The Personal Security Pocket book is the third and latest collaboration between two friends John Harris, the publisher of Military Pocket books and soldier, author and artist Rupert Godesen. Brought together a few years ago by happy chance to update the Soldiers Pocket Book, the pair then went on to produce the Sniper Pocket Book with Frank Fletcher and by the time you read this they'll be well on the way to finishing off the Combat Medic pocket Book. They hope to have at least thirteen titles in the range by the time they finish, but there's no guarantee they'll stop there. Off Road Driving and Search & Rescue have been bandied around, but it's top secret at the moment.
Rupert has been a soldier in the Reserves for over 23 years, he has served on operations in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan and travelled all over the world on exercises and also to teach and for pleasure. Due to his unconventional CV he was approached by the company that trained the BBC to assist with their Hostile Environment training and stayed with them for 6 years (conducting courses in the UK as well as for the World Service in Islamabad, Delhi, Nairobi and New York) before starting his own training company HASP Training to run his own courses.
The Personal Security Pocket Book was inevitable as soon as John and Rupert shook hands at St Pancras Station at their first meeting four years ago. Written in the same clear, easy style that pervades the other titles and illustrated throughout with images and info graphics by Rupert, it is a distillation of all of the author's experiences and tips that he has picked up throughout his travels.
Rarely prescriptive, often philosophical and sometimes funny, it will assist travellers in carrying out steps to remain safe when working or travelling far from home and out of their "comfort zones".
The book follows a narrative from the first page looking at why travellers (be they corporate lawyers, oil execs or gap year travellers) draw attention to themselves needlessly. We look at the impression you can unconsciously create, turning up smartly dressed flashing your new Gore-Tex jacket you got for your birthday in a country where the inhabitants have absolutely no future or anything much to live for.
Common trends and threats are explained, an in depth chapter on how to maintain your own personal security, pre-trip planning to maximise your chances of a successful trip and 23 indispensable tip top tips to get the most out of an interpreter. There's even a section on how to mitigate the effects of jet lag.
There's a fascinating chapter on Kidnap & Ransom by Doctor Sarita Robinson of Lancaster University, and we'll also put you in touch with some sturdy, reliable companies that Rupert works with on a regular basis. From Kate Nowlan's CiC EAP that runs a 24 help line for employees who need to talk to a psychologist, to the modern day incarnation of International Rescue (Northcott Global Solutions) who are the guys you need to call if you're in a tight spot.
The Personal Security Pocket book can inform your planning, recommend courses of action and will allow you and your team to confidently undertake their own risk assessments. Our aim is to "Prepare Not Scare" and the topics covered within its covers will help to produce confident, informed and upbeat employees that will reflect well on any organisation.
