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Setting up roadblocks:
Roadblocks are usually mounted in an internal security (IS) or counter-insurgency situation. You can use either snap or permanent roadblocks; the purpose of both is to check traffic going through a particular point or to completely block a road to prevent its further use.
The siting of the roadblock is important. Preferably, it should be around a corner or behind the crest of a hill so as to take the driver by surprise, and should be flanked by hedgerows or ditches so that it is difficult or impossible for a car to turn round.
Terrorists have to use wheeled transports to move weapons, explosives, supplies and other equipment to safe hiding-places, from which they will have to move them again when they intend to use them. The best way to counter this threat is to create a permanent infrastructure of roadblocks, or vehicle checkpoints (VCPs) as they are called in Northern Ireland, upon which you can superimpose as many extra snap or temporary roadblocks or VCPs as the operational situation demands.
Permanent roadblocks:
The basic, permanent VCP will impose restrictions on the terrorist. Even though
he knows it is there and the surprise element is lacking, it forces him to use other
routes, thereby reducing his options; it also reduces the number of routes upon which you
need mount snap or temporary VCPs.
Snap VCPs can be set up by foot patrols, by vehicle patrols or by patrols dropped from a helicopter. This latter techniques is known by the British Army in Northern Ireland as an Eagle Patrol.
Permanent roadblocks or VCPs must be well defended, permanently manned and well equipped. The smallest practical unit that can look after itself is a section: this is just big enough to run a shift system 24 hours a day. The position should provide safe accomodation for those not on duty and reliable communications to your HQ. Your perimeter should be well defended with wire to prevent attack or fire, and with concrete bollards to prevent terrorists leaving a car bomb alongside your position.
Surveillance aids such as remotely-controlled CCTV cameras can monitor approaches that you may not be able to see all the time. Your roadblock will probably be sited on a busy road or border crossing, and your job will be to check the identity of all those passing through your position and also to search them. Your aim is to limit the movement of both terrorists and their weapons and explosives.
Proper planning:
Clearly, if the road is very busy you will not have sufficent men to search all
vehicles without causing a major traffic jam. Either you will have to select vehicles at
random for checking, or you will need additional police or military manpower. If you
intend to bodysearch females you will need female soldiers or policewomen. If your
roadblock is to be effectice at night, floodlights will be necessary.
A permanent roadblock is vulnerable to attack and therefor it must take on all the characteristics of a military base. It will tend to suck up more and more manpower, and you must all your ingenuity to use as few men as possible by employing mechanical items such as 'sleeping policemen', chicanes, surveillance devices, secure and strong defences, good communications and so on.
Snap roadblocks:
When you mount a snap roadblock you are under fewer constraints: because you will
be in position only for a short period, the enemy is unlikely to have the time to organize
and mount an attack upon you, unless you compromise him in a roadblock and he tries to
evade it or crash through it.
Snap roadblocks can be mounted by section-strength foot or vehicle patrols whenever and wherever the moment is right. The technique is to half-block the road with your vehicle and, if you have two vehicles, to create a chicane effect by blocking alternate sides of the road at an interval or perhaps 25 metres. This will force traffic to slow down to be checked.
If you are on foot or have been dropped from a helicopter, you won't have any vehicles to help you. You may have a portable Caltrope (an extendable arm with uppward-pointing spikes designed to cause pungtures to car tyres), but this is normally used in an emergency to stop an escaping vehicle. Often you will have to rely on vehicles heeding your signal to stop. Law-abiding citizens will of cause do this.
Stopping and checking:
At least two members of your patrol will need to carry out the job of stopping
and checking passing vehicles, and atleast another two men should be employed to cover the
checkers. These men should be far enogh back so as not to get in the searcher's way, but
close enough to be able to see what is going on. Precise orders for opening fire will have
been given.In an IS situation, this usually means that you can only open fire if your own
or one of your comrades' lives, or that of another innocent person, is threatened. You
must be absolutely sure that you understand your orders: a car simply failing to stop at a
roadblock is not normally sufficient reason to open fire.
As well as the men employed in stopping and checking the traffic and those covering them, you will need to position 'long stops' in both directions down the road. Their task is to cut of anyone who approaches the roadblock, sees it, thinks better of going through it and turns round to go back the other way. Alternatively, they can attempt to stop someone who has crashed the roadblock, short of opening fire, which will not usually be possible unless the occupants of the car have opened fire at you.
Escaping cars:
There are not to many options open to you for halting a car that is quite
determined not to stop. Caltrope can be very effective if you can deploy it in time, and
armoured vehicles are even more effective if you are part of a vehicle patrol. However, if
you are unable to stop an escaping car you should either have a pursuit vehicle ready to
give chase or be in radio contact with a police or military vehicle that can give chase.
At the very least you will have a description of the car and a registration number, which
should make it subsequent apprehension quite easy.
Roadblocks are relatively simple to mount. Remember these basic rules, and you can successfully apprehend wanted men or uncover a haul of illegal arms or explosives.
A vehicle checkpoint:
Vehicle Checkpoints (VCPs) are set up during emergencies both to apprehend wanted
persons and to prevent the smuggling of arms and equipment. Checkpoints also enhance the
visibility of the forces of law and order, acting as a deterrent.
Communications:
A VCP must have excellent communications so that information about suspect
vehicles or individuals such as number plate or identity checks can be rapidly obtained.
Revised instructions or orders must be passed swiftly from HQ, as well as immediate
reaction from stop groups or hot pursuit vehicles.
Layouts:
Stop groups should be on each side and well clear of the search area so that they
can watch approaching traffic, prevent vehicles or people evading the VCP and watch out
for snipers or other enemy forces moving into position. It should not be possible to drive
round the VCP, so it must be sited with ditches or obstacles on each side of the road.
Vehicles placed in an arrowhead formation will make it impossible to drive through at
speed, while permitting a slow through flow of traffic.
Traffic control:
If traffic volume is heavy, members of the checkpoint must bear in mind basic
road safety and prevention of accidents.
Automatic fire:
Machine-gun fire can be called for by the commander on the spot in the same way
that he requests single shots, if in his judgement it is the minimum force required and
thay no other weapon can be used effectively. Short bursts minimise risks to bystanders.
Stop groups:
These are more effective if they are concealed. If you have time, dig in. Make
sure communications between the stop groups and the search area are duplicated (e.g. both
radio and field telephone). The stop groups should have weapons capable of stopping a car,
and pre-designated arcs of fire and killing zones. A quick and effective way of blocking
the road should be available, such as vehicles or Caltrops.
Moving out:
Before leaving the position, make a detailed search along the sides of the road
in both directionsto the limit of visibility. You may find some things that people with
guilty consciences have dumped out of car windows while approaching the VCP.
Security:
A VCP must have enough men to defend itself from enemy ambush, especially when
moving in and setting up. It should be treated just lika a patrol. Remember, a security
force VCP is a high value terrorist target.
Concealment:
A good VCP should be sited where it is difficult for a terrorist to turn his
vehicle round or reverse out without being noticed by the VCP. Sharp bends or dips in the
road are the places to go for.
Layout of a VCP:
The aims of roadblocks and VCPs:
They should:
1. Dominate the area, deterring terrorist activity and movement.
2. Prevent reinforcements of enemy or terrorists reaching sensitive areas or roitous gatherings.
3. Deny contacts between terrorists and local inhabitants.
4. Prevent supply of arms, ammo, food and medical supplies to the enemy.
5. Win public confidence and impress the local inhabitants.
6. Facilitate other operations against the enemy or terrorists.
7. Gain information and intelligence.
