David Hyde and Associates

06/25/2012

A fascinating new research study suggests that the presence of surveillance cameras may spur bystanders to assist people in distress. Considering the lack of evidence that video cameras deter crime in most circumstances, the potential that surveillance cameras, amplified by highly visible signage, may draw heightened attention and even intervention on the part of bystanders, is a finding deserving of wider attention and additional research.

New research finds the "bystander effect" can be offset by the presence of public self-awareness.

06/22/2012

This unsuspecting travel agent was returning from dinner to her hotel when she and a colleague were attacked with the intent of being robbed. The purpose of the trip was for a large group of travel agents to tour a local resort destination. Lots of questions arising from this tragic incident. Were these business travellers educated on local crime risks? Did they have secure transportation options? Were they targeted or was this a random attack? This tragedy demonstrates the importance of a robust travel risk management program.........

Australian fatally stabbed and another wounded in Phuket bag sn**ch The Nation Phuket Police are hunting two young men who stabbed and killed an Australian woman on Wednesday night during an attempted bag-sn**ch in Phuket.

06/16/2012

Tragic shooting of 4 armoured car guards (3 killed) last night at U of Alberta HUB Mall. Looks like a fellow armoured car guard is the prime suspect. Shocking! Our Senior Training & Compliance Associate, Brian Robertson, is quite extensively quoted in this Edmonton Journal article on the incident.

The G4S guards involved in Friday’s shooting were given training and were subject to background checks before being authorized to carry fi****ms, a company spokeswoman says.

06/12/2012

Check out this excellent short video from Stratfor about the ramifications of the new French President's decision to reduce his security profile. The President announced that he will reduce the number of protective agents and will live in a Paris apartment as opposed to the more secure Presidential residence. These decisions place the President and others at risk....

Stratfor's Chief Security Officer Fred Burton discusses reasons that French President Francois Hollande's decision to reduce his security team is imprudent f...

06/12/2012

Managing the risk to an organization's reputation has never been as important as it is today. The speed and trajectory of today's news cycle coupled with the relentless search for "bad news" drives a need for organizations to prepare and practice robust crisis management and crisis communications plans. This article has some great tips in this regard.

Companies are defined by their reputations – in other words, their brand equity. Although it’s hard to put a dollar value on it, a reputation is a company’s most precious commodity. It can take years to build your brand and stake a claim in your customer’s minds, but only one mistake to send it cras...

06/11/2012

Disruptions to shareholders meetings and other similar forums are becoming more and more common these days. Organizations should be performing a risk assessment prior to setting up such meetings and the destination and physical location should be chosen with security in mind....

Chesapeake Energy Corp. shareholders were met by lockdown security Friday as they entered the northwest Oklahoma City campus for the company’s annual meeting.

11/21/2011

Two Campus Police Officers were suspended after they pepper sprayed a crowd of peaceful protesters at a demonstration at U Cal Davis. The video of the incident has gone viral and has resulted in widespread condemnation. Some are calling for the University President to resign. This incident shows the importance of proper operational planning, training and supervision.

A US university suspends two police officers involved in using pepper spray on students in a protest supporting the Occupy Walll Street movement.

11/20/2011

I'm joining Alex Elson, President of International SOS, on a webinar on Nov. 23rd to discuss the duty of Canadian employers to protect global business travellers. We will be looking at this issue from a tort law (duty of care) and a statutory/regulatory (OHS Acts/Codes, Criminal Negligence) perspective. Pre-register at the link on the blog posting or contact me afterwards for access to a recording.

The overall risk landscape is changing for Canadian employers when it comes to Duty of Care. Organizations continue to send employees to increasingly unpredictable overseas destinations. At the same time, we are witnessing a global upsurge in natural disasters, socio-economic uncertainty and politic...

11/19/2011

Residents at St. Laurent on the Parc high-rise residential towers in downtown Ottawa have turned to the media to bring attention to their request for additional security. CBC News reports that residents' calls for enhanced security guard presence and more timely security response are not being addressed by the property management company. Organizations need to be able to defend their security program....

11/19/2011

My November article on the First Reference Talks blog discusses an important Ontario decision related to workplace harassment investigations. The arbitrator found that a lawyer acting as a third party workplace investigator cannot invoke solicitor-client privilege over the information gathered during the investigation. The article discusses the far-reaching implications of this landmark decision.

A hospital employee faced complaints of workplace harassment from co-workers, and the hospital imposed discipline on him, including a demotion. ...

11/19/2011

Shocking video of cruelty to chickens shot by undercover animal rights activists leads to multi-million dollar business loss for one of McDonald's largest egg suppliers. Animal rights activists are utilizing increasingly innovative collusion and infiltration tactics to get their message out. At-risk organizations need to be aware of this growing threat and adopt an appropriate risk management program.

By Mira Oberman CHICAGO — Fast food giant McDonald's severed ties with one of its American egg suppliers Friday after a video taken by undercover animal rights activists exposed shocking cruelty to chickens at a farm. The footage showed chicks having the tips of their beaks being burned off by a mac...

11/07/2011

A Quebec criminal lawyer known to represent organized crime figures was viciously beaten outside in his home in a Montreal suburb. Violence against lawyers is an ever-present concern. Research suggests that those practicing in the area of family law and criminal law are most at risk. I worry about mediation, which is often facilitated by a lawyer late in the day or after business hours.

Victim of Montreal attack has defended alleged members of organized crime