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Publication
A proteção de Soft Targets face à ameaça terrorista: o caso dos centros comerciais em Portugal
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| 1.66 MB | Adobe PDF |
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
As organizações terroristas têm vindo a alterar a sua seleção de alvos prioritários,
revelando uma tendência para privilegiar os denominados soft targets. A mudança dos
padrões de ameaça e a preferência por operações individualizadas, difíceis de detetar e
prevenir, obrigam a uma nova abordagem protetiva.
Os centros comerciais inserem-se nesta categoria de alvos, não só por serem
espaços que atraem uma grande quantidade de visitantes, como também por
apresentarem um grau aparentemente reduzido de medidas securitárias robustas. O
propósito desta investigação consiste em averiguar a adequação das atuais práticas de
segurança aplicadas nos centros comerciais face à ameaça terrorista e identificar
estratégias de consolidação. Foi realizado um estudo exploratório, envolvendo cinco das
principais empresas gestoras de centros comerciais no país através de entrevistas
semiestruturadas aos seus respetivos Diretores de Segurança.
O estudo demonstra um entendimento similar entre os participantes quanto ao
quadro operacional de proteção dos centros comerciais, com uma preparação proporcional
ao nível atual de risco, mas desequilibrada na taxa de esforço. No que respeita à
cooperação entre o setor público e setor privado, identificam-se tanto obstáculos como
oportunidades. Conclui-se que o quadro legislativo em vigor não estimula devidamente a
realização de exercícios conjuntos de incidentes de security e que a reduzida cultura de
segurança no país compromete a capacitação dos vários intervenientes. Fica ainda patente
a necessidade de promover espaços de discussão entre os diversos operadores e
proporcionar informação útil e oportuna dos soft targets à primeira linha de resposta ao
incidente.
Terrorist organizations have been changing their selection of priority targets, revealing a tendency to favor the so-called soft targets. The change in threat patterns and the preference for individualized operations, which are difficult to detect and prevent, require a new protective approach. Shopping centers fall into this category of targets, not only because they are spaces that attract many visitors, but also because they have a seemingly low degree of robust security measures. The purpose of this investigation is to ascertain the adequacy of current security practices applied in shopping centers in the face of the terrorist threat and to identify consolidation strategies. An exploratory study was carried out, involving five of the main shopping center management companies in the country through semi-structured interviews with their respective Security Directors. The study demonstrates a similar understanding among the participants regarding the operational framework for the protection of shopping centers, with a proportional preparation regarding the current level of risk but unbalanced in the effort rate. With reference to the cooperation between the public and private sectors, both obstacles and opportunities are identified. It is concluded that the legislative framework in force does not adequately encourage the realization of joint exercises on security incidents and that the reduced culture of security in the country compromises the training of the various stakeholders. There is also a clear need to promote spaces for discussion among the various operators and to provide useful and timely information from the soft targets to the first line of response to the incident.
Terrorist organizations have been changing their selection of priority targets, revealing a tendency to favor the so-called soft targets. The change in threat patterns and the preference for individualized operations, which are difficult to detect and prevent, require a new protective approach. Shopping centers fall into this category of targets, not only because they are spaces that attract many visitors, but also because they have a seemingly low degree of robust security measures. The purpose of this investigation is to ascertain the adequacy of current security practices applied in shopping centers in the face of the terrorist threat and to identify consolidation strategies. An exploratory study was carried out, involving five of the main shopping center management companies in the country through semi-structured interviews with their respective Security Directors. The study demonstrates a similar understanding among the participants regarding the operational framework for the protection of shopping centers, with a proportional preparation regarding the current level of risk but unbalanced in the effort rate. With reference to the cooperation between the public and private sectors, both obstacles and opportunities are identified. It is concluded that the legislative framework in force does not adequately encourage the realization of joint exercises on security incidents and that the reduced culture of security in the country compromises the training of the various stakeholders. There is also a clear need to promote spaces for discussion among the various operators and to provide useful and timely information from the soft targets to the first line of response to the incident.
Description
Keywords
Ameaça terrorista Centro comercial Contramedidas Infraestruturas Soft target Countermeasures Infrastructure Shopping center Terrorist threat