Held to ransom
Issued on January 19, 2010 at 11:42 AM
A disturbing feature of recent hostage raids has been the willingness of gangs to target families with young children
By Larry Broderick
General Secretary
IBOA The Finance Union
After a relative lull in 2007 and 2008, the incidence of tiger kidnapping has increased dramatically during 2009. A major concern in the most recent spate of incidents has been the use of children as hostages.
While we would all wish it were otherwise, it is likely that the trend will continue during the economic downturn. The major criminal gangs who are being hurt by recent successes by the police authorities in intercepting illegal drugs and contraband are likely to look to other "softer targets." As their actions create the impression that banks are easy marks, there is every possibililty that smaller operators will engage in copy-cat activity - which is likely to put more bank employees at risk.
Trauma
The impact of the trauma of a tiger kidnapping on the victims and their families is profound. It is not simply a workplace problem: victims carry the scars with them everywhere - and especially at home which instead of being a refuge of security and calm is transformed into a constant reminder of intimidation and terror for partners and family members as well as the bank officials, themselves. It is not uncommon for victims to move house or even emigrate in order to try to put the nightmare behind them.
One of the most striking consequences is that relatively few staff who have been through the experience return to full-time employment in banking.
Most have decided to terminate their employment or move on to do something else. While that might have been a viable proposition when the economy was booming, there are few alternatives now for staff who find it difficult to cope with the effects of the trauma.
The fact that family members or friends with no direct connection to banking may have been victimised in the process - in some cases perhaps even more profoundly than the bank official - can mean that they do not benefit fully from the support available to victims from the bank. Although some banks have offered counselling to employees' families, it tends to focus on the immediate aftermath of the event - when in fact the damage may be of a long-term nature.
Furthermore even where the perpetrators are caught, due process in the court can take a considerable amount of time - forcing victims to relive the nightmare for many years before they can achieve some kind of closure through the jailing of the raiders.
Holistic Approach
IBOA is seeking a more comprehensive and holistic approach to support for the victims of tiger kidnappings - especially for those who may not have a direct relationship with the bank. This support should continue for as long as the victims require it.
IBOA has also sought to engage with all the relevant authorities in pursuit of improved security for bank staff. Apart from the banks, themselves, Union representatives have been in regular contact with the Garda Siochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland as well as the appropriate Government Departments on both sides of the border.
In November the Union met the Republic's Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, to highlight the importance of tackling the root causes of tiger kidnapping by making the prospect as unattractive as possible to would-be raiders.
There are two aspects to this: first to minimise the prize on offer to the criminal by reducing the amount of cash being held in banks; and secondly by increasing the likelihood that the venture will end in failure - followed by arrest, conviction and imprisonment.
If reducing the amount of cash is accepted as an aim of public policy, it needs to be subjected to some joined-up thinking such as removing the obstacles to the greater use of credit and debit cards.
Plastic Fantastic
Some observers claim that our reluctance to adopt plastic and electronic payment methods is the result of a deep-seated cultural attachment to paper currency. That may be true - but Government levies and charges are also a powerful disincentive.
The banks must also review access to cash in bank branches and cash centres. If employee access is more limited, then the capacity for criminals to extract cash becomes more difficult.The increased use of technology must also be a priority along with a more visible police presence around cash centres and improved local liaison between police and bank staff.
Ultimately the banks must do more to invest in the security of their staff and of their assets.
IBOA General Secretary, Larry Broderick, addresses the media after an IBOA delegation met the Republic's Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern,in November 2009, to discuss improving security for bank staff in the wake of recent hostage raids (Photo: Sasko Lazarov, Photocall-Ireland).
Preventative Measures
IBOA's proposals to Government for action
- Reduce the overall amount of cash in circulation.
- Reduce the amount of cash in individual banks which staff can access.
- Introduce technology to provide early warning to the authorities.
- Ensure a more visible police presence at cash centres.
- Improve communication between police and bank staff in their communities.
IBOA's proposals to banks for action
- End the practice of junior staff acting as key-holders.
- Introduce technology to deliver greater security for individual bank employees outside the workplace as well as providing early warnings to banks and police.
- Include tiger kidnapping as a workplace hazard in the Safety Statement for each site and make appropriate provisions for staff - including full training in surveillance awareness and avoidance techniques as well as appropriate responses in the event of a tiger kidnapping incident.
- Improve the long-term care of all victims - including family members - by providing ongoing post-traumatic stress counselling and appropriate compensation.
