28th February 2015 was a good day on the adapted SBS CQC updates, covering use of force and using force as we applied strikes both upper and lower body and pressure points. This also included (high risk) points on the body, where up to deadly force can be applied if necessary. However, training for different needs is incorporated into the day, depending on the needs of the client and the environment they are deployed to operate in. A lively discussion took place about the use of force under UK law and the legal premise that the law belongs to every person not just the police. It was demonstrated that training in the use of force is available for private sector that is to the same or above the level given to UK Probationary Police Officers.
The course highlighted why consistent CQC training is necessary for those involved in recurring hostile environments and contact. Carrying out this training under stress-induced conditions clearly demonstrated the factors that need to be compensated for within the person’s mental and cognitive abilities. It demonstrated to students that when committed to fight-or-flight, the mind and body function in different ways. It showed that practice and continuous development in these skill areas are key and necessary to maintain operational effectiveness, safety of self and others when engaged in single and multiple hand-to-hand threats.
With simple memorable steps against different sized individuals, the training gave options of responses that could be recalled under high mental and physical-stress situations. The need for self-discipline and good physical fitness on ‘high end’ use of these skills is advisable. Unfortunately, this is not for those who cannot cope with going home with sore, cut and bruised knuckles and limbs!
Following the morning of physical training, students were taken through update Counter Terrorism Awareness Training based on the BTEC Level 2. Adapting parts of our Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT),( Community Policing, Intelligence and Problem Solving) Course, we opened up constructive discussion.
Our approach was to demonstrate apparent push/pull factors and discuss the use of government operations, foreign policy, globalisation, with global corporations. We highlighted for discussion exactly what the difference is between defensive and offensive Jihad and the differences between Al-Qaeda and Islamic State. This was shown in the context of the use of Alexander Tytler’s ( a Scottish advocate, judge, writer and historian who served as Professor of Universal History, and Greek and Roman Antiquities, in the University of Edinburgh) model on the cycles of democracy and how in times of great needs and suffering, the population will turn to religion, which follows with conflicts.
Demonstrations were given on how conditioning took place and how it was dissimilar behaviour from conditioning you would find with online grooming, military conditioning etc. Examples were also given by two of the IBA UK associates who had recently returned from the Philippines. They gave an interesting input on how Islamic State is growing in influence there with the current Muslim led groups – MILF, BIFF and Abu Sayyaf.
One student commented that the approach was different and as the lesson was being expanded upon, he stated, “it was like a light went on, linking what he had been told and what unfolded following their deployment with the military during Gulf War One”.
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