"In a crisis, the plan you trained for is the only plan you have."
Crowd Incidents and Civil Unrest
Instructor Sele: Liberia's political and social landscape can shift quickly. Protests, election tension, and civil disturbances are part of the operating environment — not exceptional events. This module teaches you how to manage your post and protect your client when the crowd comes to your door.
Section 1 — Understanding Crowd Dynamics
Crowds have predictable phases of development. Most civil unrest incidents begin as a conventional or expressive crowd and escalate when triggered by a specific event — a confrontation with police, a rumour, a perceived injustice. The security team's role is to monitor for escalation indicators and respond before escalation occurs.
| Phase | Description |
|---|---|
| Casual gathering | People assembling for a common reason — market, event, spontaneous gathering |
| Conventional crowd | Organised, purposeful movement — march, protest, demonstration |
| Expressive crowd | Emotionally charged but largely peaceful — celebration, mourning |
| Aggressive crowd | Active hostility — property damage, confrontation, targeted violence |
Section 2 — Escalation Indicators
Watch for these signs that a crowd is transitioning from peaceful to hostile: increase in noise level and agitation; projectiles beginning to be thrown (stones, bottles); crowd moving toward a specific target rather than general movement; sub-groups breaking from the main crowd; burning or destruction of property at the edges; individuals in the crowd directing others (leadership emerging).
When escalation indicators appear, the security response must change immediately — do not wait for full hostility to develop.
Section 3 — Security Response to Civil Unrest
The security team's primary obligation during civil unrest is to: protect the client's premises and personnel — secure all access points, close and lock perimeter gates. Maintain access control — no unauthorised entry during the disturbance. Do not engage the crowd — no physical confrontation, no provocation. Alert LNP immediately when unrest is identified — do not wait for escalation. Shelter in place if the crowd is blocking safe evacuation. Document — photograph and video from a safe distance where possible. Communicate with the client — keep senior client management informed at every stage.
Section 4 — Protecting Personnel During Unrest
If people need to be moved during a civil disturbance: move in groups — never allow individuals to move through an active unrest area alone. Use covered routes — avoid areas where the crowd is densest. Do not wear or display anything that identifies individuals as targets (uniforms, corporate lanyards). Have vehicles positioned at secure extraction points ready to move.
If the building cannot be safely evacuated, initiate shelter in place — secure all exterior access and wait for LNP to establish control before any external movement.
- •Understand the four crowd phases: casual → conventional → expressive → aggressive
- •Watch for escalation indicators and respond before full hostility develops
- •The security team's role: protect premises and personnel — do not engage the crowd
- •Alert LNP immediately when unrest is identified — do not wait
- •Use shelter in place if safe evacuation is not possible
"During an election period I had a client's office building caught between two competing groups marching from opposite directions. We had 20 minutes from the first intelligence report to the crowd arriving. In those 20 minutes we locked the perimeter, moved all staff to the upper floors, contacted LNP, positioned two vehicles in the secure compound, and briefed the client's senior management. Twenty minutes of preparation eliminated what could have been a catastrophic situation."
A crowd incident is escalating outside a client's premises. The security team's primary obligation is to: