The Devil You Know

Originally written 20 June 2015 and last updated 13 Feb 2017

One of the major challenges for peace organizations aka Civilian constructed Security modeling is when (if ever) to let the devil in….work with the State constructed Security Models.

Over the years I have spent hundreds of hours in feminist, cohesive-building, mostly, women-centred environments in London, England.  We strove, and were pleased that our organisations were places and spaces of mutual respect, co-operation, equality and trust.   Then sooner or later something happened, and reality set in. We then learned trust, shared gender or shared and stated belief systems were not an effective control mechanism to keep us and the organisation safe.

At that point we had to turn to the Metropolitan Police, the devil.  Perhaps we needed police protection during a march.  Or we needed to interact with communities that were hostile towards our views.   Perhaps we had safety concerns in the community we were based in.  Or perhaps one of our members just didn’t seem……

The reasons can be varied, but almost always, ALWAYS you will need at some point a need to bring the devil in.

The reasons not to let the devil in are many and at times well founded.  Security apparatuses operate on the bases that you cannot trust.   They also operate on a hierarchical structure, which can be antithetical to many women based and peace based organisations that tend to operation within power sharing modalities.   

And then State Security apparatuses can and have used access to women and peace-building spaces to gather information for the State to ultimately use against…. We all know the fears and the concerns. 

They are at times legitimate.  Still organisations of all kinds need protection, skill-sets and at time guidance that only State Security actors have. 

So here are a few suggestions:

1)      If your organisation is large enough select one person as a contact with the State actor.  In this case the RCMP.

2)      If you don’t have one person available and funds are an issue seek out a volunteer with the skill-set and interest of being the liaison between the organisation and the State.

3)      Within the boundaries of the law state your concerns for privacy for you and your organisation.  In other words set your limits.

4)      Work with the RCMP to develop a security model that meets the needs of your organisation.  That’s right; your organisation must have a security model.  Trust is NOT a Security model.

5)      Work with the RCMP to include in the model a method of communicating organisational concerns with the State.

6)      Find a way which is comfortable for the organisation and the RCMP to develop a relationship that would include (if needed) at least a monthly meeting.  Try meeting over a meal.  As food can help nullify the power imbalance between the State and a small organisation.

7)      Your Security model should be agreed on, known and understood by all members of your organisation. 

8)      The fact that you have a Security model (use a different word if that is more fitting with your organisation's culture) should be communicated to staff, volunteers, and  those who use your services.

9)      Your Security model must be organic and change with the Security needs and demands of the organisation.

10)   Lastly, you must, must always be willing to communicate to the RCMP when they will eventually attempt to encroach/overreach.  It is the nature of the dynamics of the relationship you will seek to develop with the RCMP.

May you always have productive, fulfilling and safe activism in your journey toward building peace aka Civilian constructed Security.

-Debra V. Wilson

Please note that in this article I am using the modality of peacebuilders/security being engaged with the larger international community therefore the RCMP.  With the RCMP being a State Security apparatus in Canada.

If your peace-building is more locally based use this article and substitute the RCMP with the local Policing service.