The Crisis Response Journal

📢 Our September 2024 issue is now live! https://lnkd.in/dvJyaCBk This edition delivers an exploration of crime’s evolving and unending influence around the world. Matthew Porcelli highlights unpredictable crime can be tackled with effective security strategies. Matt Minshall explains that the imbalance in resources leads to crime waves. Roger Gomm QPM reviews the Southport riots in the UK. Jeannie Barr MEPS comments on the role of crime in eroding community trust and the growing challenge for resilience professionals. Lina Kolesnikova examines the terror attacks on places of worship in Dagestan, Russia. Andy Blackwell reports on how organised crime syndicates are infiltrating civil aviation. Lucy Cuthbertson dissects Japan’s low crime rate to see whether all is as it seems. Lubna Jerar Naqvi notes that tough legislation isn't enough to curb rape and murder in South Asia. The practice of child marriage persists in India, according to Annabel Sofer. Michael Harris looks at white-collar crime and its growth. While Carlos Alberto de Araujo Gomes and Elton Cunha examine organised crime in Latin America. James Lodge FBCI looks at how businesses can deal with disruptions that range from peaceful protests to violent demonstrations. Caroline Field writes that the UK must address risks such as cyberattacks, misinformation, climate change, and so on. Amanda Coleman takes on the crisis of public trust in policing and law enforcement across the globe. Marco Chan and Gail Rowntree SFHEA, MEPS examine the importance of airport preparedness when it comes to aviation emergencies. Patricia Smith notes that compassion fatigue without self-care can make frontline jobs increasingly difficult. Robert McAlister FRGS Assoc CIPD and Dr. Hendrie Weisinger explore the negative effect of pressure on performance. MARCOS LEANDRO KAZMIERCZAK reviews climatic events that have hit Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between 1994–2023. Anderson Silva, CBCP, PFSO, explores the severe shortcomings in disaster preparedness, risk mapping, and infrastructure management during the May flood in Brazil, while Andre Pugas reviews the use of drones and search dogs in rescue operations. Zixin Xiong investigates rising crime rates in low-income countries post floods. Annabel Sofer examines the uptick in human trafficking owing to climate-induced issues. Keyaan Williams highlights the need for effective identity and access management strategies. Andrew Blades FRSA GAICD emphasises managing the consequences of disruptions. Minhaj Aman dissects the evolution from ‘Smart’ to ‘Digital’ Bangladesh and how this progress was coupled with increasing digital authoritarianism. Mila Rosenthal looks at the role gamification can play in helping scientists and policymakers practice decision-making during public health crises. Luavut Z. speaks to Dr. Iain Overton on his career shift from conflict journalism to leading Action on Armed Violence. 

In the global CrowdStrike outage, the cause had been a glitch in a routine software update. This was disappointing for businesses and individuals affected because the downstream consequences of such events are often more significant than the causes. The effects of disruptive events are crucial, and organisations must manage these consequences effectively. Consequence is a poorly defined term, writes Andrew Blades FRSA GAICD. Current definitions of consequences in risk management fail to capture the full impact of events, such as economic losses that may lead to staffing cuts or operational relocations. Understanding cascading effects and anticipating ripple effects is essential for effective risk management. Event managers need to have clear objectives and a thorough understanding of how their interventions can affect outcomes, as these interventions can significantly influence the consequences. The assessment of consequences should not only focus on the event itself but also on the management of the response and long-term recovery. Login to read CRJ 19:3 here: https://rb.gy/87v9rh New readers can subscribe here: https://rb.gy/tymt32 Image: Freepik

The root cause of many societal issues, including crime, is identified as imbalance, particularly in human behaviour compared to the natural world, writes Matt Minshall. Crime is the result of the imbalance between greed and need. It is looked at in three different groups: petty to major crimes, criminal political abuse, and the crime of war. Most societies self-regulate, with laws guiding acceptable behaviour. However, deviations by individuals or leaders can perpetuate cycles of crime. Cybercrime is a growing concern, as computers are central to commerce, entertainment, and government. Starting as a small ripple, it progressed through the wave stage, and created several tsunamis before partial blocking of its effects. Hence, recognising and addressing the early signs of crime (the ‘ripple’) is crucial to preventing larger issues (the ‘wave’ or 'tsunami'’). Login to read CRJ 19:3 here: https://rb.gy/87v9rh New readers can subscribe here: https://rb.gy/tymt32 Image: Anna Shvets | Pexels

Crime is unpredictable, but security and crisis management professionals must proactively safeguard assets against internal and external threats. Matthew Porcelli, MSc, CPP, CPOI, F.ISRM, FSyl comments on how environmental factors, like warmer weather, increase criminal activity and references the Broken Windows theory, which suggests visible disrepair encourages crime. While crime risk can never be completely eliminated, regular vulnerability assessments and ongoing training for security personnel are essential to adapt to changing threats. Addressing the vulnerabilities in natural disasters, such as Hurricane Sandy, creates windows of opportunity for crime, often out of necessity rather than malicious intent. Login to read CRJ 19:3 here: https://rb.gy/87v9rh New readers can subscribe here: https://rb.gy/tymt32 Image: Freepik

In late April and early May 2024, southern Brazil, particularly the state of Rio Grande do Sul, experienced an extreme climatic event leading to catastrophic floods and landslides. According to Andre Pugas, this disaster marked the largest in the state’s history, impacting millions and prompting a significant response from fire brigades across Brazil, including the Santa Catarina Military Fire Brigade (CBMSC). They mobilised extensive resources, including 155 firefighters, 23 search dogs, 54 vehicles, 40 boats, and drones, to aid in search and rescue efforts. The use of drones transformed emergency operations by providing rapid aerial assessments of affected areas, identifying risks, and optimising rescue efforts. Drones equipped with thermal cameras helped locate survivors, while trained search dogs proved crucial for finding individuals in debris, often outperforming large human teams. Login to read CRJ 19:3 here: https://rb.gy/87v9rh New readers can subscribe here: https://rb.gy/tymt32 Image: Santa Catarina Military Fire Brigade

From 1994 to 2023, in Rio Grande do Sul, located in southern Brazil, over 8,000 extreme climate events were recorded, with droughts, floods, and intense rainfall causing significant damage and loss of life. In the past year, the region has experienced three major hydrological events (September 2023, November 2023, and April-May 2024), resulting in more than 220 deaths, far exceeding casualties from the previous 30 years. Data from local civil defence indicates that many municipalities are poorly equipped for disaster management, with most lacking essential resources and trained personnel. Municipalities should prioritise disaster risk management, invest in infrastructure, enhance training for civil defence professionals, and adopt preventive measures. This way, “municipalities can transform this crisis into an opportunity to create a more prosperous and resilient future for generations to come," writes MARCOS LEANDRO KAZMIERCZAK. The implementation of preventative measures requires collaboration between municipal managers, civil society, the private sector, and academia. Login to read CRJ 19:3 here: https://rb.gy/87v9rh New readers can subscribe here: https://rb.gy/tymt32 Image: Ricardo Stuckert | Lula Oficial

In today’s world, dominated by emergency headlines, it seems harder than ever for voices to be heard; The Emergency Planning Society has launched the ‘Big Conversation’ to address this issue amongst professionals involved in emergency management. The initiative aims to facilitate open and honest conversations that lead to innovations and initiatives for resilience in the UK. To provide a voice for emergency professionals, the initiative will contain a series of events to gather people’s thoughts, ideas, and challenges to inform the development of tools, new initiatives, and innovations aimed at influencing change. To register for the events, please email info@the-eps.org Login to read CRJ 19:3 here: https://rb.gy/87v9rh New readers can subscribe here: https://rb.gy/tymt32 Image: Freepik

On June 23, 2024, terrorists attacked two Orthodox churches, two synagogues, and a police post in Dagestan, Russia, resulting in 22 deaths, including 17 police officers and 5 civilians. The attackers, from the village of Sergokala, were previously unrecognised as extremists.  Experts in the Caucasus are discussing a new trend: middle-class terrorism is replacing the traditional stereotype of a terrorist in the region as a person with low education or low social status, writes Lina Kolesnikova. The Russian authorities have since increased scrutiny on potential hotspots for extremism, including martial arts schools, in response to these events. Login to read CRJ 19:3 here: https://rb.gy/87v9rh New readers can subscribe here: https://rb.gy/tymt32 Image: Press Service of the Governor of the Moscow Region | Mosreg.ru

On May 2, the Brazilian National Centre for Natural Disaster Monitoring and Alerts (Cemaden) warned of severe flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, where nearly 500 mm of rain fell in 72 hours, affecting 2.4 million people across 478 municipalities. Disaster management remains inadequate in the state, writes Anderson Silva, CBCP, PFSO. Only 13 per cent of municipalities have completed risk mapping, and many lack effective evacuation plans and infrastructure maintenance. The Brazilian National Civil Protection and Defence Policy (PNPDEC) has not been properly implemented, hindering emergency preparedness and response. Authorities failed to coordinate effectively during the crisis, leading to overwhelmed rescue teams and delays in aid. Despite advance information that an unprecedented rainfall forecast would occur in large to catastrophic quantities, an immediate action plan co-ordinating the municipal, state, federal, and private spheres had not been made. Login to read CRJ 19:3 here: https://rb.gy/87v9rh New readers can subscribe here: https://rb.gy/tymt32 Image: Ricardo Stuckert | Lula Oficial

On July 29, a knife attack occurred during a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance workshop in Southport (northwest England), killing three young girls and seriously injuring 10 others, sparking riots. Immediately, there was a surge of misinformation being spread, highlighting the role of social media in spreading false narratives that escalated into violence. The recent riots echo past events, writes Roger Gomm QPM, revealing societal fractures and raising important questions about public sentiment and the influence of far-right groups. With such events, it’s important to explore the driving cause behind the riots in order to appropriately respond to them. Login to read CRJ 19:3 here: https://rb.gy/87v9rh New readers can subscribe here: https://rb.gy/tymt32 Image: StreetMic LiveStream on Youtube