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JWT
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Teenager Abduction Scenario

On Saturday last week in one phase of one of my Sim Days, I ran a mocked up abduction for the four teenage boys that were taking part. This was a Kobayashi Mary scenario, but I ran it to help both the adults and teenagers explore options and to see what we could learn. We also ran a racially/politically motivated equivilent scenario for some of the adults.

This video shows two of the abductions.

I've written a little more about the scenario and our training compromises here.

I hope that this video is useful.

All the best

John Titchen

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Hi John,

Good video and an interesting drill. I notice that people were not permitted to shout for help / draw attention; with good reason:

– due to a scheduling clash we had to stage our scenario outside a venue filled with young children with open doors for ventilation, so the teenagers couldn’t shout for help or bang on the vehicle,

Making lots of noise is obviously one of the key ways to deal with a situation as it draws unwanted attention and increases the risk of people getting caught (which they obviously don’t want). It may also bring help. I do get the need to remain quiet in the circumstances though.

Because this is in a built-up public space, another potential issue is people hearing and, unaware it was a drill, reporting an attack / abduction / disturbance to the police. You could notify the police ahead of time that a drill would be taking part in that area, but they may well not approve due to potential public concern.

A venue where we can get a van indoors would seem to ideal. Maybe a loading bay at a remote location?

Failing that, one key thing is that the necessary compromise on shouting frees the need for those playing “abductors” to cover the mouth to muffle sound (as in the video), and the need of the “potential abductee” to ensure the mouth remains unobstructed so they can yell.

Maybe, the drill could be tweaked when silence is needed? “Abductors” need to keep mouth covered and “abductee” needs to keep it clear (making the need to shout a key part of the drill; even if science is maintained for public order purposes).

An uncovered mouth for of a given time (10 to 15 seconds?) would see the person running the drill conclude the call for help had been made. They could then decide if help was coming, witness would appear, or no third-party intervention at all (other members of the sim playing these roles). The “abductors” would then need take that into account in their actions i.e. deal with third parties’ intervention, flee before police arrive on scene / witnesses take photos from a distance, etc.

Either way it is a great drill and the kind of “sparring” actual self-defence requires. Thanks for sharing.

All the best,

Iain

JWT
JWT's picture

All good points Iain.  

I'm always analysing what I'm doing to find alternative ways of striking the balance between reality and safety. As ever most of the learning on these days comes from the analysis of the video footage as a group after each stage. When that happens there is no longer any performance pressure or anticipation pressure and the mind is more receptive to ideas as we go through frame by frame and talk tactics, ethics and legal implications.  

It is interesting that even when I give people decomissioned mobile phones, it is rare to find an individual who makes an emergency call. This stresses the need for rehearsal - think the DR (H) ABC (H) of first aid, that training of people to actually shout for help.  

I'm already in discussion to hold something very similar at a more remote location with the potential to have the vehicles indoors. I want the ability for people to shout in these and to have all-weather capability. I'm also looking into vehicles that we aren't worried about getting dented!  

All the best  

John

Iain Abernethy
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JWT wrote:
I'm always analysing what I'm doing to find alternative ways of striking the balance between reality and safety.

It’s a careful balance to be sure. I also think that just being aware of the compromises (as you list out in the article) can in itself be very useful.

JWT wrote:
I'm also looking into vehicles that we aren't worried about getting dented!

I drive one of those :-) The green van is now well over 300,000 miles and still going strong (although not looking its best). When it gets close to the end I was thinking, as a result of your video, letting have a “hero’s death” in a drill :-)

All the best,

Iain

JWT
JWT's picture

When the time comes that van needs a sword welded to one wing mirror, a shield to the other, and to be burned on a pyre.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

JWT wrote:
When the time comes that van needs a sword welded to one wing mirror, a shield to the other, and to be burned on a pyre.

That's now happening ;-)