Security increase
Encyclopedia
A security increase often occurs when a nation
, state
, or institution has recently suffered from a serious incident or is under the perception that there is an increased risk for an incident to occur that endangers or potentially endangers its well-being.
Historically, security
has been increased by governments and private institutions for a variety or reasons, including incidents that have occurred to themselves, to other similar institutions, or to the world, nation, or region following a high-profile event or a perceived threat of one. When this occurs, many identify the move as elevated, heightened, or "beefed-up" security.
Those who are forced to make changes or be extra-vigilant as a result or the increase sometimes refer to the new era as the "security age."
Institutions which often increase security in response to perceived risks include airport
s, government
buildings, international border
s, hospital
, school
s, religious institutions
, and tourist attractions
. The September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 resulted in security being greatly increased around the world.
Common methods employed to increase security include:
in 1995, security was increased at high-profile government buildings around the United States
. Jersey walls were erected around some buildings to prevent vehicles from coming too close . Pennsylvania Avenue
in front of the White House
was closed off to traffic .
and other countries to increase security in many settings. Soon after, the United States launched the Department of Homeland Security.
Nation
A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, and/or history. In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government irrespective of their ethnic make-up...
, state
State (polity)
A state is an organized political community, living under a government. States may be sovereign and may enjoy a monopoly on the legal initiation of force and are not dependent on, or subject to any other power or state. Many states are federated states which participate in a federal union...
, or institution has recently suffered from a serious incident or is under the perception that there is an increased risk for an incident to occur that endangers or potentially endangers its well-being.
Historically, security
Security
Security is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
has been increased by governments and private institutions for a variety or reasons, including incidents that have occurred to themselves, to other similar institutions, or to the world, nation, or region following a high-profile event or a perceived threat of one. When this occurs, many identify the move as elevated, heightened, or "beefed-up" security.
Those who are forced to make changes or be extra-vigilant as a result or the increase sometimes refer to the new era as the "security age."
Institutions which often increase security in response to perceived risks include airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
s, government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
buildings, international border
International Border
The India–Pakistan Border , known locally as the International Border , is the international boundary between India and Pakistan that demarcates the Indian states of Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat from the Pakistani provinces of Punjab and Sindh. Pakistan borders India in the east. The border...
s, hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
, school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
s, religious institutions
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, and tourist attractions
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
. The September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 resulted in security being greatly increased around the world.
Common methods employed to increase security include:
- Increased presence of police officerPolice officerA police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
s and/or security guardSecurity guardA security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
s - Photo IDPhoto identificationPhoto identification is generally used to define any form of identity document that includes a photograph of the holder.Some countries use a government issued card as a proof of age or citizenship.Types of photo ID cards include:*Passports...
checks - Use of surveillanceSurveillanceSurveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
(human or video) - Use of certain instruments, like metal detectorMetal detectorA metal detector is a device which responds to metal that may not be readily apparent.The simplest form of a metal detector consists of an oscillator producing an alternating current that passes through a coil producing an alternating magnetic field...
s or X-rayX-rayX-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
scanners - Banning items seen as a potential hazard in a secured area
- Random searches
- Increased enforcement of existing rules and regulations that were previously overlooked
- Background checkBackground checkA background check or background investigation is the process of looking up and compiling criminal records, commercial records and financial records of an individual....
s - Warning the public of the perceived threat
Oklahoma City bombing
Following the Oklahoma City bombingOklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
in 1995, security was increased at high-profile government buildings around the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Jersey walls were erected around some buildings to prevent vehicles from coming too close . Pennsylvania Avenue
Pennsylvania Avenue
Pennsylvania Avenue is a street in Washington, D.C. that joins the White House and the United States Capitol. Called "America's Main Street", it is the location of official parades and processions, as well as protest marches...
in front of the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
was closed off to traffic .
September 11 attacks
Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, numerous measures were by the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and other countries to increase security in many settings. Soon after, the United States launched the Department of Homeland Security.