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