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.

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