Abnormal Stammer
Nervous tension, anger and excite- ment.
Change of Voice Patterns
a. Change in voice levels and pitch indicates excessive emotional tension and excitement - loud, angry and high pitch speech (emotion, anger, rage and frustration).
b. The deliberate softening (lowering) of speech rhythm and volume - slow and deliberate. An attempt to control emotion.
Excessive Serious & Specific Swearing
a. Of an obscene, personal, racial or sexual nature - a direct verbal expression of anger, frustration and hatred.
b. Used to threaten, insult (provoke) and intimidate
Rapid Angry Speech
Adrenal flow, excitement, emotional state, anger and rage, pre-action build-up
Combination Of The Above
A combination of verbal indicators that may include all or some of the above clues e.g. High, rapid angry speech that includes serious and specific swearing, that will be accompanied by a combination of physical body actions.
Summary
Because of the adrenal actions caused by fear and excitement etc, several verbal and physical indications often occur together - do not forget the sudden reactive physical response.”
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Be Sooner!! (so to speak)
If you allow an adversary to get into a stance you have let things go too far. Also be very aware of the quiet, starer who seems non-aggressive, but can be very disturbing. He will talk in a quiet, even tone and make threats in this even, level and measured way. He will have practised ‘mood swings’ form very passive to suddenly aggressive, both to put you off balance and also to hit your ‘adrenal switch’. Under no circumstance let him talk himself into
S T R E E T S E C U R I T Y
anything closer than a very extended striking range. He will also offer to shake your hand as if he has made a mistake, but under no circumstance accept or be drawn into the ploy or you will be unconscious before you know where you are. This type of individual will also be very challenging and make a direct, but quiet enquiry about what you are going to do and will say “ go on then do something lets see what you’ve got “, as if he is totally prepared and infallible. It’s a psychological ploy he’s used many times before and he will be good at it. One way or another you will not escape the consequences of such a confrontation. You must stay in control and, unfortunately, act sooner rather than later.
It may be that to use your verbal skills effectively may dissuade aggression, but if it doesn’t then on recognising the signals you will have to escalate your force response. Remember, if a person submits and ceases aggressive or resistant behaviour you must be prepared to de-escalate, so to speak, your level of response. To know when this should happen we need to know not only from verbal affirmations, but also from non-verbal signals that they have had enough:-
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Putting hands up in front of the body.•
palms out.•
Reduction in large movements.•
Lowering tone and volume of voice.•
Standing still.•
Looking down at the ground.•
Falling to, or kneeling on the ground.•
Lifting of eyebrows (shows fear/ anxiety).•
Backing away.BE CAREFUL - don’t fall for a ploy. I’ve seen people fake submission only to blast off again when the deception has worked. It happens, particularly, when you have them restrained and they convince you they will not offer any more problems, only to have them explode at you again once they are released. There is an old Japanese Samurai saying which should come to your mind every time you think things are OK and the fight is over-
“WHEN THE BATTLE’S OVER, TIGHTEN YOUR HELMET STRAPS”
Some Points or Do’s and Don'ts
The following list of Do’s and Don’ts are applicable not only in respect of street robberies, but as points of general street security:
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Don’t show expensive jewellry.•
Carry your handbag in a ‘self conscious way- let it fall in front of you not behind - flap in toward you so it can’t be snatched from behind - one method of attack is the fast hit and runS T R E E T S E C U R I T Y
from behind. Also carry it in a way that makes it easy to let it go.
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Use the gap between cars if some- one runs at you.•
Don’t run whilst you are still in full sight of the person or persons that concern you. If someone does cause you concern make your alternate move in a calm way•
Don’t use a phone box to phone for help NB. the office worker in Londonwho was dragged from the phone box and raped as she phoned for help
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One ploy is for one person to stop you and ask for change of a £25 note - if you pull the purse or wallet out a second attacker will snatch it . The first can deny any involvement even if he doesn’t run. They may use an alley off the main road you are on to wait in - so raise your awareness etc.•
Distribute your money around your person divide notes and keep some old credit cards in a top jacket pocket. These are ‘give aways’.•
Consider carrying a ‘bluff’ purse or wallet to give away.•
Before going into a shop to buy something, carefully try to prepare the correct amount to pay for the item don’t sort it out in the shop as you can be targeted there and they know in which pocket you keep what they want.•
Never stop in the street for any request or ‘Question and Answer’ session.•
Don’t take shortcuts.•
Never pass through a subway until you can utilise a full escort of other people.‘Switched Off’ and too close to the corner.
Now you’re surprised and within grabbing range, the threat being only a few feet away. No time for evaluation just the typical shock and freeze.
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‘Switched On’ in
‘Condition Yellow’ and alert to the potential threat.
Evaluating the threat and making choices - in this case confirming the threat.
‘Condition Red’ - now
the avoidance - get off the street and find other people.
S T R E E T S E C U R I T Y
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Never walk close to buildings, past unlit doorways and alleyways, keep well out from the building to avoid being jumped.•
Walk facing traffic - this prevents a vehicle pulling up to you unseen and deters ‘kerb-crawlers’.•
If a car stops use your voice.•
Never accept a lift from a stranger, even if he claims his car is a taxi.•
If you are wearing high heels take them off before you run.•
If taken home at night ask to be watched into the house.•
If you think you are being followed go to the nearest occupied area and call the police.•
Walk quickly across the road and cross it again if necessary.•
Walk to a busier area where there will be other people - a shop, a garage, well lit house, pub, cab office etc.•
If you go into a shop for help BE CALM don’t scream or shout, or they will react against you and take you as a threat - be rational, reasonable in your request for help.•
Chequebook caution -home address! phone number.•
Don’t flash expensive jewellry.•
Carry a sound alarm.•
Keys should not bear name and address.•
It is an offence to carry any item for the sole purpose of self defence but itmay be possible to improvise, but the reality of this we will look at later.
Another Experience
A teenage gang member was found guilty of mugging the husband of the UK’s Director Of Public Prosecutions. The 17 year old youth stabbed John Mills 58, between the ribs with a ‘butterfly knife’ as he walked towards his Camden home, in North London. Bleeding heavily, the businessman staggered 100 yards to his front door, where he collapsed into the arms of his wife, Barbara.
The news article reported that the blade had partially severed an artery in his abdomen and could have killed him, but for emergency surgery. The Jury took 4.5 hours to convict the attacker of GBH. He was also found guilty of robbing Mr Mills of a wallet, credit cards and cash. Mr Mills had been surrounded by 6 youths in May 95. He was punched around the head and shoulders and grabbed by the neck. He handed over about £100 but did not realise he had been stabbed until after the gang ran off.
As reported in the Sunday Times 21/12/96