Law enforcement
Law enforcement is integral in the prevention and mitigation of crimes on soft targets such as malls. Based on my experience as the director of security, the lack of enough security personnel is the most vulnerable aspect regarding the mall. A majority of malls have been identified as targets since the government is focused on securing hard targets such as military and government institutions. According to Hesterman (2018), attacks on crowded areas have led to an increase in the number of casualties. The mall is a source of entertainment for numerous individuals in the community. The presence of three security officers in a large mall makes them vulnerable and attractive to terrorists. The latter will easily access the building using the various blind spots where there is little surveillance from the officers. Additionally, the lack of surveillance cameras around the mall exposes the visitors the terrorist threats. In this case, cameras in different areas around the mall will allow the officers to monitor movements and identify unusual activities.
As the director of security, a realistic approach would be increasing the number of security officials. The presence of numerous vigilant officers monitoring every area in the mall is a strategic move to protect the community and mitigate any emergent issues. A direct line to local officers will not guarantee the safety of members visiting the mall. Moreover, these security personnel should be trained and equipped with skills that will allow them to handle any terrorist threats effectively. As highlighted by Chermak, Carter J, Carter D, McGarrell & Drew (2013), despite that there is an active intelligence infrastructure, officers need to be educated on various threats and critical approaches in mitigating the problems.
Further, the changes that need to be made in the public policy include integrating law enforcement members in training on the intelligence procedure. A majority of law enforcement individuals lack intelligence skills and capacity because it is viewed as expertise only required in large agencies (Carter & Carter, 2009). As soft targets, similar efforts should be used to ensure the security of community members visiting the mall.