Behavioural Detection and Hostile Reconnaissance Training
Train your security, front of house and control room teams to spot hostile reconnaissance and behaviour that does not fit, then act on it. Four levels, from a 1 day awareness course to a 3 day specialist course, delivered at your venue by former Essex Police officers who train police, airports and private security teams across the UK and Europe.
Course Overview
Behavioural detection uses observation, conversation and the way people respond to establish whether someone may be hiding hostile intent towards your site. Trained staff learn to recognise behavioural cues that are recognised internationally as reliable indicators of suspicious activity, and to deal with them confidently and lawfully.
Hostile reconnaissance is the planning stage of almost every attack. Staff who know what it looks like, and how to engage, are one of the most effective protective security measures a venue can have, and they support the duties coming in under Martyn’s Law.
Behavioural Detection and Counter Terrorism Awareness (1 day)
£2,250 + VAT per course for up to 12.
- What behavioural detection is and why it works
- Case study: Manchester Arena
- Baselining and errors in observation
- Behavioural indicators
- Conversation strategies, with practical exercises
- Hostile reconnaissance
- Tactics and reporting processes
Behavioural Detection Officer and Counter Terrorism (2 days)
£4,500 + VAT per course for up to 12.
- Everything in the 1 day course, in more depth
- Baseline exercise
- Detecting deception
- Situational awareness and hostile attack plan exercise
- Run Hide Tell
- Knowledge check
Behavioural Detection Specialist (3 days)
£6,750 + VAT per course for up to 12.
- The full 2 day course, then a third day on
- Hostile reconnaissance in more depth
- Target information and deployment plans
- Deployment plan exercise
- The National Decision Model (NDM)
- Operational orders using IIMARCH
- Team leader briefing and deployment
- Knowledge check
Behavioural Detection Officer CPD (1 day)
£2,250 + VAT per course for up to 12.
A refresher day for staff who have already trained in behavioural detection, to keep skills current with up to date material and practical exercises.
About the Trainer
Our behavioural detection courses are delivered with our specialist partner, BOA Training. The course is led by Darren Potts and Fiona Clements, both retired Essex Police officers with 30 years’ service each.
- Nationally accredited trainers for the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (now the National Protective Security Authority) and the City of London Police, for Project Servator and See, Check and Notify (SCaN)
- Delivered Project Servator training to several hundred police and Border Force officers from 15 forces and 10 international airports across the UK and Gibraltar
- Delivered behavioural detection training for AirPol to delegates from 31 European countries
- Further trained in behavioural detection by the FBI and the US Transportation Security Administration
- Delivered enhanced stop and search training using behavioural detection to the Metropolitan Police
- Trained teams for Wilson James, Securitas, ISS World, OCS, The Ritz London, Marshall Wace and University of the Arts London
Proven at major events
NFL London Games, 2022 and 2023. Trained 20 security operatives, then led two teams of 10 over three weekends, working alongside the Metropolitan Police with a number of successes.
ICC World Test Championship Final, the Oval, 2023. Led a team of 12 behavioural detection officers over 6 days alongside Metropolitan Police specialist teams. Successes included identifying Just Stop Oil protesters and detecting a penetration testing team.
What delegates say
“Best course I’ve ever been on in 30 years doing security. Learnt so much and it was fun as well as informative.”
“Having completed the course, I can honestly say it’s the first time I’ve attended a whole course without once clock watching or being distracted.”
“Brilliant, engaging and very interesting, with amazing trainers. Lots of knowledge and tips delivered through interactive scenarios, exercises and videos.”
Frequently Asked Questions
The 1 day course gives frontline staff awareness and the core skills. The 2 day course trains behavioural detection officers to deploy with confidence. The 3 day specialist course adds deployment planning and team leadership. Trained officers can keep skills current with the 1 day CPD course.
Per course for up to 12 people: 1 day £2,250 + VAT, 2 days £4,500 + VAT, 3 days £6,750 + VAT, CPD day £2,250 + VAT. Includes travel in Essex and the surrounding counties. Travel elsewhere in the UK is quoted separately.
Darren Potts and Fiona Clements of BOA Training, both retired Essex Police officers with 30 years’ service each, nationally accredited for Project Servator and SCaN training and currently deploying at major events.
Delegates receive a certificate of completion. The courses are not a regulated qualification, but the content is built on the national approach used by police and the National Protective Security Authority.
Yes. All courses are delivered on site, so exercises use your own spaces, entrances and crowd patterns.
Yes. Our trainers have led behavioural detection teams at the NFL London Games and the ICC World Test Championship Final. Tell us about your event and we will discuss support.
What Your Staff Will Learn
- Establish a baseline of normal behaviour for your site
- Recognise behavioural indicators of hostile intent
- Use conversation strategies to resolve or confirm suspicion
- Spot and disrupt hostile reconnaissance
- Report and respond through your own procedures
- Plan, brief and lead behavioural detection deployments (3 day course)
Who Is This Course For?
Security officers, door and front of house teams, control room operators, supervisors and security managers at venues, events, hotels, offices, transport hubs and public spaces. The 3 day course is for team leaders who will plan and run deployments.
- Duration 1, 2 or 3 days, plus a 1 day CPD course
- Delivery On site at your venue, UK wide
- Group size Up to 12 per course
- Price From £2,250 + VAT per course
- Delivered by BOA Training, former Essex Police officers
- Certificate Certificate of completion
Upcoming course dates
No open dates are scheduled right now. We also run this course on site for teams.
Ask about dates
Ready to book?
Tell us how many people need training and where, and we will come back to you within one working day with dates and a price.