Inside Executive Protection

The Escort Motorcyclist

In dense / congested traffic situations, common to most cities in the world, one of the most versatile and effective component an escort detail can have is the motorcyclist.

Traditionally motorcyclist are used in official (statesmen level) entourages, in most cases they are uniformed policemen that clear the way for the advancing convoy and in some cases their task is strictly ceremonial.

In this article we'll discuss a different kind of escort cyclists – plain clothes motorcycle mounted agents, which are an integral part of the escort detail.

Such an agent, properly trained and equipped, can carry out the following cardinal tasks:

· Short range / real time reconnaissance

· Deterrence / interception of motorcyclist's attacks

· Emergency evacuations

· Running last minute errands

Short range reconnaissance:

Running a few hundred yards ahead of the convoy, the agent can pass back (radio) real time warnings to the convoy leader, regarding: Traffic jams, obstacles, threats or any other suspicious phenomena that should be avoided or taken in consideration. A convoy could be diverted / deviated in time, so it won't be trapped, while the front running cyclist that got into the tight spot has good chances to work himself out of it(unlike other vehicles) and reassume his position as a front runner a short while later.

If there is more than one cyclist, the front runner can be replaced immediately by one of his peers until he manages to rejoin the convoy.

Motorcyclist attack deterrence / interception:

The popularity of motorcycles as an attack vehicle has risen because of obvious reasons, its agility, speed, maneuverability, availability not to mention the total (and legitimate) disguise of the driver make it the ideal attack - getaway tool.

Integrating the same tool in a defensive ensemble takes away the aggressor's edge and lends the defensive layout proactive capabilities in addition to preventive deterrence.

Emergency evacuation:

Once your principal vehicle is stranded in heavy / stand-still traffic a motorcycle can become an excellent last recourse VIP extraction / evacuation tool.

Running errands:

Escort work is a very demanding and dynamic occupation; agents have to deal with constantly changing situations and sometimes with capricious dignitaries. Necessities pop up at the spare of a moment and other things forgotten or lost.

Having a fast retrieval / gofer tool on hand can save the day.

In short, though restricted by weather condition a good motorcyclist is one of the most important assets in an escort detail.