Kia Ora,
One of the items of news going around today is the possible staging of the Undie 500 rally ending on a property in Marlborough.
The comments attributed to one of the owners shows they have no idea what they have let themselves in for.
Where as their neighbour Peter Yealands does. To get where Peter has means he has had to take risks after weighing up the pro's & con's & quite obviously he sees this as too risky.
As I have stated before having carried out security for ENSOC (Engineering Students of Canterbury (University) functions in the past, they will have to insist on a lot of security (not the numbers ENSOC come up with) & being relatively isolated the security will require riot gear.
Before someone says I don't know the area & it is not that isolated, I went to school in Blenheim & my first security job on leaving the army was in Blenheim where I was at times required to answer alarms in Seddon township, past Peter Yealands vineyards (the neighbour of where the party is proposed). For any police or other responses it takes time to get there.
Therefore any security is going to be have to be prepared to fend for itself in the intervening time.
What sort of mindless behaviour can they expect.
Last night around here would be one thing that is likely to happen on the fringes, burnouts by boy racers, racing, a flurry of what appeared to be shots from an air rifle at one point.
At the party, severe intoxication, fighting, fires (the bigger the better & I have being in Marlborough when a fire has swept over those grasslands), theft, sexual assaults even to the extent where the owners are terrorized in their own home.
It is not being in the student area in Dunedin that causes the issues. It is the mindset of the ENSOC students going down there. Just, as they carry this type of behaviour out on a weekly basis, they get out when they see the police. The Otago students don't realize what they are in for.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
As much as things change, they stay the same!
Kia Ora,
Well out on the weekend to see what crime was about.
On the Friday heavy fog rolled in & though you could hear a lot going on it was not possible to see unless it was in front of you.
Decided to set up an area of observation where I had identified some criminal activity the previous week. To get there you had to pass the area where I was beaten the previous week.
In the fog as I got near the area you could hear people shouting as if they were searching the area. Sorry guys but I was elsewhere.
Saturday was the night that the boy racers had said they would rark up the City. Two things were against them. The weather & the police hitting them everytime someone stepped out of line.
Carried out a mobile patrol of some of the area my new service covers & for the second time I came across some containers just off a main road.
On the previous occassion the call to police comms had brought a so what?
This time after checking that they appeared to contain used light oil, it seems that between police comms & myself we probably ruined some boy racers fun.
This weekend could be interesting though as a letter to the editor by a young individual threatening the Christchurch City council if they don't repeal the new by law has set new boundaries.
It seems the path taken recently in some countries were youth has challenged the authorities has now arrived in New Zealand.
http://securitynz-dusty67.blogspot.com
Well out on the weekend to see what crime was about.
On the Friday heavy fog rolled in & though you could hear a lot going on it was not possible to see unless it was in front of you.
Decided to set up an area of observation where I had identified some criminal activity the previous week. To get there you had to pass the area where I was beaten the previous week.
In the fog as I got near the area you could hear people shouting as if they were searching the area. Sorry guys but I was elsewhere.
Saturday was the night that the boy racers had said they would rark up the City. Two things were against them. The weather & the police hitting them everytime someone stepped out of line.
Carried out a mobile patrol of some of the area my new service covers & for the second time I came across some containers just off a main road.
On the previous occassion the call to police comms had brought a so what?
This time after checking that they appeared to contain used light oil, it seems that between police comms & myself we probably ruined some boy racers fun.
This weekend could be interesting though as a letter to the editor by a young individual threatening the Christchurch City council if they don't repeal the new by law has set new boundaries.
It seems the path taken recently in some countries were youth has challenged the authorities has now arrived in New Zealand.
http://securitynz-dusty67.blogspot.com
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Crime & Terrorism to rise!
Kia Ora,
In an earlier blog I titled it crime is to rise. At the time I wrote that the expected coming economic crisis will result in a rise of crime.
Well today I received an economic update email from Robert Kiyosaki & guess what. Being an ex Vietnam Veteran he sees the same & the rise of terrorism.
In fact he labels many of the current criminal activities in the US & the wider world as Terrorism.
Same as I & many of us with experience in the NZ security industry label many of the crimes here in NZ & here in Christchurch the boy racer community.
Then he mentions the first US citizen as a suicide bomber who recently detonated in Somalia.
His point was one I have being trying to make in my blogs. As the economy worsens, so will crime.
But not only will crime worsen but the conditions eventuate from which Terrorism recruits.
So as the situation is expected to worsen, say for example the boy racers will become more extreme, there was a letter to the editor in todays 'Press' in which a young male threatens to organize basically a fight back by the young ones 'harassed' by the police.
You don't get harrassed if you aren't breaking the law.
Already classed by many as Terrorists, their actions are liable to worsen.
http://securitynz-dusty67.blogspot.com
In an earlier blog I titled it crime is to rise. At the time I wrote that the expected coming economic crisis will result in a rise of crime.
Well today I received an economic update email from Robert Kiyosaki & guess what. Being an ex Vietnam Veteran he sees the same & the rise of terrorism.
In fact he labels many of the current criminal activities in the US & the wider world as Terrorism.
Same as I & many of us with experience in the NZ security industry label many of the crimes here in NZ & here in Christchurch the boy racer community.
Then he mentions the first US citizen as a suicide bomber who recently detonated in Somalia.
His point was one I have being trying to make in my blogs. As the economy worsens, so will crime.
But not only will crime worsen but the conditions eventuate from which Terrorism recruits.
So as the situation is expected to worsen, say for example the boy racers will become more extreme, there was a letter to the editor in todays 'Press' in which a young male threatens to organize basically a fight back by the young ones 'harassed' by the police.
You don't get harrassed if you aren't breaking the law.
Already classed by many as Terrorists, their actions are liable to worsen.
http://securitynz-dusty67.blogspot.com
Friday, June 25, 2010
The differing views of Crowd Control!
Kia Ora,
Crowd Control is topical at present with the upset by NZ soccer (football) fans on how the South African security moved them on.
Again it comes back to the mindset of New Zealanders who think that we don't need too much security.
They forget that from overseas experience, crowd control is not just there for security, but Health & Safety as well.
They also don't realize that it is in their best interests if it is carried out in a certain way.
The clip here shows a demonstration outside a foregin embassy in Iraq & although the camera work is not great due to covert nature, it does show that how well crowd control can be achieved even by a force that doesn't appear well trained.
Having the security armed does help as less arguments, but it doesn't stop them using other skills to keep the crowds in check.
At one point the crowd started to get quite agitated once all groups marching were on site, so to keep them happy three of those in camouflage scaled the embassy & ripped down the foreign flag.
It worked because shortly after the crowd dispersed.
More often than most New Zealanders realize the requirements for a riot are in place. In fact I would say on several occassions each weekend in Christchurch alone.
But yet again the NZ mindset says common sense should prevail & we do not need too much security & no one should be allowed to interfere with our 'rights'.
More often than not the rights they talk about are the breaking of the law.
They can also not expect the low standards of crowd control to be practised when they attend overseas sporting events. It is NZ that has to come up to standard not the world come down to New Zealands level.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Crowd Control is topical at present with the upset by NZ soccer (football) fans on how the South African security moved them on.
Again it comes back to the mindset of New Zealanders who think that we don't need too much security.
They forget that from overseas experience, crowd control is not just there for security, but Health & Safety as well.
They also don't realize that it is in their best interests if it is carried out in a certain way.
The clip here shows a demonstration outside a foregin embassy in Iraq & although the camera work is not great due to covert nature, it does show that how well crowd control can be achieved even by a force that doesn't appear well trained.
Having the security armed does help as less arguments, but it doesn't stop them using other skills to keep the crowds in check.
At one point the crowd started to get quite agitated once all groups marching were on site, so to keep them happy three of those in camouflage scaled the embassy & ripped down the foreign flag.
It worked because shortly after the crowd dispersed.
More often than most New Zealanders realize the requirements for a riot are in place. In fact I would say on several occassions each weekend in Christchurch alone.
But yet again the NZ mindset says common sense should prevail & we do not need too much security & no one should be allowed to interfere with our 'rights'.
More often than not the rights they talk about are the breaking of the law.
They can also not expect the low standards of crowd control to be practised when they attend overseas sporting events. It is NZ that has to come up to standard not the world come down to New Zealands level.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Thursday, June 24, 2010
How do you know who your friends are?
Kia Ora,
Much has been made here in recent days about how the MP Russell Norman should of being known by the Chinese protection team as a Member of Parliament.
Only problem with that is the history of Close Protection shows that those who are friends or are supposed to be there, are most likely to be the assassins or these days suicide bombers.
That is why you are, in that side of the profession, supposed to profile your clients before hand.
But any form of security really requires some form of assessment of likely threats.
Though most would not expect as happened in the above clip where two groups assigned to protect the area of a foreign embassy after a suicide bomb attack, ended up in a firefight (gun battle) with each other.
That is most but the local security (our local mate was extremely good at this) would of picked possible problems.
You could see bodies lying about the place & it took an extremely brave person from memory to step in the middle of the two groups to stop the firing.
But it was seen as a common after a while when ever these two groups or the military & police were co-located to provide the outer cordon security in Iraq.
As Kevin Rudd found out today even his most 'loyal' Lieutenant can be ready to at a less extreme level 'stab' him in the back.
Whilst our own Prime Minister seems to have taken a leaf out of the Arab book & brought those seen to be as his likely closest enemies in closest(hold your friends close & your enemies even closer).
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Much has been made here in recent days about how the MP Russell Norman should of being known by the Chinese protection team as a Member of Parliament.
Only problem with that is the history of Close Protection shows that those who are friends or are supposed to be there, are most likely to be the assassins or these days suicide bombers.
That is why you are, in that side of the profession, supposed to profile your clients before hand.
But any form of security really requires some form of assessment of likely threats.
Though most would not expect as happened in the above clip where two groups assigned to protect the area of a foreign embassy after a suicide bomb attack, ended up in a firefight (gun battle) with each other.
That is most but the local security (our local mate was extremely good at this) would of picked possible problems.
You could see bodies lying about the place & it took an extremely brave person from memory to step in the middle of the two groups to stop the firing.
But it was seen as a common after a while when ever these two groups or the military & police were co-located to provide the outer cordon security in Iraq.
As Kevin Rudd found out today even his most 'loyal' Lieutenant can be ready to at a less extreme level 'stab' him in the back.
Whilst our own Prime Minister seems to have taken a leaf out of the Arab book & brought those seen to be as his likely closest enemies in closest(hold your friends close & your enemies even closer).
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
How do you protect your Assets?
Kia Ora,
Well the news came out of the Australian mining company board all being lost on a flight in Africa. So what does that have to do with Assets?
The greatest assets you have are the people at all levels with the knowledge that makes your business what it is.
In particular which you are looking at instituitional knowledge as held by thosde who may head your company.
You would of thought companies would of learnt from the Manchester United experience in 1953, loosing so many of their team. But like everything else it seems we havfe to keep learning the same lessons.
Several years ago I was appointed to a position in the area of governance & arrived late to the AGM.
As a trained bodyguard though I was blown away on the trip back when not only were the majority of those in governance on the same flight, also all the top tiers & boards of the subsidaries were on the same flight.
It was only when I made the point from the point of view of a bodyguard, that they looked around & realized how much they would of lost had that aircraft crashed.
Again it is part of the on going risk assessment you must make in the industry at all levels.
True there are times when like Saturday night despite your best planning things go wrong & Murphy's law kicks in, but you limit that which could go wrong.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Well the news came out of the Australian mining company board all being lost on a flight in Africa. So what does that have to do with Assets?
The greatest assets you have are the people at all levels with the knowledge that makes your business what it is.
In particular which you are looking at instituitional knowledge as held by thosde who may head your company.
You would of thought companies would of learnt from the Manchester United experience in 1953, loosing so many of their team. But like everything else it seems we havfe to keep learning the same lessons.
Several years ago I was appointed to a position in the area of governance & arrived late to the AGM.
As a trained bodyguard though I was blown away on the trip back when not only were the majority of those in governance on the same flight, also all the top tiers & boards of the subsidaries were on the same flight.
It was only when I made the point from the point of view of a bodyguard, that they looked around & realized how much they would of lost had that aircraft crashed.
Again it is part of the on going risk assessment you must make in the industry at all levels.
True there are times when like Saturday night despite your best planning things go wrong & Murphy's law kicks in, but you limit that which could go wrong.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Monday, June 21, 2010
Why is Christchurch so Violent when there is no reason for it?
Kia Ora,
Well an another interesting weekend, which took a violent turn I hadn't planned on.
Recently I have being working on using social media as part of my marketing plan for my company & the new service.
That has meant as readers will have noticed the use of video I have taken & youtube.
This has meant I have being out looking for crime/suspicious or dangerous activity to video.
On Saturday night, finding something wasn't working as it should be (which would cost me during the later incident) took my vehicle to look for the items needed, but that late at night it was a task too far.
But what I did observe was a boy racer van full of females pull up outside a school & go into I would say use it as a toilet whilst one threw their empty bottles across the road, people leaving a party to be seen about an hour later still leaving, blocking a major road at one part with a vehicle & running onto the road, causing traffic to break sharply.
The police were rung & attended promptly. Funny how the party suddenly dispersed in a more orderly fashion.
I then decided to procide with my original plan to set up whilst waiting for any calls to video the people using the railway lines as a very dangerous short cut not to mention trespassing. Was getting set & could hear talking & noise. Realized it was coming from other side of structure I was set up on so went to have a look. Suddenly more moise then two males rung across the road, jump into a car hidden nearby & take off. It appears they had being in a car wreckers steling parts for their car.
As I stood off the side talking to police on phone about it a number of other boy racers slowed to look in at same spot but then left at speed on seeing someone there.
After setting myself up there in case someone showed up, but once it started to rain decided to go back to base.
As I headed back heard boy racers back by Sockburn Roundabout then "CRASH". Having a medkit on me I headed back.
First thing I see is a camper van parked in Nga Mahi Road with the occupants looking in shock. Then the boy racers were back so moving to a position to possibly video any actions to see a car airborne over the top of Sockburn Overbridge, then head off down Blenheim road.
As they had appeared to have gone, was heading back when burnouts start about 100 metres down Blenheim road & first one car then the other head towards the roundabout & drift around it.
Got to a position in time to video second vehicle loose control on the drift & snap off the giveway sign (or what was left of it as looking later it appears that was the first crash as well, so makes it look like vehicles were stolen in the way they were treating them).
To get that video had had to step out into a little into the open & a third vehicle seen me, they then told the first two who took off.
Only they hadn't taken off they doubled back, parked on Main south road & come across to see if I was still there. I was further along walking behind the bushes towards the way they had come & was about to head home when I head a voice & see two people on the footpath.
From there it went very quick & one came through then the other & said "give us the f..... camera" of course they got a "f... off", but these guys were going to do what they wanted. Was hit a glancing blow by the first guy & same by the second before a third tried to tackle me. We struggled until we hit the ground then the kicks went in. thanks to my bodyarmour & back pack they took most of the punishment, but got a few in the head as well.
Contary to conventional advice I hung onto the camera as it had the evidence, but it restricted my ability to fight back. What I did do was wrestle & struggle in amongst kicks to get out onto foot path/road so cars could see. Once there people began to ring the police in particular the young lady who hung around in her car, which was much appreciated.
At that point the camera broke & they ran with part of it, I chased but they had taken off in their parked cars before I could get their regostrations.
The police were great considering there is not much to go on & because of swelling on the side of my head, I went by ambulance to the hospital.
Whilst waiting there (head injuries it is just a matter of observation really in a very busy emergency room) I was actually despite all the blood, the least injured of those assaulted that night.
It seemed a night that is too common in Christchurch with mindless violence. Each incident spoken off whilst we waited for treatment consisted of groups setting on one person.
Most of it the reason why I felt safer in Baghdad than I do in Christchurch is there is no actual reason & the violence is so random.
The boy racers do it because they think you have no right of interferring with their fun.
There is no real excuse for it. As an American soldier said on another issue "I can understand why the Iraqis are upset with me & if it was my country I would be doing the same, but...." well the but here is what reason do our youth have to beat people up (not talking about me here as it goes with the territory if things go wrong), destroy businesses with mindless destruction.
There have being developments on this front though that will come to light later & a review of how I do this has meant some changes are in place, but it will never make it completely safe.
Even during the time I have being in the NZ Security Industry, where most criminals when caught in the act, didn't try to make it personal, it is not always the gangs but just our run of the mill youths that have become our biggest problem & most violent group.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Well an another interesting weekend, which took a violent turn I hadn't planned on.
Recently I have being working on using social media as part of my marketing plan for my company & the new service.
That has meant as readers will have noticed the use of video I have taken & youtube.
This has meant I have being out looking for crime/suspicious or dangerous activity to video.
On Saturday night, finding something wasn't working as it should be (which would cost me during the later incident) took my vehicle to look for the items needed, but that late at night it was a task too far.
But what I did observe was a boy racer van full of females pull up outside a school & go into I would say use it as a toilet whilst one threw their empty bottles across the road, people leaving a party to be seen about an hour later still leaving, blocking a major road at one part with a vehicle & running onto the road, causing traffic to break sharply.
The police were rung & attended promptly. Funny how the party suddenly dispersed in a more orderly fashion.
I then decided to procide with my original plan to set up whilst waiting for any calls to video the people using the railway lines as a very dangerous short cut not to mention trespassing. Was getting set & could hear talking & noise. Realized it was coming from other side of structure I was set up on so went to have a look. Suddenly more moise then two males rung across the road, jump into a car hidden nearby & take off. It appears they had being in a car wreckers steling parts for their car.
As I stood off the side talking to police on phone about it a number of other boy racers slowed to look in at same spot but then left at speed on seeing someone there.
After setting myself up there in case someone showed up, but once it started to rain decided to go back to base.
As I headed back heard boy racers back by Sockburn Roundabout then "CRASH". Having a medkit on me I headed back.
First thing I see is a camper van parked in Nga Mahi Road with the occupants looking in shock. Then the boy racers were back so moving to a position to possibly video any actions to see a car airborne over the top of Sockburn Overbridge, then head off down Blenheim road.
As they had appeared to have gone, was heading back when burnouts start about 100 metres down Blenheim road & first one car then the other head towards the roundabout & drift around it.
Got to a position in time to video second vehicle loose control on the drift & snap off the giveway sign (or what was left of it as looking later it appears that was the first crash as well, so makes it look like vehicles were stolen in the way they were treating them).
To get that video had had to step out into a little into the open & a third vehicle seen me, they then told the first two who took off.
Only they hadn't taken off they doubled back, parked on Main south road & come across to see if I was still there. I was further along walking behind the bushes towards the way they had come & was about to head home when I head a voice & see two people on the footpath.
From there it went very quick & one came through then the other & said "give us the f..... camera" of course they got a "f... off", but these guys were going to do what they wanted. Was hit a glancing blow by the first guy & same by the second before a third tried to tackle me. We struggled until we hit the ground then the kicks went in. thanks to my bodyarmour & back pack they took most of the punishment, but got a few in the head as well.
Contary to conventional advice I hung onto the camera as it had the evidence, but it restricted my ability to fight back. What I did do was wrestle & struggle in amongst kicks to get out onto foot path/road so cars could see. Once there people began to ring the police in particular the young lady who hung around in her car, which was much appreciated.
At that point the camera broke & they ran with part of it, I chased but they had taken off in their parked cars before I could get their regostrations.
The police were great considering there is not much to go on & because of swelling on the side of my head, I went by ambulance to the hospital.
Whilst waiting there (head injuries it is just a matter of observation really in a very busy emergency room) I was actually despite all the blood, the least injured of those assaulted that night.
It seemed a night that is too common in Christchurch with mindless violence. Each incident spoken off whilst we waited for treatment consisted of groups setting on one person.
Most of it the reason why I felt safer in Baghdad than I do in Christchurch is there is no actual reason & the violence is so random.
The boy racers do it because they think you have no right of interferring with their fun.
There is no real excuse for it. As an American soldier said on another issue "I can understand why the Iraqis are upset with me & if it was my country I would be doing the same, but...." well the but here is what reason do our youth have to beat people up (not talking about me here as it goes with the territory if things go wrong), destroy businesses with mindless destruction.
There have being developments on this front though that will come to light later & a review of how I do this has meant some changes are in place, but it will never make it completely safe.
Even during the time I have being in the NZ Security Industry, where most criminals when caught in the act, didn't try to make it personal, it is not always the gangs but just our run of the mill youths that have become our biggest problem & most violent group.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Saturday, June 19, 2010
How Boy Racers are harming the Economy!
Kia Ora,
Most nights a week here in NZ & in particular in Christchurch boy racers cause a lot of upset.
They also cause a lot of mindless destruction of business properties. From personal experience they have being seen doing anything from breaking windows, trying to set buldings on fire, destroying parts of buildings & putting staff in fear of injury or for some even their lives.
That is not hype but actual experience, not to mention the fires started on farm properties & threatening owners on the outskirts of Christchurch.
It must be costing Christchurch businesses & the economy alone millions of dollars.
The following footage was shot last night as yet again they used a business property to carry out burnouts.
Their reaction to being found out ended in some abusive language, but nothing to those who have felt the wrath of a Company Sergeant Major or worse a Regimental Sergeant Major.
As the police said when responding to this incident last night, "it starts as harmless fun, but then something gets damaged or destroyed."
The quality is not great as approaching where they had being carrying out burnouts for about half an hour, someone decided to use the area as a toilet, so was forced to take footage from some distance.
One thing this incident did show when talking to the police was the "boy racer law" brought in by the last government has major limitations.
All though this wasn't the reason for the launch recently of the new security service, it is an area where it can be effective.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Most nights a week here in NZ & in particular in Christchurch boy racers cause a lot of upset.
They also cause a lot of mindless destruction of business properties. From personal experience they have being seen doing anything from breaking windows, trying to set buldings on fire, destroying parts of buildings & putting staff in fear of injury or for some even their lives.
That is not hype but actual experience, not to mention the fires started on farm properties & threatening owners on the outskirts of Christchurch.
It must be costing Christchurch businesses & the economy alone millions of dollars.
The following footage was shot last night as yet again they used a business property to carry out burnouts.
Their reaction to being found out ended in some abusive language, but nothing to those who have felt the wrath of a Company Sergeant Major or worse a Regimental Sergeant Major.
As the police said when responding to this incident last night, "it starts as harmless fun, but then something gets damaged or destroyed."
The quality is not great as approaching where they had being carrying out burnouts for about half an hour, someone decided to use the area as a toilet, so was forced to take footage from some distance.
One thing this incident did show when talking to the police was the "boy racer law" brought in by the last government has major limitations.
All though this wasn't the reason for the launch recently of the new security service, it is an area where it can be effective.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Friday, June 18, 2010
What is Close Protections (Bodyguards) duties?
Kia Ora,
Well the big news today is the manhandling by the Chinese Vice Presidents Close Protection team of the Green Party leader who was staging a protest at the entrance to the New Zealand Parliament.
So what are really the duties that Close Protection are required to carry out?
In the movies it is always to give your life for someone, but in reality there is more than that & really what use is a bodyguard if they are dead? Body cover is a drill, but it is not just what you are there for & why more often than not your contract calls you a consultant.
There are three duties for a Close Protection team to consider.
First is the Preventing of Unintentional harm or injury.
So that means, if the 'Angry Man' is still reading, carrying out health & safety risk assessments both prior & during any moves, visits or in general, often without any prior visits. It also entails you knowing any medical conditions your client might have & have an understanding of local customs & laws that could put your client(known as a principal) in danger.
Next is Preventing Embarrassing Situations. Now todays incident can be seen two ways.
The team has brought the Vice President embarrassment by making it a media circus.
But that is the western view. The Chinese will have a very different view & whilst no expert on Chinese views, having learnt some Putonghua (standard Chinese) a few years ago which included some insight into the culture, they may view it very differently.
To the Chinese saving face is very big & having that flag shoved in the proximity of the Vice President could be seen as a loss of face. I thought their use of an umbrella was good & an attempt to show they are trying to fit in with western views.
The third duty is to Prevent Intentional Harm & Injury.
On the TV footage shown it would appear that the Green MP got far too close for the team to be comfortable.
New Zealanders have to realize that what might seem safe here is not what people overseas are used too.
I have meet some who refuse to come to NZ, as they think it is too unsafe as our police & security are unarmed.
As a country we are very reliant on amongst other things tourists coming here.
In an article yesterday it was commented on that quite a few foreign Heads of State are expected for the Rugby World Cup 2011. Just one we might be able to cater for but there has being a vast change in possible threat since APEC 1999 here.
Had this protest happened overseas it would of likely being much more controlled as indicated by the video clips that should be added below.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Well the big news today is the manhandling by the Chinese Vice Presidents Close Protection team of the Green Party leader who was staging a protest at the entrance to the New Zealand Parliament.
So what are really the duties that Close Protection are required to carry out?
In the movies it is always to give your life for someone, but in reality there is more than that & really what use is a bodyguard if they are dead? Body cover is a drill, but it is not just what you are there for & why more often than not your contract calls you a consultant.
There are three duties for a Close Protection team to consider.
First is the Preventing of Unintentional harm or injury.
So that means, if the 'Angry Man' is still reading, carrying out health & safety risk assessments both prior & during any moves, visits or in general, often without any prior visits. It also entails you knowing any medical conditions your client might have & have an understanding of local customs & laws that could put your client(known as a principal) in danger.
Next is Preventing Embarrassing Situations. Now todays incident can be seen two ways.
The team has brought the Vice President embarrassment by making it a media circus.
But that is the western view. The Chinese will have a very different view & whilst no expert on Chinese views, having learnt some Putonghua (standard Chinese) a few years ago which included some insight into the culture, they may view it very differently.
To the Chinese saving face is very big & having that flag shoved in the proximity of the Vice President could be seen as a loss of face. I thought their use of an umbrella was good & an attempt to show they are trying to fit in with western views.
The third duty is to Prevent Intentional Harm & Injury.
On the TV footage shown it would appear that the Green MP got far too close for the team to be comfortable.
New Zealanders have to realize that what might seem safe here is not what people overseas are used too.
I have meet some who refuse to come to NZ, as they think it is too unsafe as our police & security are unarmed.
As a country we are very reliant on amongst other things tourists coming here.
In an article yesterday it was commented on that quite a few foreign Heads of State are expected for the Rugby World Cup 2011. Just one we might be able to cater for but there has being a vast change in possible threat since APEC 1999 here.
Had this protest happened overseas it would of likely being much more controlled as indicated by the video clips that should be added below.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Are New Zealand Judges in touch with the Real World?
Kia Ora,
That head line is what people often ask after some of the sentences handed down for crimes. At times the judges are constrained by laws or previous decisions. But sometimes you do have to wonder?
I base that on a judges comments when he sentenced a 'gang' member yesterday.
The judge in this case said "gang culture is against NZ culture".
When the Judge & I were growing up that was probably true, but not in todays NZ were the gangsta culture prevails.
You see it all the time, people wearing their colours & others pressured to have colours of one type or another.
I have head some say it is only Maori or Pacific Island issue with the youngsters
following the L.A. gangsta culture.
That is not true though. If you are involved with dealing with youngsters you will see people from all races trying to be a part of the gangsta culture with the way they dress, act & speak.
Coming from the background of a shearing gang (no pun intended) then the NZ army I am not un used to swearing, but their is a time & place.
Not todays youngsters & if you want to get their attention then you better be prepared to swear because they will not take notice otherwise.
Part of that gangsta culture is the use or carrying of weapons & as the Christchurch police recently commented virtually everyone they arrest these days is at least carrying a knife.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
That head line is what people often ask after some of the sentences handed down for crimes. At times the judges are constrained by laws or previous decisions. But sometimes you do have to wonder?
I base that on a judges comments when he sentenced a 'gang' member yesterday.
The judge in this case said "gang culture is against NZ culture".
When the Judge & I were growing up that was probably true, but not in todays NZ were the gangsta culture prevails.
You see it all the time, people wearing their colours & others pressured to have colours of one type or another.
I have head some say it is only Maori or Pacific Island issue with the youngsters
following the L.A. gangsta culture.
That is not true though. If you are involved with dealing with youngsters you will see people from all races trying to be a part of the gangsta culture with the way they dress, act & speak.
Coming from the background of a shearing gang (no pun intended) then the NZ army I am not un used to swearing, but their is a time & place.
Not todays youngsters & if you want to get their attention then you better be prepared to swear because they will not take notice otherwise.
Part of that gangsta culture is the use or carrying of weapons & as the Christchurch police recently commented virtually everyone they arrest these days is at least carrying a knife.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
So how should a Security Guard handle a suspected Bomb?
Kia Ora,
Many in NZ ask why does a Security Guard need to know what to do if told there might be or is a bomb nearby?
Well first they will often be first point of call & also if they don't know it is possible to tie up all the other emergency services by overwhelming the system.
Experience shows that having people properly trained can immediately cut out most calls. It doesn't mean being Rambo, just carrying out some commonsense checks that will cut down the work of the emergency services & will likely save lives.
When dealing with a bomb threat real or potential there are the four C's to follow.
First is Confirm: That can be anything from confirming it is suspicous enough to call in the authorities to something actually going bang.
Next we have Clear: That just doesn't mean the area of the device, but area where responding services will set up, & choice of areas where people will be moved too.
Not as, in at least one major site & one government department here, where clearance drill is hit the fire alarm (many are wireless & bombs are set to often go off on frequencies) or just one normal evacuation place,same as for their fire drill.
It is a common tactic of terrorists to call in a false bomb alert or even fire drill to see what reaction is then set one in place responders will head or evacuees will gather.
The next C is Cordon: Yes the police will put a cordon in but someone has to take up a cordon at least until they arrive in force & even assist in the manpower they require on their cordon. There maybe a requirement for an inner & outer cordon or several
cordons for different reasons.
The last C is Control: That is not just control of the people being evacuated, but control of the incident prior, during & after an incident & who is in control at what stage.
As one British consultant said, when visiting NZ & asking some people in the NZ security industry, they didn't even know what their role was, little lone what to do in the event of a bomb incident.
At best at present most are likely to just get them out & then leave people to their own devices.
An IED is just a booby trap with explosives added for all intent purposes.
On my booby trap course the definition of a booby trap was given roughly as this "a cunning contrivance to catch out the unwary or those committing a 'safe' act."
With out the right mindset then every act taken in the NZ security industry is a safe act.
It is not being about living in constant fear but being aware & preparing properly.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Many in NZ ask why does a Security Guard need to know what to do if told there might be or is a bomb nearby?
Well first they will often be first point of call & also if they don't know it is possible to tie up all the other emergency services by overwhelming the system.
Experience shows that having people properly trained can immediately cut out most calls. It doesn't mean being Rambo, just carrying out some commonsense checks that will cut down the work of the emergency services & will likely save lives.
When dealing with a bomb threat real or potential there are the four C's to follow.
First is Confirm: That can be anything from confirming it is suspicous enough to call in the authorities to something actually going bang.
Next we have Clear: That just doesn't mean the area of the device, but area where responding services will set up, & choice of areas where people will be moved too.
Not as, in at least one major site & one government department here, where clearance drill is hit the fire alarm (many are wireless & bombs are set to often go off on frequencies) or just one normal evacuation place,same as for their fire drill.
It is a common tactic of terrorists to call in a false bomb alert or even fire drill to see what reaction is then set one in place responders will head or evacuees will gather.
The next C is Cordon: Yes the police will put a cordon in but someone has to take up a cordon at least until they arrive in force & even assist in the manpower they require on their cordon. There maybe a requirement for an inner & outer cordon or several
cordons for different reasons.
The last C is Control: That is not just control of the people being evacuated, but control of the incident prior, during & after an incident & who is in control at what stage.
As one British consultant said, when visiting NZ & asking some people in the NZ security industry, they didn't even know what their role was, little lone what to do in the event of a bomb incident.
At best at present most are likely to just get them out & then leave people to their own devices.
An IED is just a booby trap with explosives added for all intent purposes.
On my booby trap course the definition of a booby trap was given roughly as this "a cunning contrivance to catch out the unwary or those committing a 'safe' act."
With out the right mindset then every act taken in the NZ security industry is a safe act.
It is not being about living in constant fear but being aware & preparing properly.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Sunday, June 13, 2010
It's War! Boy Racers need to be taken off the streets!
Kia Ora,
When I have being building systems & procedures for the service I recently launched from about the year 2000 it has being with the realization that there would likely be calls & encounters with the street racers known locally as boy racers.
But last night they declared war & now I will use all legal means to ensure they are taken off our roads.
Now to the 'Angry Man' here is a point where your argument falls flat.
The first incident last night I avoided a head on crash because of my experience in Iraq, not the fact I have qualified as an AA advanced driver during my NZQA Close Protection (Bodyguard) course.
What possessed the idiot to suddenly try to pass the small flat deck on what is known locally as that southern arterial near the turn off towards Hoon Hay road, I don't know. Suddenly they found themselves heading towards a traffic island, so they swerved into my lane where the only traffic was oncoming.
Most people in that situation would of either ended up in a head on crash or over reacted & gone off the road & ended up in the deep ditch next to it. Either way would probably be fatal.
A large truck heading to Lyttleton would of had no where to go.
It was only the experience of encountering sudden head on traffic often in Baghdad that I believe allowed me to get through safely.
As if that was not enough, I arrived at my intended destination, a local service station, to only be followed in by another boy racer idiot, who was driving at speed across the forecourt, just missed hitting two bowsers & only came in to read a map.
Suffice to say they got the first shots across their bows in a very aggressive comment on their lack of driving skills & lack of general worth to the human race. Or as we would say in the army, an oxygen thief & waste of rations.
If that wasn't enough shortly after a young woman was seen to get into a car then reversed straight out onto the road without looking, causing me to swerve.
Some say the issue is there needs to be burn out pads made for these idiots.
That will only take some of the fringe players off the road, not the hard core who are often in the past being seen to be connected to organized crime. When these guys are about then burglaries go up behind the scenes. Not to mention the fact that security,police & the general public have being threatened, items such as bottles thrown at them.
They have been known to have firearms & have threatened after one incident to use molotov cocktails against police.
This has to stop & they have to learn the world does not owe them a life. We had a lot less to do than they do now & even the petrol heads never got to this stage. In fact they tended to just enjoy themselves & minimise the annoyance to others.
Later last night I managed to pass onto police where some more idiots were starting to gather & carryout burnouts. Though no thanks to police comm's (who really need some training) they were caught by a passing patrol (a common complaint is patrols have no idea that something is going on, including a night when I had a crowd of boy racers throwing bottles at me & about 20 minutes later after my 111 call a patrol showed up because I knew the officer in charge, so he come to check up after an earlier incident, there had never being a job put out over the radio).
So boy racers we want you off our streets. You have lost your rights to be treated nicely as you are terrorizing neighbourhoods, businesses & those whose job it is to keep the place secure.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
When I have being building systems & procedures for the service I recently launched from about the year 2000 it has being with the realization that there would likely be calls & encounters with the street racers known locally as boy racers.
But last night they declared war & now I will use all legal means to ensure they are taken off our roads.
Now to the 'Angry Man' here is a point where your argument falls flat.
The first incident last night I avoided a head on crash because of my experience in Iraq, not the fact I have qualified as an AA advanced driver during my NZQA Close Protection (Bodyguard) course.
What possessed the idiot to suddenly try to pass the small flat deck on what is known locally as that southern arterial near the turn off towards Hoon Hay road, I don't know. Suddenly they found themselves heading towards a traffic island, so they swerved into my lane where the only traffic was oncoming.
Most people in that situation would of either ended up in a head on crash or over reacted & gone off the road & ended up in the deep ditch next to it. Either way would probably be fatal.
A large truck heading to Lyttleton would of had no where to go.
It was only the experience of encountering sudden head on traffic often in Baghdad that I believe allowed me to get through safely.
As if that was not enough, I arrived at my intended destination, a local service station, to only be followed in by another boy racer idiot, who was driving at speed across the forecourt, just missed hitting two bowsers & only came in to read a map.
Suffice to say they got the first shots across their bows in a very aggressive comment on their lack of driving skills & lack of general worth to the human race. Or as we would say in the army, an oxygen thief & waste of rations.
If that wasn't enough shortly after a young woman was seen to get into a car then reversed straight out onto the road without looking, causing me to swerve.
Some say the issue is there needs to be burn out pads made for these idiots.
That will only take some of the fringe players off the road, not the hard core who are often in the past being seen to be connected to organized crime. When these guys are about then burglaries go up behind the scenes. Not to mention the fact that security,police & the general public have being threatened, items such as bottles thrown at them.
They have been known to have firearms & have threatened after one incident to use molotov cocktails against police.
This has to stop & they have to learn the world does not owe them a life. We had a lot less to do than they do now & even the petrol heads never got to this stage. In fact they tended to just enjoy themselves & minimise the annoyance to others.
Later last night I managed to pass onto police where some more idiots were starting to gather & carryout burnouts. Though no thanks to police comm's (who really need some training) they were caught by a passing patrol (a common complaint is patrols have no idea that something is going on, including a night when I had a crowd of boy racers throwing bottles at me & about 20 minutes later after my 111 call a patrol showed up because I knew the officer in charge, so he come to check up after an earlier incident, there had never being a job put out over the radio).
So boy racers we want you off our streets. You have lost your rights to be treated nicely as you are terrorizing neighbourhoods, businesses & those whose job it is to keep the place secure.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Saturday, June 12, 2010
What is the connection between BP & the NZ Security Industry?
Kia ora,
A topical issue at present is the BP oil disaster. But what really was behind the poor response to the initial incident, why it most likely happened (listening to some mates in the industry gives me a clue) & how does it connect with the issues in the NZ Security Industry?
It was comments by a couple of mates in the oil industry at present that got me thinking of what is likely to be behind the initial incident & the failure since to cope with it.
Overall the American system works on the principle that the market will provide the best practice & I have heard our own policticians say this as opposed to over regulation.
It certainly can allow business to flourish, but if the market has allowed businesses to short cut then when things go wrong it is exposed.
The comments I refer too were they could not belief the US industry were still doing something a certain way.
The point is that if BP are doing it you can bet everyone else is to stay on an even field of play.
This was behind points identified that resulted in the 9/11 attacks where different groups involved in airport security/work did not communicate with each other as each stayed in its own little world.
I would like to think that the US has taken that lesson on board, but the NZ Security Industry has not in my view.
At about the time of 9/11 I was contracted to carryout some security work in the vicinity of one of our major airports.
There was a situation there that should of being picked up, but I later found out had been in place for about two weeks because none of the five security companies or Government departments were allowed to look outside their area of responsibility or they faced the sack(being fired).
Ask any person who has lived with Terrorism would find that acceptable behaviour.
But again it comes back to the NZ mindset which the NZ security Industry just reflects, as was seen by it taking days for locals to call in the abandoned vehicle in Auckland (then point out it took the police 24 hours to respond), only to find it had a bomb in it.
That Incident was wiped off the pages by the more important issue of a Member of parliament misusing his government credit card & even paying to watch porn.
We really have our priorites right in this country.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
A topical issue at present is the BP oil disaster. But what really was behind the poor response to the initial incident, why it most likely happened (listening to some mates in the industry gives me a clue) & how does it connect with the issues in the NZ Security Industry?
It was comments by a couple of mates in the oil industry at present that got me thinking of what is likely to be behind the initial incident & the failure since to cope with it.
Overall the American system works on the principle that the market will provide the best practice & I have heard our own policticians say this as opposed to over regulation.
It certainly can allow business to flourish, but if the market has allowed businesses to short cut then when things go wrong it is exposed.
The comments I refer too were they could not belief the US industry were still doing something a certain way.
The point is that if BP are doing it you can bet everyone else is to stay on an even field of play.
This was behind points identified that resulted in the 9/11 attacks where different groups involved in airport security/work did not communicate with each other as each stayed in its own little world.
I would like to think that the US has taken that lesson on board, but the NZ Security Industry has not in my view.
At about the time of 9/11 I was contracted to carryout some security work in the vicinity of one of our major airports.
There was a situation there that should of being picked up, but I later found out had been in place for about two weeks because none of the five security companies or Government departments were allowed to look outside their area of responsibility or they faced the sack(being fired).
Ask any person who has lived with Terrorism would find that acceptable behaviour.
But again it comes back to the NZ mindset which the NZ security Industry just reflects, as was seen by it taking days for locals to call in the abandoned vehicle in Auckland (then point out it took the police 24 hours to respond), only to find it had a bomb in it.
That Incident was wiped off the pages by the more important issue of a Member of parliament misusing his government credit card & even paying to watch porn.
We really have our priorites right in this country.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Friday, June 11, 2010
Why worry about Terrorism when your Focus is Basic Security?
Kia Ora,
The above is a question I am often asked. So why do I look at terrorism when the focus is basic security?
Because if basic security is carried out correctly then the terrorist threat along with criminal activity is limited.
A security guard does not, as someone said of those at their place of work, stand there brain dead but ready to act.
As I pointed out to them their guards if doing their job properly should be looking well beyond their premises. If they have the right observation skills that every person in the NZ security industry should have, then the guards will see most issues coming.
The problem is one I have talked about often. Lack of real security training & guards being told to ignore all that happens off their site.
That same skill applies whether you are standing outside a licensed premise, static security on a site such as a bank or government department or dealing with terrorists.
The amount of times we reported suspicious activity, such as someone with a video camera at the gates, to the American soldiers on the gates. Yet time & again this suspicious actinity was not acted on to be followed within a day or two by a suicide bomber.
It is what most of the NZ security industry does not realize, yes we have to make money to survive, but the real reason you patrol comes under six headings known to the military as the aims of patrolling.
The way they can be employed is slightly different compared to how the military or PSD teams might apply them, but commercial security if they are to be effective need
to use them.
The following is the Aims of Patrolling modified slightly for civilian use.
1. To Gain & Retain the Initiative
2. To Gain Information
3. To Deny Criminal/Terrorist Elements Information
4. To Make Criminal Elements Uncomfortable
5. To Provide Protection
6. To Provide Security
These aims do not always necessitate you actually moving as you can use your senses to achieve the same goals.
These aims would not even need explaining to someone from Britain as they do it as second nature.
But NZ as someone said on the news tonight when talking about a relation who was murdered " it just doesn't happen in NZ". Sorry but it does & it is all happening with greater regularity.
It is only a short hop to regular, what most people would regard as, terrorist activity.
http://www/foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
The above is a question I am often asked. So why do I look at terrorism when the focus is basic security?
Because if basic security is carried out correctly then the terrorist threat along with criminal activity is limited.
A security guard does not, as someone said of those at their place of work, stand there brain dead but ready to act.
As I pointed out to them their guards if doing their job properly should be looking well beyond their premises. If they have the right observation skills that every person in the NZ security industry should have, then the guards will see most issues coming.
The problem is one I have talked about often. Lack of real security training & guards being told to ignore all that happens off their site.
That same skill applies whether you are standing outside a licensed premise, static security on a site such as a bank or government department or dealing with terrorists.
The amount of times we reported suspicious activity, such as someone with a video camera at the gates, to the American soldiers on the gates. Yet time & again this suspicious actinity was not acted on to be followed within a day or two by a suicide bomber.
It is what most of the NZ security industry does not realize, yes we have to make money to survive, but the real reason you patrol comes under six headings known to the military as the aims of patrolling.
The way they can be employed is slightly different compared to how the military or PSD teams might apply them, but commercial security if they are to be effective need
to use them.
The following is the Aims of Patrolling modified slightly for civilian use.
1. To Gain & Retain the Initiative
2. To Gain Information
3. To Deny Criminal/Terrorist Elements Information
4. To Make Criminal Elements Uncomfortable
5. To Provide Protection
6. To Provide Security
These aims do not always necessitate you actually moving as you can use your senses to achieve the same goals.
These aims would not even need explaining to someone from Britain as they do it as second nature.
But NZ as someone said on the news tonight when talking about a relation who was murdered " it just doesn't happen in NZ". Sorry but it does & it is all happening with greater regularity.
It is only a short hop to regular, what most people would regard as, terrorist activity.
http://www/foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
New Zealand is ready for the Rugby World Cup 2011. NOT!
Kia Ora,
Is New Zealand really ready to host the Rugby World Cup 2011? Not after another debacle over security I think not. A lot of fingers were being pointed at the police last night but they can't do everything it needs a change in mindset for the whole country.
This is the situation which eventuated last night, but has gone from the news services today.
A vehicle which had being sitting for days in a car park of a sports field according to residents, yet nothing was done until Tuesday when one resident called the police. They then showed up 24 hours later to find a bomb in the vehicle.
Compare that with Britain with their history of combating terrorism. My understanding of their actions is no vehicle is left sitting parked for more than 24 hours. Any residents would of called it in well before they did in Auckland.
Taking the item of the news services is too late. It got on there so it will be world wide, this the day after NZ was rated the most peaceful country in the world.
I understand a consultant being used for the World Cup is not a New Zealander & the assessment is all is safe & I think I have an idea who it is.
Thing is when assessing for threats such as possible suicide bombings are hard to picture if you have not lived in that environment. Those of us who have (alot of Kiwis), see the threat assessment as terrorist attacks & suicide bombings extremely likley either during or prior to the Rugby World Cup.
To combat a terrorist or terrorism you have to be able to think like them, that is something I have being accussed of more than once.
Currently in NZ there are a multitude of responses to likely bomb threats & I know talking to someone in a Government department that their response was totally lacking (being British they identified it but no one wants to know) where as Government department next door to them has a response in line with how terrorists think.
In NZ there seems to be a believe that you just deal with the one incident & it will be all Jake (OK).
But that is not standard operating procedure for any terrorist group. These current bomb alerts with hoax or simulated bombs or even real ones not properly set could just as well be the groups planning something seeing how NZ services, security industry & population react to such incidents.
They would then stage anther hoax or real bomb & plant seondary devices to catch in the first instance the emergency services, but also where people would be evacuated too.
This was the action taken in Northern Ireland in the Omagh bombing.
Even worse today is the suicide bomber.
The following was an incident in Iraq during my time there.
The Police Academy was mortared or rocketed on a daily basis, but on this occassion the bombers used this to their advantage as people were taking the same actions everyday.
Two bombers got into the Academy area (there has being some suggestion they bribed their way in past the check points) at breakfast time.
What then appears to have happened is one bomber lined up with the breakfast crowd before detonotating.
Everyone else thinking it was one of the regular mortar or rocket attacks ran to the shelters, where in one the other bomber was waiting, as people crowded in they then detonated their vest.
One thing noted in the NZ responses is the public are allowed to stand around at the cordons edge as a crowd.
All that has to be done here is work out where the cordons are likely to go in & plant devices for maximum effect.
Similar tactics were used when a 'suicide' bomb was detonated outside the embassy next to our villa in Iraq. The responding Iraqi police units later found three unexploded devices along the street, that had failed to explode as they responded to the incident.
Standard tactic with suicide bombers is two to three with short gaps in between or in the case of an attack on Abu Gharib at least seven other bombers. The difference with Abu Gharib was four were used to isolate the area then three others attempted to breach the camp, one after another.
New Zealand ready for the Rugby World Cup 2011? I think it is a long way from even being close.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Is New Zealand really ready to host the Rugby World Cup 2011? Not after another debacle over security I think not. A lot of fingers were being pointed at the police last night but they can't do everything it needs a change in mindset for the whole country.
This is the situation which eventuated last night, but has gone from the news services today.
A vehicle which had being sitting for days in a car park of a sports field according to residents, yet nothing was done until Tuesday when one resident called the police. They then showed up 24 hours later to find a bomb in the vehicle.
Compare that with Britain with their history of combating terrorism. My understanding of their actions is no vehicle is left sitting parked for more than 24 hours. Any residents would of called it in well before they did in Auckland.
Taking the item of the news services is too late. It got on there so it will be world wide, this the day after NZ was rated the most peaceful country in the world.
I understand a consultant being used for the World Cup is not a New Zealander & the assessment is all is safe & I think I have an idea who it is.
Thing is when assessing for threats such as possible suicide bombings are hard to picture if you have not lived in that environment. Those of us who have (alot of Kiwis), see the threat assessment as terrorist attacks & suicide bombings extremely likley either during or prior to the Rugby World Cup.
To combat a terrorist or terrorism you have to be able to think like them, that is something I have being accussed of more than once.
Currently in NZ there are a multitude of responses to likely bomb threats & I know talking to someone in a Government department that their response was totally lacking (being British they identified it but no one wants to know) where as Government department next door to them has a response in line with how terrorists think.
In NZ there seems to be a believe that you just deal with the one incident & it will be all Jake (OK).
But that is not standard operating procedure for any terrorist group. These current bomb alerts with hoax or simulated bombs or even real ones not properly set could just as well be the groups planning something seeing how NZ services, security industry & population react to such incidents.
They would then stage anther hoax or real bomb & plant seondary devices to catch in the first instance the emergency services, but also where people would be evacuated too.
This was the action taken in Northern Ireland in the Omagh bombing.
Even worse today is the suicide bomber.
The following was an incident in Iraq during my time there.
The Police Academy was mortared or rocketed on a daily basis, but on this occassion the bombers used this to their advantage as people were taking the same actions everyday.
Two bombers got into the Academy area (there has being some suggestion they bribed their way in past the check points) at breakfast time.
What then appears to have happened is one bomber lined up with the breakfast crowd before detonotating.
Everyone else thinking it was one of the regular mortar or rocket attacks ran to the shelters, where in one the other bomber was waiting, as people crowded in they then detonated their vest.
One thing noted in the NZ responses is the public are allowed to stand around at the cordons edge as a crowd.
All that has to be done here is work out where the cordons are likely to go in & plant devices for maximum effect.
Similar tactics were used when a 'suicide' bomb was detonated outside the embassy next to our villa in Iraq. The responding Iraqi police units later found three unexploded devices along the street, that had failed to explode as they responded to the incident.
Standard tactic with suicide bombers is two to three with short gaps in between or in the case of an attack on Abu Gharib at least seven other bombers. The difference with Abu Gharib was four were used to isolate the area then three others attempted to breach the camp, one after another.
New Zealand ready for the Rugby World Cup 2011? I think it is a long way from even being close.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Most Peaceful Country in the World. Yeah Right!
Kia Ora,
For those that missed it, New Zealand has been named the most peaceful country in the world this year. Even one of our local papers questioned that.
Exactly what do they use to judge this?
Violent crime is out of control, in particular so far this year & that is just the reported crime. A media outlet a few years back claimed that 95% of crime & 96% of violent crime are unreported in NZ.
Not sure about the figures but definitely a lot fo crime goes unreported unless there is a campaign about a particular area of crime.
I am also not sure that is really the view many people have of NZ.
1986 springs to mind when an army buddy & myself toured Europe & we meet up with other Kiwi's, Aussie's & groups from Britain.
Prior to them all coming to Crete where we bumped into them, a British tabloid had printed an article (front page I am told) where it named Kiwi's as the most aggressive people on the planet.
That image is not helped by the Haka (even though I love them, it does come across as aggressive) & even more by two movies. "Once were Warriors" & "What become of the Broken Hearted".
There is also the statistic which has NZ with the second highest percentage of people in prison after the US in the developed world. That doesn't back up a peaceful place.
Neither does the way we drive. Nice until we get behind the wheel then watch out.
During that time in Crete as we debated whether New Zealanders were aggressive or not, we as a group were walking to have a meal.
On the side of the road were a couple with Auckland written on the bottom of their pack. Someone spoke to the guy then said is your girlfriend from the US? No, New Zealand, but glad you didn't say Aussie as she is going to hit the next person who says it.
Since she was very petit, immediately an Aussie woman says "see told you, you Kiwis were aggressive even more than us. Even a tiny girl like that is ready to fight."
This woman's contention had being that Kiwis were the most aggressive because 1. we are very good at sport for our population size (for many years we topped the medals per capita at the Olympics), 2. we party hard & aggresively & 3. even though we don't fight as much as Aussies & many of us say we are much of fighters, in her opinion you piss a Kiwi off at your peril.
So are we really peaceful? Or is it a myth?
In many respects the more peaceful places are those who are prepared for the worst.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
For those that missed it, New Zealand has been named the most peaceful country in the world this year. Even one of our local papers questioned that.
Exactly what do they use to judge this?
Violent crime is out of control, in particular so far this year & that is just the reported crime. A media outlet a few years back claimed that 95% of crime & 96% of violent crime are unreported in NZ.
Not sure about the figures but definitely a lot fo crime goes unreported unless there is a campaign about a particular area of crime.
I am also not sure that is really the view many people have of NZ.
1986 springs to mind when an army buddy & myself toured Europe & we meet up with other Kiwi's, Aussie's & groups from Britain.
Prior to them all coming to Crete where we bumped into them, a British tabloid had printed an article (front page I am told) where it named Kiwi's as the most aggressive people on the planet.
That image is not helped by the Haka (even though I love them, it does come across as aggressive) & even more by two movies. "Once were Warriors" & "What become of the Broken Hearted".
There is also the statistic which has NZ with the second highest percentage of people in prison after the US in the developed world. That doesn't back up a peaceful place.
Neither does the way we drive. Nice until we get behind the wheel then watch out.
During that time in Crete as we debated whether New Zealanders were aggressive or not, we as a group were walking to have a meal.
On the side of the road were a couple with Auckland written on the bottom of their pack. Someone spoke to the guy then said is your girlfriend from the US? No, New Zealand, but glad you didn't say Aussie as she is going to hit the next person who says it.
Since she was very petit, immediately an Aussie woman says "see told you, you Kiwis were aggressive even more than us. Even a tiny girl like that is ready to fight."
This woman's contention had being that Kiwis were the most aggressive because 1. we are very good at sport for our population size (for many years we topped the medals per capita at the Olympics), 2. we party hard & aggresively & 3. even though we don't fight as much as Aussies & many of us say we are much of fighters, in her opinion you piss a Kiwi off at your peril.
So are we really peaceful? Or is it a myth?
In many respects the more peaceful places are those who are prepared for the worst.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Gun Control!
Kia Ora,
Since the shooting in Britain there have of course been murmurings about gun control & since the NZ Police Association President was near by some comment has being made comparing the two forces.
So first thing to look at would Gun control make any difference?
Not really, most incidents will occur if a firearm is available or not & recently there has being a spree of knife attacks by males on young children groups in China.
A firearm in most cases will allow someone to do more damage quickly. Too heavy restrictions will only tip the scales more in favour of those who obtain them illegally, which is where most of those involved in crime get them from.
But then you can go the other avenue which is just as dangerous. Until recently the US state of Arizona has like many states required its citizens to under go testing to gain a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Whilst everyone has been up in arms (excuse the pun) over Arizona's new immigrant law, where anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant can be stopped & asked for papers, no one has commented much on the changing of their gun laws allowing all & sundry to carry a concealed weapon without a permit.
That can be as bad as been too restrictive as you just don't know who is carrying a weapon.
The other side of this is the police response & from a NZ point of view how would we respond.
As the Police Association President on business in the UK pointed out NZ police have better access to firearms than their average British counterpart, but if we are to move towards arming our police, they need better training.
In reality the speed with which these incidents grow we can take a leaf out of the British police book & have a group of specially armed police on permanent duty as the current procedures of getting AOS together resembles keystone cops, whilst the general duty police officer generally unarmed is left to deal with the situation.
So conceivably by the time the AOS are assembled the same situation of someone with good local knowledge could wreck mayhem.
Actually I have being in a situation where this could of happened shortly after leaving the army & entering the industry, asked to guard a house overnight that certain people with a history of violence had threatened to firebomb (& as we found out later in the night threatened to kill the owner as he run from the fire). So a guard was required in the meantime whilst they had time over night to get the AOS together.
People were so scared of these people as they had firebombed houses previously that
no one would let the owner stay with them so he came home.
Another issue is many of the police force do not want to carry weapons, but they do want to be police officers.
I am sure there is a way to accomodate both as they are not the military.
Having a firearm & using it is a huge responsibility & as the Australian security guards found over the weekend it has consequences. One guard was shot dead in a bungled armed robbery & a firearm taken from one of the guards.
That is what those in the NZ security industry without adequate training or experience with firearms have to think about. We do need them in some roles but who should be allowed to use them is another matter.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Since the shooting in Britain there have of course been murmurings about gun control & since the NZ Police Association President was near by some comment has being made comparing the two forces.
So first thing to look at would Gun control make any difference?
Not really, most incidents will occur if a firearm is available or not & recently there has being a spree of knife attacks by males on young children groups in China.
A firearm in most cases will allow someone to do more damage quickly. Too heavy restrictions will only tip the scales more in favour of those who obtain them illegally, which is where most of those involved in crime get them from.
But then you can go the other avenue which is just as dangerous. Until recently the US state of Arizona has like many states required its citizens to under go testing to gain a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Whilst everyone has been up in arms (excuse the pun) over Arizona's new immigrant law, where anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant can be stopped & asked for papers, no one has commented much on the changing of their gun laws allowing all & sundry to carry a concealed weapon without a permit.
That can be as bad as been too restrictive as you just don't know who is carrying a weapon.
The other side of this is the police response & from a NZ point of view how would we respond.
As the Police Association President on business in the UK pointed out NZ police have better access to firearms than their average British counterpart, but if we are to move towards arming our police, they need better training.
In reality the speed with which these incidents grow we can take a leaf out of the British police book & have a group of specially armed police on permanent duty as the current procedures of getting AOS together resembles keystone cops, whilst the general duty police officer generally unarmed is left to deal with the situation.
So conceivably by the time the AOS are assembled the same situation of someone with good local knowledge could wreck mayhem.
Actually I have being in a situation where this could of happened shortly after leaving the army & entering the industry, asked to guard a house overnight that certain people with a history of violence had threatened to firebomb (& as we found out later in the night threatened to kill the owner as he run from the fire). So a guard was required in the meantime whilst they had time over night to get the AOS together.
People were so scared of these people as they had firebombed houses previously that
no one would let the owner stay with them so he came home.
Another issue is many of the police force do not want to carry weapons, but they do want to be police officers.
I am sure there is a way to accomodate both as they are not the military.
Having a firearm & using it is a huge responsibility & as the Australian security guards found over the weekend it has consequences. One guard was shot dead in a bungled armed robbery & a firearm taken from one of the guards.
That is what those in the NZ security industry without adequate training or experience with firearms have to think about. We do need them in some roles but who should be allowed to use them is another matter.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Monday, June 7, 2010
Racism & Security. How does it affect us?
Kia Ora,
In the last week or so there have being articles referring to racism often in our newspapers. So how does racism affect those in security?
First there is the racial abuse you get when carrying out your tasks. As a very pale Maori I probably hear it more than most as many will look at my skin colour & I either get confided in as to "those so & so's (of what ever colour)" or get abused as someone I am not.
But when dealing with drunks it is often the first thing that you hear.
Then you have the other side of the equation which I was surprised to hear from Sir Ian Mckellen's meeting (as outlined in an article in the Sunday Star-Times) with our former PM after he expressed the sentiments of how great we are intergrated in terms of race. I agree with the PM's sentiments that actually we are a very racist country.
Much of it only comes out at certain times as issues such as the Foreshore & Seabed legislation. It is just more understated than in most countries. Generally most people get on, but then an issue comes up & the most common words you hear are "I am not a racist but..."
I was aware a little of it after I left school, but then going in the army where overall everyone is green & we actually make it a bit of a joke to call each other by what would be regarded as racist remarks in civvy street, I just did not realize how bad it was until leaving.
As the world financial crisis bites & forecast to worsen then the acts of crime or violence in regards to race will increase.
Only on Friday night in Queenstown, two individuals from other cities within NZ were arrested for a series of attacks on tourists.
These attacks have racist overtones, just by the fact of the two cities these two individuals come from are considered the two main cities with white power connections & themselves often have attacks on tourists.
So in the security industry we will see this more & more as part of what we have to confront.
With the Rugby World Cup 2011 apparently going to be held in NZ, it is something that has to be confronted, but like everything else since NZ is spread out with a low population, it doesn't appear that bad, so no one does anything.
But then as someone pointed out in an article recently when they did the math on a per capita basis NZ had a higher death toll due to car accidents than China.
We also have the second highest percentage of people in prison in the industrialized world.
The racial taunts we all generally develop a way to deal with it.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
In the last week or so there have being articles referring to racism often in our newspapers. So how does racism affect those in security?
First there is the racial abuse you get when carrying out your tasks. As a very pale Maori I probably hear it more than most as many will look at my skin colour & I either get confided in as to "those so & so's (of what ever colour)" or get abused as someone I am not.
But when dealing with drunks it is often the first thing that you hear.
Then you have the other side of the equation which I was surprised to hear from Sir Ian Mckellen's meeting (as outlined in an article in the Sunday Star-Times) with our former PM after he expressed the sentiments of how great we are intergrated in terms of race. I agree with the PM's sentiments that actually we are a very racist country.
Much of it only comes out at certain times as issues such as the Foreshore & Seabed legislation. It is just more understated than in most countries. Generally most people get on, but then an issue comes up & the most common words you hear are "I am not a racist but..."
I was aware a little of it after I left school, but then going in the army where overall everyone is green & we actually make it a bit of a joke to call each other by what would be regarded as racist remarks in civvy street, I just did not realize how bad it was until leaving.
As the world financial crisis bites & forecast to worsen then the acts of crime or violence in regards to race will increase.
Only on Friday night in Queenstown, two individuals from other cities within NZ were arrested for a series of attacks on tourists.
These attacks have racist overtones, just by the fact of the two cities these two individuals come from are considered the two main cities with white power connections & themselves often have attacks on tourists.
So in the security industry we will see this more & more as part of what we have to confront.
With the Rugby World Cup 2011 apparently going to be held in NZ, it is something that has to be confronted, but like everything else since NZ is spread out with a low population, it doesn't appear that bad, so no one does anything.
But then as someone pointed out in an article recently when they did the math on a per capita basis NZ had a higher death toll due to car accidents than China.
We also have the second highest percentage of people in prison in the industrialized world.
The racial taunts we all generally develop a way to deal with it.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Good Security: It does exist!
Kia Ora,
Alot of my security blogs are about the need for the NZ security industry to bring itself up to speed.
But that is not to say there is not good security companies here. Today there was an interview with an operator from a company which I was aware of having good standards.
The operator also naturally had good standards as he comes from outside NZ so understands good security.
There is also one good events security company, but it is good for the NZ environment as I often tell its owner for the Rugby World cup 2011 it is a whole new step up in level & in particular mindset.
There are a lot of good people who have left the industry because they have being punished for actually carrying out security.
So there are individuals, companies that do provide real security, but it needs the powers that be to recognize that the industry as a whole needs to improve & that does not always mean carrying out some recognized course or a course based on how people perform in the class room.
Security is a physical profession that should value experience & skills people bring to it.
Training is of course needed, but as couple of stories from Iraq reminds me, courses are not always the answer.
Two individuals with time in Iraq had to attend a course prior to starting with their new company. The drills taught were the standard body guard drills with national variations, but in one incident they told the story where they stood & laughed.
The Instructor said "I don't like your attitude" or words to that effect, but these two just replied " you do that in Baghdad, just roll out the extra body bags" or words to that effect.
Second story is about a group of higly qualified instructors arriving in Baghdad to take a newly required course & after the first session been basically told to f... off by the staff they were training as it might have its place in some environments, but not in Baghdad.
Bodyguard training as I received from experienced operators in NZ on a formal NZQA course gave you a base, but when you are required to do the real thing it quickly becomes obvious that each situation requires a totally different approach.
On return I was offered an upgrade for free with assessment by an instructor as my level had never being tested on a practical basis.
First issue with NZ training industry was on a couple of courses you were, but most you were not so standards were different. We had been tested to a practical level.
The other issue is having that experience & higher skill level, how does someone without it understand where you are coming from or assess you?
It is something the military in many countries have found over the years when soldiers come back from operations & stay in the military they then go on promotion courses & when told something will not work, calmly reply "well it did in so & so" & it can not be argued that it does not work. But it does cause issues for instructors.
That is why some military courses changed their stance on tactics & you could not fail on tactics. A successful tactic is one that works, no matter how crazy it might seem in the light of day.
We also seen though that systems can be too inflexible if people don't have that wider mindset to see where each fits.
http://www/foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Alot of my security blogs are about the need for the NZ security industry to bring itself up to speed.
But that is not to say there is not good security companies here. Today there was an interview with an operator from a company which I was aware of having good standards.
The operator also naturally had good standards as he comes from outside NZ so understands good security.
There is also one good events security company, but it is good for the NZ environment as I often tell its owner for the Rugby World cup 2011 it is a whole new step up in level & in particular mindset.
There are a lot of good people who have left the industry because they have being punished for actually carrying out security.
So there are individuals, companies that do provide real security, but it needs the powers that be to recognize that the industry as a whole needs to improve & that does not always mean carrying out some recognized course or a course based on how people perform in the class room.
Security is a physical profession that should value experience & skills people bring to it.
Training is of course needed, but as couple of stories from Iraq reminds me, courses are not always the answer.
Two individuals with time in Iraq had to attend a course prior to starting with their new company. The drills taught were the standard body guard drills with national variations, but in one incident they told the story where they stood & laughed.
The Instructor said "I don't like your attitude" or words to that effect, but these two just replied " you do that in Baghdad, just roll out the extra body bags" or words to that effect.
Second story is about a group of higly qualified instructors arriving in Baghdad to take a newly required course & after the first session been basically told to f... off by the staff they were training as it might have its place in some environments, but not in Baghdad.
Bodyguard training as I received from experienced operators in NZ on a formal NZQA course gave you a base, but when you are required to do the real thing it quickly becomes obvious that each situation requires a totally different approach.
On return I was offered an upgrade for free with assessment by an instructor as my level had never being tested on a practical basis.
First issue with NZ training industry was on a couple of courses you were, but most you were not so standards were different. We had been tested to a practical level.
The other issue is having that experience & higher skill level, how does someone without it understand where you are coming from or assess you?
It is something the military in many countries have found over the years when soldiers come back from operations & stay in the military they then go on promotion courses & when told something will not work, calmly reply "well it did in so & so" & it can not be argued that it does not work. But it does cause issues for instructors.
That is why some military courses changed their stance on tactics & you could not fail on tactics. A successful tactic is one that works, no matter how crazy it might seem in the light of day.
We also seen though that systems can be too inflexible if people don't have that wider mindset to see where each fits.
http://www/foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Friday, June 4, 2010
Will a Forum Make a difference?
Kia Ora,
It has been announced that a Forum has been created to combat crime during the Rugby world Cup.
It maybe the Cynic in me but I am not sure what this group will actually achieve.
I believe the camel is described as a horse designed by a committee.
The impressive list of groupings named in this forum all have their own agendas & from experience in dealing with a few of them there is very little likelyhood of any real solutions, but there will be a lovely talk fest.
Now before 'Mr Angry' gets upset I will detail in broad terms my dealings that have brought me to those conclusions.
In one of the major groupings involved the people on the ground have the answers, but it is appearing more & more often its top level seem to be out of touch with them. That comes from talking to those on the ground.
Shortly after leaving the NZ army & entering the security industry I carried out a good old fashioned military appreciation of a major local issue at the time, came up with a solution. When presented to this group, which would of saved their industry thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollar's, their reply was we don't do that.
Funny thing is I got different replies from different members of that group each contradicting the other.
Another member of the forum basically required me to drop my standards or they would not deal with me & their standards are supposedly gained from another member of the forum.
These two also require no criticism of members of their associations. If there is no criticism or frank discussions then there is no way people can move forward.
In fact that is another major difference between those coming from the military & those in the civilian environment, especially in the NZ security industry.
It is not uncommon for you to achieve your aim, then look to see how you could of carried it out better, where as your civilian counterpart thinks it is all Ok because it was successful.
Not only do I suspect it will be not that successful, but it will bring methods of crime that usually take time to get to NZ shores here much qucker than normal.
Considering the average attitude in NZ is that we are too small & too far away those sort of crimes or as I often emphasize terrorist attacks will never get here, unless something is done that is different from the norm then Crime will accelerate even greater than it will due to the worsening economic conditions.
Not to mention the fact there in the last few years there has being a rise in crime against tourists.
Visitors to the country need to be aware that though the country appears nice & safe, appearances can be deceiving & they have to take the same precautions they would at home.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
It has been announced that a Forum has been created to combat crime during the Rugby world Cup.
It maybe the Cynic in me but I am not sure what this group will actually achieve.
I believe the camel is described as a horse designed by a committee.
The impressive list of groupings named in this forum all have their own agendas & from experience in dealing with a few of them there is very little likelyhood of any real solutions, but there will be a lovely talk fest.
Now before 'Mr Angry' gets upset I will detail in broad terms my dealings that have brought me to those conclusions.
In one of the major groupings involved the people on the ground have the answers, but it is appearing more & more often its top level seem to be out of touch with them. That comes from talking to those on the ground.
Shortly after leaving the NZ army & entering the security industry I carried out a good old fashioned military appreciation of a major local issue at the time, came up with a solution. When presented to this group, which would of saved their industry thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollar's, their reply was we don't do that.
Funny thing is I got different replies from different members of that group each contradicting the other.
Another member of the forum basically required me to drop my standards or they would not deal with me & their standards are supposedly gained from another member of the forum.
These two also require no criticism of members of their associations. If there is no criticism or frank discussions then there is no way people can move forward.
In fact that is another major difference between those coming from the military & those in the civilian environment, especially in the NZ security industry.
It is not uncommon for you to achieve your aim, then look to see how you could of carried it out better, where as your civilian counterpart thinks it is all Ok because it was successful.
Not only do I suspect it will be not that successful, but it will bring methods of crime that usually take time to get to NZ shores here much qucker than normal.
Considering the average attitude in NZ is that we are too small & too far away those sort of crimes or as I often emphasize terrorist attacks will never get here, unless something is done that is different from the norm then Crime will accelerate even greater than it will due to the worsening economic conditions.
Not to mention the fact there in the last few years there has being a rise in crime against tourists.
Visitors to the country need to be aware that though the country appears nice & safe, appearances can be deceiving & they have to take the same precautions they would at home.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Green Zone Changes hands!
Kia Ora,
Well the news has come through that the last part of the 'Green Zone' in Baghdad Iraq has changed hands & the US has handed control over to the Iraqi forces.
In the article I read from the 'TheTimes' an Iraqi MP points out that one of the issues for the US is they used to lock themselves in the Green Zone & never really learnt about Iraqi culture or the people.
For those of us that worked there is was one of the first things we noticed & been Kiwis, in particular ex military it was one of the things our military was always big on, cultural awareness.
It also helped that we understood much of the Iraqi tribal culture probably better than anyone else as it was often similar to Maori Culture.
Arab time is on a slower scale than Maori time we know that for sure.
The article though is inaccurate in parts about the Green Zone. Not all parts had 24 hour electricity, there were an estimated 30,000 Iraqis living in there & it wasn't always that safe. That wasn't just from the the mortars, rockets or suicide bombers at the gates either.
Most of my time was spent in the so called 'Red' zone & apart from the fact you were isolated, in the most part you felt safer, but you had to be ready.
So coming back to NZ were does that fit in with security here?
At times in security you have to deal with those living on the street or in an emotional state & so it can be very similar to applying the cultural awareness. You give the most respect to those who have the least.
In the first instance that is how you approach the issue, but it does not always work out that way.
The Skills required are similar or in most cases the same, it is how you apply it that is different. Most of all experience counts. But you always have to be ready.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Well the news has come through that the last part of the 'Green Zone' in Baghdad Iraq has changed hands & the US has handed control over to the Iraqi forces.
In the article I read from the 'TheTimes' an Iraqi MP points out that one of the issues for the US is they used to lock themselves in the Green Zone & never really learnt about Iraqi culture or the people.
For those of us that worked there is was one of the first things we noticed & been Kiwis, in particular ex military it was one of the things our military was always big on, cultural awareness.
It also helped that we understood much of the Iraqi tribal culture probably better than anyone else as it was often similar to Maori Culture.
Arab time is on a slower scale than Maori time we know that for sure.
The article though is inaccurate in parts about the Green Zone. Not all parts had 24 hour electricity, there were an estimated 30,000 Iraqis living in there & it wasn't always that safe. That wasn't just from the the mortars, rockets or suicide bombers at the gates either.
Most of my time was spent in the so called 'Red' zone & apart from the fact you were isolated, in the most part you felt safer, but you had to be ready.
So coming back to NZ were does that fit in with security here?
At times in security you have to deal with those living on the street or in an emotional state & so it can be very similar to applying the cultural awareness. You give the most respect to those who have the least.
In the first instance that is how you approach the issue, but it does not always work out that way.
The Skills required are similar or in most cases the same, it is how you apply it that is different. Most of all experience counts. But you always have to be ready.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Can a Leopard really change its Spots?
Kia Ora,
Well a few topics I could write about at moment, but will stick to one for the day.
In the newspaper (Christchurch Press) today was the mention that ENSOC (Engineering Students of Canterbury University) have held meetings with the Kaikoura District Council with a view to holding their infamous Undie 500 event to finish they hope in Kaikoura this year.
The ENSOC president said that this year they had plans to avoid the anti social behaviour that has plagued them in the past.
But does a Leopard really change its spots?
Having had a lot of experience(there's that word again) in events involving ENSOC, he may intend that, but there will be members of their organization that intend to live up to the book opposite.
They once rang me to provide security for an event. They stippulated the numbers, but having had recent experience of them, the numbers they quoted were about a quarter of what was needed, it needed to be cash up front (as the first thing they claim as the clamp goes down on their activities is say they will not pay) & we don't have full riot kit yet.
I recommended they call an events security company, but they didn't as they have never liked the way that company keeps a lid on them.
That is the answer to the issue. Make them pay for some good security & keep a lid on everything they do. The town shouldn't pay for them getting out of control.
So that would mean security guards on the streets of Kaikoura to ensure as much as possible things are kept a lid on.
The cost & security plan might just stop those that want to cause trouble showing up.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Well a few topics I could write about at moment, but will stick to one for the day.
In the newspaper (Christchurch Press) today was the mention that ENSOC (Engineering Students of Canterbury University) have held meetings with the Kaikoura District Council with a view to holding their infamous Undie 500 event to finish they hope in Kaikoura this year.
The ENSOC president said that this year they had plans to avoid the anti social behaviour that has plagued them in the past.
But does a Leopard really change its spots?
Having had a lot of experience(there's that word again) in events involving ENSOC, he may intend that, but there will be members of their organization that intend to live up to the book opposite.
They once rang me to provide security for an event. They stippulated the numbers, but having had recent experience of them, the numbers they quoted were about a quarter of what was needed, it needed to be cash up front (as the first thing they claim as the clamp goes down on their activities is say they will not pay) & we don't have full riot kit yet.
I recommended they call an events security company, but they didn't as they have never liked the way that company keeps a lid on them.
That is the answer to the issue. Make them pay for some good security & keep a lid on everything they do. The town shouldn't pay for them getting out of control.
So that would mean security guards on the streets of Kaikoura to ensure as much as possible things are kept a lid on.
The cost & security plan might just stop those that want to cause trouble showing up.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
How could of Israel handled this better?
Kia Ora,
Interesting development in the middleeast & emotions are running high on all sides.
So, how could of Israel handled this better? Basically this is a security issue & what works at the local level can be used at an international level.
First of all we need to look at the international law & if Israel was within its rights to intervene whilst the ships were still in international waters.
They could point to the British torpeding of the General Belgrano during the Falklands war, but then the Belgrano was a heavy warship heading into a war zone so it is not comparing apples with apples.
In local law the situation is much the same. As security we can not interfere with issues outside our area of responsibility unless life is in danger (or believed to be), the person has exited from our area & we have a responsiblity for their actions(people debate this but from a liability point of view I would say so) or as they are about to enter our area & for some reason we have to stop them. We can though call the police or authorities to deal with their actions.
For the Israelis I would of taken the same look at things.
First let the convoy, after warnings, enter Israeli territorial waters thereby giving them legal & moral rights. Stop the convoy in force & search for weapons, which Israel has a legitimate right to be concerned about.
After a thorough search I would of then allowed them to continue as a gesture of goodwill & for humanitarian reasons.
Any resistance shown would be in breach of any laws & by their actions the Israelis would of shown they are not all hard & without reason.
In a local sense we don't usually have the powers of search, excpet if under certain acts of parliament (so usually a government department, not private security), but can enforce conditions of entry. Which means in practice you must consent to a bag search or not bring it in & there are ways in which it should be carried out.
To ensure there is no claim of favouritism then all people in both situations need to be treated the same.
Most people get very upset when security check small kids bags for alcohol, but they forget that first everyone must be treated the same & second the amount of alcohol adults put in childrens bags is astounding.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Interesting development in the middleeast & emotions are running high on all sides.
So, how could of Israel handled this better? Basically this is a security issue & what works at the local level can be used at an international level.
First of all we need to look at the international law & if Israel was within its rights to intervene whilst the ships were still in international waters.
They could point to the British torpeding of the General Belgrano during the Falklands war, but then the Belgrano was a heavy warship heading into a war zone so it is not comparing apples with apples.
In local law the situation is much the same. As security we can not interfere with issues outside our area of responsibility unless life is in danger (or believed to be), the person has exited from our area & we have a responsiblity for their actions(people debate this but from a liability point of view I would say so) or as they are about to enter our area & for some reason we have to stop them. We can though call the police or authorities to deal with their actions.
For the Israelis I would of taken the same look at things.
First let the convoy, after warnings, enter Israeli territorial waters thereby giving them legal & moral rights. Stop the convoy in force & search for weapons, which Israel has a legitimate right to be concerned about.
After a thorough search I would of then allowed them to continue as a gesture of goodwill & for humanitarian reasons.
Any resistance shown would be in breach of any laws & by their actions the Israelis would of shown they are not all hard & without reason.
In a local sense we don't usually have the powers of search, excpet if under certain acts of parliament (so usually a government department, not private security), but can enforce conditions of entry. Which means in practice you must consent to a bag search or not bring it in & there are ways in which it should be carried out.
To ensure there is no claim of favouritism then all people in both situations need to be treated the same.
Most people get very upset when security check small kids bags for alcohol, but they forget that first everyone must be treated the same & second the amount of alcohol adults put in childrens bags is astounding.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
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