The Wrong Mindset!

Kia Ora,

With the on going bad weather it seemed to at least in my area cut down incidents.

But some of the things going on this last week showed how little New Zealanders actually have a culture of risk assesment.

Of all the cultures in the world the worst I come across in this respect is everytime I return home. It seems to be getting worse.

The mindset is totally wrong in this country. What we see time & time again in security is that people seem to think those warning signs are for everybody but them.

The incidents this week were people ignored road closed signs, removed or moved them was just idiotic, even having to result in the police in arresting one person at least.

We often joke that if it was ten foot high neon & flashing, Kiwis would still think it is for everyone else but them.

It is not just a one off either. We see it on our roads were nice quiet people take undue risks.

The following two incidents probably best give the attitude to safety & the mindset of New Zealanders to their health & safety as well as that of those they supposedly care about.

Twenty minutes was all that was between these two incidents.

Based in a fenced area where fireworks were to be set up (they were on site) with signs on the fences saying explosives keep out.

The first incident just blew me away. A couple with two children aged about 3 or 4 moved the end of the fence & entered the area.

When challenged  the response was the standard "use some commonsense you idiot, it is the shortest route". There was the question asked as if they were fit parents to be bringing young children into an area signposted as dangerous.

The second incident was four 20 something's with two males & two females climbing the fence.

Again challenged, again the same answer. When it was pointed out that they had climbed a fence with signs saying "Explosives! Keep Out!" Their response was "where didn't see one?" "You climbed over one."

From there their reaction was again normal Kiwi. It was your fault & we are going to smash you & keep going anyway. Just happened to be their bad day as at the end of the area there was a security briefing in progress combined with police elements.

Now we all do silly things at times, but there needs to be a huge change in mindset.

But that mindset comes back to why it is so hard for the NZ security industry to actually carryout a true risk assessment for events such as the Rugby World Cup 2011.

It is also why it is hard to convince the industry to adopt a risk assessment culture that is dynamic & on going as they walk into situations.

It does not mean we don't do anything.  If we did risk assessment in the way NZ does we would of never gone out on task in Iraq. There was a risk, we knew it, but by again having that dynamic risk assessment as we moved along, you mitigated your risk.

                                         http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Who is going down with the ship?

Kia Ora,

An interesting few days & few discussions in amongst been very busy.

First is a discussion with someone much more experienced & qualified than me who has had to carry out a number of courses to be 'recognized' in the NZ industry, even though those courses do not come anywhere near his military training or experience.

Our conversation turned to the Rugby World Cup 2011 & the training required to get the NZ industry up to standard required.

He related that recently he had run some simulations for someone & when they through in terrorist situations, no one knew what to do.

Basically it is not  just the training that is needed it is, as I have said before, a change in mindset & for that you don't need a bit of paper, but real time training & practice.

In short  at this point in time the only way NZ will be ready is by making the standard only ex NZ, British or South African military or ex British or South African Police to begin with.

The hardest part of the mindset comes from the fact that NZ does not see itself as a terrorist target or had many attacks, so in the industries minds eye the worst they can see is some drunken brawls & maybe a bomb threat or two(even then they are not ready).

With Terrorism it is too late once it has happened to think about training or changing the mindset, but it seems that something has to occur before it will happen here.

Today there was an article in the "Press" about a recent release of the US military's vision of the future issues.

It wasn't rocket science to work a lot of it out & in fact much of it says exactly what I have been saying in these blogs. You just look at history & it shows you what is going to happen.

To quote Winston Churchill again "the further back you look, the further forward you see." Just the tools used change.

One point it makes is one I have been on about since leaving the army & entering the NZ security industry.

More & more they see a convergence of the criminal activities of Organized crime & Terrorists.

That directly relates to the mindset of the NZ security industry which constantly tells it's people to ignore crime or suspicious activity.

Terrorist attacks are preceded by criminal or suspicious activity either by the terrorists or someone such as organized crime. Crime is also seen to more often in the future to been used to finance terrorist operations sine the world is now activily looking for connections to finance.

So if you impact crime & suspicious activity, then you impact on the ability for terrorist networks to operate.

It happens to some extent at times here in Christchurch where the boy racers are attracting the attention whilst in the background criminal elements are carrying out crimes. They have often been given drugs as part of the arrangement & this was known to be going on in 2001.

How do we know all this, because good training coupled with experience in the industry & that gained in particular by the British in Northern Ireland & expanded on by experience in Iraq, show one that it happens & two we can counter much of it by good basic security with a good mindset. Something lacking in the NZ industry at present.

                                          http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Why do People do it?

Kia Ora,

Why do people do it? That is get involved in an accident then run!

In the last two days with the bad weather there have been two hit & run accidents.

True the first person was wanted by police, realized they were turning to chase him, but once he knocked down an 80 year old woman you would think the crimes would be in the back of his mind.

Initial reports were the police weren't even in sight.

But then I suppose you can't expect that much these days after reading that burglars had twice hit a community groups shop. They are only trying to help people.

Then this morning comes the report of a cyclist killed in a hit & run on the outskirts of Christchurch.

With the weather over the last few days you would think people would be heeding the police call to drive to the conditions.

I didn't even have to go far to see bad driving. Heard someones brakes then a vehicle sliding & bang. Right outside the office. Most people would of looked at the young guy who was driving the highpowered car as a bad driver & most do take this corner too fast (50 km area but many approach at a 100kmh & in dry weather you see all the brakes go on), only this time the vehicle he hit was on this side of the centre line, as the vehicles coming the other way are usually speeding too & keep cutting the corner.

No injuries but really one for the police to sort out as sure each side would think the other is in the wrong.

                                        http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Another senseless Tragedy!

Kia Ora,

Another weekend & another senseless tragedy.

Finished up the day shift of new service & living in a business area could hear & see the vehicles all leaving. As usual the traffic was backed up past the base, the roads were wet & then you hear the idiots leaving work in their souped up vehicles, trying to drift, do burn outs or just being idiots.

So as readied gear for the night it came over the news that a child had been killed. First reports included an interview with an eyewitness who said it appeared car had been drifitng.

The police of course have to be very careful in what they say as it is an on going investigation.

Claims are now been made that the driver would not drift in the amount of traffic around. Well they do outside where I am based with traffic at times nose to tail, so what is so different about him?

The other of course is that he is a nice person. Unfortunately NZ is full of nice people who are idiots when they get behind a steering wheel.

So the question needs to be asked is it this young guys fault or one of our society, where aggressive driving is the norm?

On the following night it showed that even if the person in question hadn't been drifiting, the lesson had not got through to the boyracer crowd.

Whilst driving to check out an area covered by the new 0900 service, I along with other traffic were forced to stop as an idiot decided to use a roundabout to go drifting around.

Well Buddy your personalized plate was easy to take down & is now in process of being reported to the police.

As I write this I have been adding to the left drivers education material from the US, I would say (I am not allowed to click those I add to stop fraudalent use of the system). When you visit places like the US you notice how good the driving is compared to NZ & I would say the main reason is the driver educaiton offered as part of their school system.

Probably the best driving overall I have seen was in Iraq, as there were virtually no rules & so the drivers had to be very aware of all going on around them.

That is not to say there weren't incidents as years of sanctions had resulted in many vehicle's being of dubious quality. One call over the radio was even to look at a car where the driver appeared to be using the Fred Flinstone method of stopping with his feet through the floor boards.

                                        http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

How do you use Standard Operating Procedures(SOP's)?

Kia Ora,

So if you have them "How do you use Standard Operating Procedures?" & in that mix is why?

This comes back to the remark I made in the previous blog about my civilian counterparts commenting on how fast I thought.

At that site it all come down to their experience as there was no training given (& still isn't from comments of people there, training consisted of two days orientation)  & there were no SOP's.

I have said it before in these blogs an SOP is a guideline, not something that must always be adhered to as they do not fit every situation.

It was a point made to me by an ex army comrade at this complex & also came up more recently in the review of the Stanmore Road shooting by the police officer involved. The officer was criticized for not following SOP's.

A SOP is formed based on experience (theres that word again) for given situations, but will not cover every situation.

But by basing your training on them or even just having them & ensuring they are understood puts your staff way ahead of the rest.

That was why it appears at times when things are going real bad that  former military or police think faster than their civilian counterparts. In most NZ security companies they have no SOP's, so in lieu of that I know ex military personal come up with their own & each time they face a situation they formulate their own adhoc SOP's for similar situations.

When a situation is fast moving,those used to an SOP or that actually have them in place will automatically in their mind have gone through the steps & coming to say step four think, it doesn't fit this situation so next? The mind is already working & possible solutions are presenting themselves, where as those without them if they have never encountered such a situation will still be thinking of step one.

So this then comes back to what my ex army comrade said & the reaction to the police officer using his weapon.

My mates comment was we don't want SOP's here as they don't understand how they work & will make them  the bottom line.

You see that report on the police officer using his firearm. As an experienced police officer he has used his experience listening to what came over the radio & put himself in a position to be nearby if requried.


Because the individual in question was known to be using a type of weapon ( a hammer) the officer has obviously thought of  worst case scenario & armed himself. Not been prepared to order his officers to do something he himself is not prepared to do.

It also comes into question over risk assessment & his health & safety responsibilities.
As a police officer his duty is to protect the public & with no Tasers available at the time, he had to be prepared to use what was at his disposal.

He is said to have broken two SOP's, not informing Police comms where he was & not informing them he was arming himself.

So they are trying to make a SOP a bottom line & taking away the ability of those on the ground of making a decision based on factors in front of them.

It also flies in the face of facts.

Fact is criminals listen to the police radio & it is only recently that the police have started to use secure communications.

There used to be in Christchurch a well known police dog handler (happens to be ex army, equally well known in part for shooting the Tiger, although he claims it was his twin brother) who was well known for his trick of continually asking comms for directions to the place he was needed. He did this because he knew criminals listened in & more than one was surprised by a dog unit pulling up that was allegedly still some distance away.

Good training & SOP's can also have a great effect when  team works well together with little communication. People can form what in business is refered to as a master mind, where the combined minds seem to think as one.

The two times that really stick out for me was in the army during training although I did also experience it in Iraq & at times here in NZ in security.

In the first instance not a word was said as I turned to give a command as a situation developed it was obvious all were thinking the same & from the enemy party during debrief, who were thinking they were about to surprise someone else, got the shock of their lives when 8 of us appeared on their flank.

In the second incident it involved four words(his name & yeah got it) between myself & another section commander whom I had worked with over the years. But because our sections understood us, that was all it needed. Again the enemy party said they were totally surprised. From a health & safety aspect though a third party who shouldn't of taken action, did & in reality were probably shot by friendly fire.

That last part I find with many security groups in NZ. It is a common comment heard from ex military about these groups is they don't know team work & you don't feel safe.

It is not uncommon to have a situation develop where every other security person seems to be avoiding looking to back you, compared to the military where everyone backs you.

It comes down to health & safety again.

So in answer to the 'angry man' I am well qualified to comment on these areas thanks to superior training, experience, some common sense, knowledge & the fact I work in the industry & see how bad it is. I also see what has to be done & have the vision to see opportunities. 

Those factors outweigh any formal course or piece of paper. A blog is an opinion, mine is based on facts, common sense, experience & anybody can have an opinion.

Or as they say opinions are like rear ends everyone has one, some people just are one. Seems to me this person is trying to restrict my legal rights of freedom of speech.

I will answer his comments about my comments as to financial issues on one of those blogs.

    http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

How do you practice Health & Safety?

Kia Ora,

To the next part of the issues raised by the angry man's emails is basically "How do you practice Health & Safety?"

He asks what are my systems for health & safety? Also having no qualification does not entitle me to comment on health & safety issues. That is probably the crux of the issue there.

This individual dimisses my experience from the military, in the  NZ security industry & work in Iraq.

Health & safety especially in a service like security does not rely just on a system. In fact due to nature of the work carried out by the profession what is more important is Common Sense coupled with Experience (not a bit of paper or formal course) & a culture of dynamic Risk Assessment.

The type of Risk Assessment you get trained to carryout in the NZ military. From early days young soldiers get told "as you move along look for places to take cover if such & such happens" it is a type of Risk Assessment.

Initially though young soldiers are more concerned about how hard the physical requirements are, but as time goes by  those sort of  actions become second nature.

They then add in actions like looking for possible booby traps when moving whilst carrying up to 100kg plus packs without having to go through the whole process consciously.

So does this transfer to the civilian environment? Yes!

In fact, & I will go into this more in a later blog, at times other security personal have said "I think so fast", it is not that, but my military training kicking in when situations call for it, which often means when confronted with an issue they have never confronted before. 

Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety - CD-Rom

With inadeaquate training or awaremess of health & saftey instinctively, my civilian counterparts are still thinking of the first step whilst myself & army comrades are already on step four or higher. So it appears to them that we are thinking very fast.

An example of the level of military training over what the industry provides was an incident early in my time in the industry.

I was on duty in a complex when I was paged to reception & handed a small case. Apparently someone was concerned it had been sitting in the middle of reception for three hours. Of course from the staff reaction it appeared they thought it was a bomb. Straight away I knew there was one type of bomb it wasn't.

When I was relieved a few hours later by another ex military person, his first reaction was "you didn't call the bomb squad?". No, because of our superior training as soon as I was handed it the check list we used to use in the army popped right into my head.

As I walked outside with the case, I ran through it & realized there was no way this was a bomb. The only mistake I made was opening in view of the staff, from a health & safety point of view which was not good.

That staff still thought it was a bomb was shown by fact that even though it was dark t they were watching & as I opened it, were seen to dive under the counter.

From there another difference came out between a person with a military background to those without. Not for the first time after an incident that worked out well, my civilian counterparts could not work out why myself or any military person would then look to learn from lessons & improve our performance for the next time.


Whilst in Iraq this dynamic way of looking at things was to the fore as the whole situation & threats were ever changing your risk assessment was also dynamic. It was health & safety at its extreme. But again that good training kicked in without much fuss.

Security in NZ requires much the same thinking as any Standard Operating Procedures will not cover all contingencies. Thats if the company has them.

During my initial NZQA security course (a well run one with plenty of hands on training unlike most courses) the question was asked of an OSH inspector as to where security fitted in since much of the industries work fell outside OSH at that time. Also that many places had procedures but no body actually knew what they were.

The reply was that is correct, but security's role was to identify hazards as encountered & report them.  They then directed their reply to me & said as ex army you know the drills if there is an accident happens during live firing? Yes of course. Well that is the OSH procedure for an accident.

More recently an incident involving an associtated industry responding to a call out & a serious accident occuring due to the fact that like security they entered a business without prior knowledge of it.

After discussion with a Health & Safety officer from the department of Labour at a business seminar, I was asked would I be interested in joining a group looking at this issue. To date though nothing has come of it.

But the discussion  had been about how the military teach you, as I said in the beginning to have a dynamic risk assessment culture,  this is what they felt they needed to install in industries who respond to premises they don't usually visit or are not fully aware of all dangers.

This culture far outways any system or piece of paper, although in conjunction with a system can be very robust.

Due to time contraints it is not unusual, in fact most common place to see security racing from one premises to another without slowing to take in account as to risks they maybe rushing too.

Someone who worked security in Australia once told me a story about their first night alone. They were rushing due to time, came around a corner to be confronted by three pers wanting his firearm. He hadn't yet being issued  or been able to obtain one.

It reminded me what I often see with NZ security racing around corners to you don't know what.

My assessments of the security situation here in NZ is based on security knowledge, experience & risk assessment.

I have often been told & more so recently by some I worked alongside in Iraq, we can all see it  coming, don't wear yourself out trying to educate people. When these things happen if you set yourself up correctly, then we will be able to walk in as the industry here has no idea what it is doing.

Occupational Health at Work

Personally I believe in trying to stop it from happening here & making the place truly safe to live in. To do that you have to ensure the basic security & Health & Safety are taken care off.

                                               http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Consultants. What defines them?

Kia Ora,

Well still no word from 'Mr Angry' over my post yesterday.

But I do thank all those who sent messages of support. I really appreaciate them in particular from former military comrades & people I worked alongside in Iraq with, some who do have 'formal qualifications' & have done the hard yards.

At least they have given me something to write about. For the next few days I will go more in depth into what the issues are.

One of the main gripes was I was not a consultant.

So what defines a  security consultant?

 First there is the consultant I was contractored as in Iraq. As one mate found out & as I said as was pointed out to me, you were only there in some roles to advise & where therefore contracted as a consultant.

One mate lost his position for taking physical action because he felt it was too dangerous for the clients. Major news crews hire people as consultants, not specifically as bodyguards. They can ignore the consultants advice & more often than not those they employ come from one company whose operators experience is way in advance of my own.

But I am able to claim that I have & can work as a security consultant & I don't need a bit of paper to do so.

Of course there is the other more traditional view of a consultant, which is the person who carries out a security survey, then produces a nicely written assessment of what they think needs to be carried out to ensure the security of a premises or person.

This also is only advice which can be & is often ignored.

Again due to military qualifications, training & experience I can do that to a very high standard if asked. So can any person who was in the NZ military after they have gone through certain stages of their training.

In the last 12 months an experienced security consultant (of both types) has been trying to get me to stop giving out tips for free & focus on the consultancy role for which they believe I have the experience & knowledge to carryout this to a high degree.

Outside NZ, ex NZ military are considered extremely highly in the private security world & it is not based on a bit of paper.

Though if I do carryout a consultancy expect somethings outside the square.

For example when my runanga built our Marae I offered some security advise based on what the discussions were at the time.

Someone else spoke to a security consultant at the time who waffled on about alarms etc.

Like many Marae & Maori communities this is extremely isolated & in fact in 1906 was said to be the most isolated Maori community in NZ. Road goes through now but still isolated. No cell phone coverage, limited TV channels unless you go for Sky, internet is by satellite & it is only in the last 25 years that diesel generators have gone(though we have an emergency one at the Marae). 

Alarms are not a real option even if they were directed to someones house. You just never know if anyone is going to be in. Not to mention the weather plays havoc with them if wireless & if hardwired same issue plus having to lay wire through a swamp.

So down there you need to look more at using the ground to enhance security.

Some of my suggestions were using Geese instead of the proposed Dogs, gravel driveway as opposed to sealed, extending the ditches along roadside around the Marae site, then building old style pallisades to assist with fact it was built in a swamp.

In other words it was just like been in the army. Make use of the ground to benefit you or your client in this case.

Not all ideas were taken up, but that is fine.

As I said in yesterday's post, basically I can claim to be a consultant but it is not my focus. It is why I split the company in two. One side can do those areas if required, the newer one is focused on basic security, which in NZ is where we need to get it up to speed first. It is well away from that at present.

Anyway a blog is just opinion & I write mine based on experience in the NZ army, NZ security industry, working in Iraq, where I see the threats to NZ society & what we have to do to bring it up to a minimum level.

                                           http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

What are Qualifications worth?

Kia Ora,

Well have just had three firey  anonymous emails from someone questioning my qualifications to write these blogs. They then have threatened to publish elsewhere if I don't allow their emails to be put on my blog.

Well I won't because they don't have the guts to put their name to it, but I will respond & also point out some facts they have wrong.

The first thing they question is my formal qualifications. I do have some, but in the real world that is just slavery & those with them work for those without in the end.

But as to my qualifications. First I came from the military which is the highest level of security.  Those qualifications are obtained at a much higher standard than any I have seen in civvy street.

On leaving I completed NZQA courses. First thing I was told when I went to sign up was "f... off, you are overqualified", but been in a new environment I decided to do it anyway. I should of listened as most of it was a waste of time.

Those same people then told me to start my own company as my standards were too high for security in NZ. Again I should of listened as they were right & I was wrong.

Later I attended a security meeting where they were promoting level 6 NZQA to be introduced. But on looking at it, I had carried it to a higher level in the Infantry than those who would have to have it in the industry.

SIA I wouldn't of minded getting their qualifications, but now it is about actually getting on the ground & getting things going. You don't combat crime in the classroom.

Within my companies anyone with NZQA or any qualifications will not be looked at unless they have either the experience (mainly military) or mindset to back it up.

OSH again just carry it on from how we practised in the military. Security is no different & in fact that came out in Iraq on numerous occassions as risk assessment was very fluid. It had to be as so was the threat.

I have talked to OSH over this from moment I formed my company, their take was they couldn't believe some of the things carried out by security companies in the name of OSH i.e. wearing fluro jackets in a bank.
I have asked them how do we assess risk in your books? My understanding of it is worst case scenario you can think of even if it hasn't happened to you.

Their reply is correct & I even was able to correct them on something.

So worst case I have been close too is three VBIED's & arrived shortly after one or two other suicide bombings. So I have to aim my risk assessment there & have procedures for that level.

You don't need a bit of paper when your culture (from the military) is continous risk assessment. In fact because it is on going I was asked would I like to join a group looking at that, as there had been serious accidents because people were not identifying risks when entering new areas.


The anonymous emailer goes on about formal qualifications. Obviously someone who has brought into the modern slavery. Qualifications are Ok as I have said if they have the practical experience to go with it.

Captain Wallingford whose machine guns held the Nek on the first day at Gallipoli did so effectively because he was able to apply both the theory of machine gun fire & being a farmer, the practical assessment of the land to deny the Turkish forces almost certain victory on the first day.

As to the writers claims that I was only a gunner, not a consultant in Iraq, he needs to get his facts right.

My first contract was as a 'consultant' & was posted as part of the 'bodyguard' team or as I called it the 'suicide stay behind squad'. Because one or two of us would be left behind with multiple clients.

It was made very clear we were consultants after I made a client put on his body armour to visit an area that was dodgy at the time. As consultants we were only allowed to advise, not enforce safety precautions.

My next contract was as a driver & member of an Armed protetion team & then on the main contract I was a driver, vehicle commander (as it was designated) & at times yes, rear gunner. I was also radio operator & for a while team intelligence gatherer as that is something I like. It is also always been a strength being able to see things others couldn't.

In NZ up until now I have given security advice freely & often told off for it as I was giving too much to the industry, who don't have a clue as they have never been at those levels. I was advised I should be marketing myself as a consultant as that is what I do for all intent purposes, but it is not something I focus on.

The last point this individual argues about is the fact I also write blogs on financial matters & only those with formal education should do that.

Dr Cullen the previous Minister of Finance had a doctorate in history, but he never learnt the most important history & that is financial.

Dr Dolf de Roos on the other hand has a degree in engineering, but because when he first began studying for his degree, he realized those with them are not the ones with money he studied what was the common demoninator for the rich. In the end he came up with property.

He kept studying as it was free at the time & he built his property portfolio in the meantime. To this day he has never used that degree. He took that subject because he decided that after looking at all other areas, he didn't like blood & everything else followed a set pattern. Engineering solved problems just like investing.

What I know about  the financial area comes from him, Robert Kiyosaki, Donald Trump, Richard Branson & many other like minded people. Most do not have degrees or if they do it was for a certain reason.

To them you do not need any formal education. In fact it is a hinderance.

In security, finance or any other area I will favour experience over a bit of paper.

I know for instance that most people coming off level 3 NZQA courses these days actually know very little about security. One even said I learnt nothing compared to what I have learnt working alongside experienced staff.

That is not to say degrees etc don't have their place.

Just seems to me we are repeating the mistakes of history again. When academics thought they were better than everyone else in 2500BC it destroyed Ionian society which up to then had flourished as all areas were seen as equal.

Or as Winston Churchill said "the further back we look, the further forward we see".

So I can see forward & are working on making that work for me. I don't need qualifications to do it as my experience tells what I think is right. Not always going to be right but then that is the main way people learn.

Not in the classroom. That is shown  in the cone of learning. You learn the least in lectures or through reading, most through doing to simulation.

                                           http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Health & Safety still Failing.

Kia Ora

No matter what happens, it seems the associated professions of Police officer, Corrections officer or Security officer/guard in this country are not deemed to have to work in line with Health & Safety requirements that all others in the work force are.

It all, as I have said previously, comes back to having a culture of Risk Assessment.

The Police have gone someway towards it in issuing bodyarmour for their staff, but they still have single officers in vehicles when two are required.

Where as the Corrections department think that only some of their staff require bodyarmour & only have to don it under certain circumstances.

It should be, if a correct risk assessment is carried out, that all are required to wear it, unless you can justify not wearing it. You can not say "oh we have it, but at the time it was not seen as neccesary for this task."

No one knows when it is going to be required so you can't  pick & choose when you wear it. Though for each specialist task there needs to be supplied specialist equipment.

Then yet again we get to the  NZ Security Industry where the attitude is there is no way anyone needs bodyarmour, drills are not taught & generally the industry takes the attitude that you must ignore all crime or suspicious activity, unless on your clients property & even that is often on a case by case basis.

International visitors can not believe the clear lack of Health & Safety requirements in most industries in this country.

But every week we are reminded of how low the standards are.

In the professions above there will always a certain amount of danger, the same as the military, but it can be partly mitigated by having again that culture of Risk assessment.

                                    http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

When will they learn?

Kia Ora,

It seems our local terrorists, better known as boy racers, just don't seem to get the fact that they are breaking the law, but also not wanted.

With the new security service being offered if not responding to a call, procedure is to find an area to park up, in particular known trouble spots.

At present that means it is about 300 metres from base with boy racers often now congregating there.

On Friday night a couple of vehicles were observed parking in the usual spot then could be heard what sounded like the continuation of damage to businesses there  & the police were called.

It was the second week in a row that they have being called there. One person was observed, what it later transpired was not looking for a place to go to the toilet, but  trying to enter the premises.

Later on in a new subdivision a vehicle with four pers wearing hoodies was observed acting suspiciously & police called.

It appeared from response there were more than one report of their activities.

Saturday night though produced a surprise. It would be nice to think that the calls made as part of the service had something to do with it, but no way of confirming that.

Held up by admin, suddenly heard a noise & looked down the road to see police cars everywhere in what was obviously a planned or co ordinated move on those operating in that area.

Destroying a business or parts aligned to those businesses just because you think you can is not the sign of mature or even immature adults.  It falls in the realms of anarchists, but in this event it is just spoilt brats.

Our communities do not deserve this sort of behaviour & businesses, in the current environment in particular, can not afford the extra amount to fix up the damage.

These idiots could result in job losses over & above what the economy is causing & likely to cause. It could have a downstream effect resulting in more job losses.

I suppose it will only take effect when it is their own job!

    http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

How is this going to bring us closer as a Nation?

Kia Ora,

In recent weeks there have being some concerning developments & incidents this last week haven't helped.

After months of negotiation, suddenly the government pulled back from the deal with Tuhoe, by saying they would not deliver the main point of contention.

So why is this a security concern?

Up until now there has being more a focus on terrorism as practised outside the country, but what about people who might regard themselves as freedom fighters within the country?

The concerning developments in recent weeks have been on a certain internet forum individuals commenting on arming themselves & taking back the country.

That is likely to have only being those few, but bad decisions like the Tuhoe one, worsening economic conditions leading to more extreme views & maybe just a general hardening of attitudes could very well push people in that direction.

What is worse is yet again Police headquarters show they are in no way ready for the Rugby World Cup 2011.

The information was supplied by email to them, but the reply was take it to a local police station.

This is what is called intelligence & only the national body has the resources needed to follow up, not the officer behind the desk at the local station.

It is the type of intelligence gathering that the NZ security industry does not have in its security training.

In fact, as has being stated before, most companies actually tell you to ignore anything suspicious or criminal in nature.

At times the police do very well with intelligence they get on crime, but when it appears to be outside their comprehension, then it appears they struggle.

I am not of course talking about the officer out on the street. They are going just from one incident to the next.

Good intelligence is what will be needed to combat what is already happening around the world just in relation to the failing economies. NZ is not immune & it is coming. For the Rugby World Cup 2011 it is going to be even more imperative.

As the Americans found in Iraq, they relied too much on electronic intelligence, not what the people on the ground were picking up.


                                                      http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

School Security

Kia Ora,

There has been a few issues with internet of late so delays in getting this blog up to date. Don't you love telecommunications?

One of the recent issues has been that of School security. Though not on the scale of the issues overseas yet, NZ is already well past the nice school yards of yester year.

This week has seen first a school teacher stabbed by a 13 year old & then a 15 year old girl had to be talked down by a teacher after threatening other students with a knife.

One of the issues arising from this has been the schools worrying about the Bill of Rights in regards to any searches of students.

There are certainly precautions that need to be taken, such as females only searched by females, privacy & always having a witness on hand when searching, but in this case I would say that is secondary as it clashes with another law. 

My understanding is Parliament actually set this law(Bill of Rights) up like this.

That other law is Health & Safety, in particular of other students & teachers. Not to mention any security they may employ.

If they don't want to enforce compliance with entry conditions, then a compromise is having security on site during school hours. A minimum of two guards, numbers depending of the size of school, & have them constantly patrolling.

The signs of potential trouble can usually be picked up before it happens when you combine experience & training.

We have to stop being PC & starting imposing rules on the young people of today.

One thing you notice when you have had to deal with or work with teenagers, most of them would actually like some rules.

They are still going to push them, but without any effectively in place either in most school environments or in public they are going to keep doing more outrageous things to get noticed.

In fact experience has shown that most of the worst kids actually like discipline more. Especially if used in channelling their energies in areas where they are more at home other than a classroom.

A few years ago now, as part of the army, we engaged with a boys home. The leader of our training was known throughout the army as a hard task master.

Whilst carrying out some specialist training he used to impose certain punishments & whilst the boys were training with us they got exactly the same punishments.

When we visited their accomodation afterwards they all wanted this leader to see where they lived. In been hard on them, in their minds he actually showed he cared.

Once they leave the school environment it becomes a clash of then expecting not to have any restrictions placed on them & the rules of society.

You see it with the boy racer community here in Christchurch.

They do not believe they are doing anything wrong when using someones property as a toilet, destroying signage & property belonging to businesses & items of public property.
When you confront them over this they are of the belief that you have no right to interfere in what they are doing & they have the right to destroy property.

With the continuing economic downturn & repercussions of it, we are seeing more & more people prepared to take on the authorities.

We have sown the seeds of our coming nightmares.

                                                 http://www.foxhoundsecurity.conz

Training for Bomb alerts.

Kia Ora,

It has being interesting to watch the reaction of late after the latest bombing attempt in New York.

The objects in two incidents, that were deemed suspicious could of being easily dealt with in a safe manner had the correct training being applied.

It was something that former members of the RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary) working  in Baghdad commented on.

The comment was "one IRA ASU cell could of tied up the whole of Baghdad in the way the US responded to threats." An ASU cell was thought to generally consist of four people.

From New York it appears nothing has being learned.

It was also part of our army training based on the British experience in Northern Ireland. Each team  came up with a way to deal with suspicious packages on their own as other wise the 'bomb' squads would never stop going from one incident to another & would basically lock  down a city or area

Having each team go through some procedures meant most iteams were dealt with, with little or no disturbance.

So how does that relate to NZ, the NZ security Industry, security training or even the NZ police?

Well due to lack of training the same situation could happen here as in New York. In fact it already does.

Often the area closed off is much greater than that needed for the size of the suspicious item.

There are clearly at times no procedures to allow activities to carry on.

For example the Dunedin airport bomb scare. I landed there a week after it. Yes I can see where the mens toilet can effect passengers, but where were the procedures to carry on in another part of the airport.

Now  report said that after that one had being cleared, after waiting for 'bomb' squad to arrive from Christchurch, then rest of airport was cleared.

Excuse me but the proper procedure is clear, cordon, contain & control & in that includes searching all other areas once initial item is cordoned, in particular where the emergency services are going to congregate. Obviously in NZ you show up clear the one you know about then think, well maybe there is another.

Terrorist tactics world wide are use a device or a hoax as the come on then hit with the second , maybe even third (as happened this week in Al Hilla, in Iraq) aimed at emergency services. We are ready for the Rugby World Cup.
Yeah Right.

Good training can not only make a real incident safer, but also deal with  potential issues before they become a problem.

This also means changing the mindset of the NZ security industry to one that looks beyond its little world.

To do that though will need help from the Politicians & the bureaucrats, though Sir Humphrey seems to be in residence here & that is not likely to happen.

So maybe we just have to do it ourselves.

                                         http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Will New Security Service have an effect?

Kia Ora,

Will the new Security Service I have launched through my company have an effect on crime?

I think the more important question is will people use it? It will definitely have an effect as shown by experience & the effects this last weekend.

Basically the service is a 0900 call & there is a response within defined areas & during a defined time period initially extending to all hours & areas of Christchurch as the service grows.

On response then the details of the suspcious or criminal activity is recorded & if neccesary Police called.

Of course the most common comment straight away is "but we can do that ourselves or call the Police".

Yes people can, but it has being estimated that up to 95% of crime in NZ is not reported & this has being increasing as the perception the police will not respond continues.

Of course the Police don't do anyting to change that perception for businesses by asking for a fax number & faxing through the report form.

So does it have the effect?

As I said earlier experience shows it does & that is why this service was developed in this fashion.

Just this weekend gone showed it can be effective.

On the first night remained at base location waiting for calls & in a short period of time observed boyracers carrying out criminal activity, including damaging business surrounds, trespassing & damaging public property. Police were called three times for different offences.

After that the activity died down.

The next night got on the road early to park up in known crime areas whilst waiting for calls.

There was a heavy fog & boyracers were again in the area. By positioning vehicle in known hotspot with details obviously being recorded it didn't take long for the effect to be seen.

Three boyracer vehicles came around the corner, slowed on hitting the heavy fog which then chose that moment to lift. They drove slowly past the vehicle & parked about 200 metres down the road. Quick conference & they were off in a quiet fashion.

No great crimes stopped, but it just shows how effective good basic security can be.

                                                       www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

How to improve the Security Industry!

Kia Ora,

Being thinking about this for a while. The ways we can improve the NZ security industry. In fact being thinking about it since I entered the industry on leaving the army as the standards are so low & the people of NZ don't deserve such low standards.

Well the first way is of course is by government legislation, but the attitude of the select committee & politicians in general to this means the proposed legislation, which is a bit of a joke anyway, & any regulations will not be sufficient.

In fact they are likely to take the industry backwards judging on what was in the proposed bill.

Next is the Industry itself, lead by the associations. Again not likely as they can grab work if someone else is sticking to their standards, so why stick to something that is not legislated for.

At least one association actually requires you to drop your standards to be part of their grouping.

Then comes the insurance industry who could make it quite easy to raise standards, lower costs to clients in the long run & lower their own risk in financial terms by insisting on compliance with international standards.

But you need to look at how the insurance industry in NZ works & it does none of the above.

First you have liability insurance. Over the last few years, I have noticed the amount rise & the cover drop.

Like the insuarnce you get for being directors or in a governance role when you look at it, it actually doesn't cover you for anything. As the directors of the failed finance companies are finding out.

Recent reading about Warren Buffett made me think more about this. Here is one of the richest men in the world, who actually owns insurance companies that specialize in this type of insurance, yet he will not have his directors insured.

Why? Because he says it makes them lazy. True when one of your directors is Bill Gates, he might be able to cover any issues arising. By not insuring them, Buffett reckons he makes the directors (including himself) do their homework & make responsible decisions.

So what does that have to do with NZ security. The industry is lazy & the insurance industry allows them to be so. If it sat down & looked at it properly then OSH would require more staff.
The Insurance industry can insist on this as part of their coverage. In fact they often say there has to be security for certain events. But they don't ensure it is OSH compliant. 

It usually isn't because only one guard is put on duty when the minimum if you do an assessment is two. That is also an international standard.

Who watches the property or person when the guard needs to go to the toilet?

Where is the toilet? That is the question guards often ask to be told hold on, in breach of OSH. Sixteen hours without a toilet break is not accepted anywhere else.

Each year when you renew your liability insurance you get a form to tick, but it never requires a company to show that it has being compliant with OSH or any other releveant laws. So it adds no value to the business.

Apart from everyone saying you have to have liability insurance, in particular government contracts, it is actually of no value.

For example what is known as Cash in Transit or armoured vans to everyone else there is no requirement to have a standard.

People will argue they do, but you only have to watch the crews in action to see there are no real drills or training. With the world's economy in melt down (despite the smoke, mirrors & manipulation of figures that is what is happening right now) more robberies are likely, almost on a daily basis.

Another question I have asked some Cash in Transit crews is the subject of body armour, many think they need it, one told me they didn't. As pointed out, if a proper risk assessment is done then not only should they have body armour, but also a riot helmet & if allowed firearms. As well as proper training, not just wandering to the van & back as happens most times now.

On the question of body armour also the insurance industry can have an effect on.

For example in Iraq, you could supply your own bodyarmour if you wished, but because so many people were running around trying to buy this or that & the lightest going, a standard had to be set.

So as the threat increased the minimum you could use of your personal issue had to be level IV or greater. It also had to be properly rated & current. Other wise you were not covered by insurance.

Ironically you still got your insurance payment (or your family did) if you had no bodyarmour available.

But like OSH it recognized that at times there would be none available (unless you had your own) that it is an expensive item & procedures needed to be in place to ensure safety was paramount.

Right now in the security industry there are very few if any SOP's used & if they are there no one knows how to use them, as they are only ever a guideline as they can not cover every situation.
There are also many in the industry running around with stab vests & armour whose ratings are out of date or are of an unknown quality.

In the four years since returning from Iraq, I have not once being asked to produce my SOP's or certify my bodyarmour or show why I think it is needed.

If my company is liable, I don't need insurance to ensure I protect a person or property. But even when it hasn't being my company that military duty of service kicks in & you are determined as possible to not let it happen on your watch.

But more than once I have worked with guards who show up with a sleeping mat.

So the industry can be brought into line with the world standards & is going to need to be as crime threatens to get more out of control with worsening economic conditions.

In the meantime with a small company I am endeavouring to do my bit to raise the standards.

www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

World in Turmoil

Kia Ora,

It  has being an interesting week.

First there has being the attempted car bombing in Time Square, New York.

Mayor Bloomberg made the statement that it was down to great people & police work.

Now people are just saying lucky & I would go with this one.

It was only after the failed detonation that it was detected.

The bomb was called amateurish, but what is not known well is that is how many in Iraq were put together.

There was one ocassion where to avoid detection by security forces, the suicide bomber picked up passengers in his taxi. It was only when there were some popping sounds from the boot of a premature detonation that the passengers realized, but luckily it failed.

As it was relayed, that when the Iraqi police arrived the three fares were giving the driver the hiding of his life.

This morning there is news of at least three deaths in riots in Greece. Yet if you have being studying the economic woes of the world, Greece is one of the western countries with the lest debt. Being part of the Eurozone though, it can't do what the US & UK are doing by trying to print their way out of trouble. In the long run that is a worse option if you look at history.

So what does that bode for the rest of the world?

The more people say there is a recovery, the bigger the shock there is going to be for those hit by the depression taking full effect & therefore the bigger the emotions that will be unleashed.

So, no where is safe.

Then we go to the Liquor licence hearings in Christchurch, where police oppose the issuing of liquor licences to Party buses.

In one part of their submission, the police refer to the time where 100 patrons of  three party buses, through aggressive behaviour were able to deny the police the ability to detain for questioning a male suspected of assaulting a woman.

So to say Greece won't happen in NZ is a myth. It bubbles away just under the surface & having had riot training courtesy of the military, you often see the requirements for a riot to happen building. In particular with the NZ alcohol issue is to the fore.

As the economies worsen you will see more extreme groups form ready to stir any crowd into action against the police or even security who deny them what they believe is their right.

So an increase of good security (which in general doesn't exist or the security staff are not allowed to practise it) is required not just to combat terrorism, but the growing trend of crime in general.

As of today there is a new security service available here in Christchurch with the aim to make our communities safe.

Details can be found at www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz