit www.nasscorp.com.

About the Author

Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is the former content director of EHS Today, and is currently the EHSQ content & community lead at Intelex Technologies Inc. She has written about occupational safety and health and environmental issues since 1990.

Sponsored Recommendations

June 23, 2025
Learn about lone working laws in the US, key hazards and risks, and get actionable advice on how to keep your lone workers safe.
June 23, 2025
Chemical substitution can quickly get messy, with unclear steps and the risk of swapping one hazard for another. This checklist helps you avoid costly mistakes, prioritize which...
June 23, 2025
A mature approach to health and safety means making safety a core part of your culture, where everyone plays a role and performance is measured by more than just numbers. In this...
June 23, 2025
Behavior-based safety focuses on observing and encouraging safe behaviors to reduce workplace risks. Experts explain how strong safety culture, clear methods, and digital tools...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!