Last weekend’s knife attack on the Doncaster to Kings Cross train shows that when something is not right, but you just don’t know what, it is the innocent public that suffer most.

Despite the platitudes from politicians and the well-intentioned but vague and reactive “See it, Say it, Sorted” reporting campaign, used by British Transport Police and Network Rail, there is still an over reliance on public vigilance.

The problem is that the general public do not have the training, understanding or situational awareness to identify threats, there are no practical drills, no collaborative exercises, feedback or reassurance that any reports they do make, matter.

So much emphasis is put on the general public to trust their instincts but fear, excitement or anger can move through a crowd like a wave, there is a loss of individual identity, and a dilution of responsibility leading to inaction or over reactions such as mass hysteria or stampedes in an effort to get as far away as possible from the scene.

Two examples in which individuals trusted their instincts and prevented a potentially greater tragedy. These are taken from real events but the names and places have been removed.

Something didn’t feel right (1).

He was loitering near the entrance of the bar and restaurant, moving while trying to avoid the gaze of the bouncers stationed at the door.

His behaviour was unusual enough that security stopped his conversation with a staff member to watch him more closely. Eventually, the man approached the entrance.
“Something about his body language, his eyes bothered me and I didn’t like it,” the bouncer later recalled. “Something about his stubbornness and defensive aggression really ticked me off. His eyes signalled trouble.”

The bouncer’s instincts told him to turn the man away. But moments later, the man circled back and tried to force his way inside. The bouncer trained in martial arts, tackled him…  and there was an explosion, killing the attacker, the staff member, and two others, but, miraculously, not the bouncer.

Something didn’t feel right (2).

A young man, wearing a baseball cap and a backpack, was rolling a suitcase through the lobby of a luxury hotel towards an area where guests were gathering for breakfast. His focus was narrow and he was oblivious to his surroundings, intent only on his destination.

Security personnel, sensing something was off, stopped him at the entrance.
“I want to see my boss,” the young man said.
“Which one is your boss? What’s his name?” one of the security staff asked.

The hotel manager, trying to avoid a noisy or embarrassing situation, over ruled the security staff and allowed the man through. Moments later, an explosion tore through the hotel, killing six and wounding dozens, many more survived shaken, but not stirred.

Two situations in which “something didn’t feel right”.