Saturday, July 31, 2010

Bureaucratic Corruption destroying the country & promoting Crime!

Kia Ora,

New Zealand likes to see itself as not corrupt, but it depends on your view.

In this country it is common for large businesses & in particular government departments to deal with situations by finding any excuse at all to do nothing.

Not as upfront as the so called corruption of the middle east where palms are often greased to get things done. But in reality that is just a way of doing business that has worked successfully for several thousand years.

The last few days has probably shown how bureaucartic corruption contributes to crime in the best way possible.

In recent months locally there have been a series of potholes appear in the well used local road. The solution has been to send work crews to continually fill in holes as they appear, even though anyone with an ounce of common sense can see the whole road needs to be resealed(despite it obviously done at lowest tender the year before).

The workers have even engaged in an hour long debate on the phone trying to convince someone higher up the chain that they are wasting money & time.

But the last couple of days have beat even that.

After three days of frost & not even bad frosts or from what could be seen black ice, suddenly trucks appeared midday yesterday & started laying grit on the corners & leading up to the corners.

This was despite the forecasts had been frost each of the last three days but none today. Yes the forecasts are not that accurate, but have been pretty on the mark this week.

First thing that happened within 15 minutes of the first grit being laid was cars were trying to carryout doghnuts on the loose material. Right then you knew it was going to be a busy night for Christchurch's boyracers.

So it proved with them adopting a new version of their new tactics. Recently instead of large groupings known as diesels vehicles have travelled in two's & three's but last night it was groups of up to 7 vehicles with the first one carrying out doghnuts/burnouts as the rest slowed before moving off to next position on their circuit.

But just to prove that the bureaucrats have no idea what they are doing most of today involved a street sweeeping truck getting rid of the grit, even though forecasts are for initially frost tomorrow, that now having changed to Monday morning.

The Corruption occurs where there is now insistance even by police communications for absolute proof of something happening or about to happen. By been totally reactive as opposed to proactive they allow crime even at the low levels to grow. All criminals start somewhere & it is not uncommon to see the group tagging one minute breaking into cars or even bashing people the next.

Of course the NZ Security Industry contributes to this by constantly telling people to ignore crime or suspicious activity. Often because the people in the supervisory roles have no idea what security really is.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Friday, July 30, 2010

Search & Surveillance Bill! How should we make the best use of it?

Kia Ora,

Over the last wee while have being involved in a debate with people who want to stop the Search & Surveillance Bill going through in the New Zealand Parliament.

First issue is are the provisions in this bill required?

Looking at it from a security point of view, yes!

At the present point of time all the advantages are with those committing crime or planning terrorist activities.

The concerns are that the provisions will be abused.

Of course like any law once passed they are always open to abuse, especially if they have been badly put together.

That is where those that oppose it should be putting their energy.

Recent events in the US in particular have shown that even if you stop a bill like this, its provisions will appear in another bill, often not related. In NZ the usual action is put something contraversial in front of parliament & whilst everyone is arguing over that, sneak something else through under urgency.

For example some surveillance facets have allegedly shown up in new powers given to the US Federal Reserve & in another unrelated bill taxing of gold bullion has allegedly shown up.

Even the forming of the US Federal Reserve itself was by the renaming of a previously rejected bill.

The point here is you either make the bill work & ensure there are good checks & balances or risk having it show up somewhere else without a good look at it.

As I have recently made a point of is the proposed new Security Personnel Bill is only good as toilet paper, but that doesn't say I don't think we need a new bill. In fact I have been arguing for it since entering the NZ Security Industry in 1997.

The danger here though is that the powers that be will go with the pieces of toilet paper put together under the previous government & when things go wrong there will be a knee jerk reaction & another totally unworkable law will emerge.

It is better if those proposed bills, as pointed out, are worked through to ensure they are not only workable but also have the right checks & balances in place.

Then properly used they will make the country a safer place to live.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Omagh! Could the same happen here?

Kia Ora,

Always looking to learn from others & in particular mistakes they have made or incidents they have faced.

So it was interesting to watch the doco drama on Maori TV about the bombing in Omagh(Northern Ireland) by the Real IRA.

Though the programme dealt very much with the effects on the families of those who lost someone to the bombing & the political process. I was more interested in the initial response by the authorities & how it would compare to a likely NZ response.
My understanding of Omagh has always been that a hoax bomb alert was called in, resulting in an evacuation to an area obviously identified by the bombers as an area outside the cordon, which they then detonated a vehicle bomb.

The Doco though gave the impression that the message was not that clear & some confusion existed as to where the actual bomb was. This may of been deliberate.

What it showed though that a common tactic used by terrorist groups was able to be employed on this occassion. That is placing a bomb or a secondary device (as shown in Hurt Locker) where groups such as those evacuated or responding services would gather.

In this instance probably what caught them out was the use of the recognized codewords the IRA used. The IRA starting using those to ensure they got their message across but to limit innocent casualties as they had found that counter productive to their cause.

So how would the response I saw on the Doco play out in NZ?

First point is the way in which the Irish people took the news. Bloody nusiance but best we move on. No arguments with the police. In NZ though most might move when informed of a bomb threat, many would argue. It would be yes those people next door have to move but my place is more important or I have important stuff to do.

The next issue is one I have raised before & that is the evacuation procedures which I know from both experience & anecdotal information can range from up to date to nothing more than a fire drill. Of course a fire drills actions are very different from a bomb threat.

Another area I have raised before is the areas where people gather whilst the threat is been dealt with. As shown in recent alerts so far nobody seems to have learnt the lesson & probably won't until something goes bang to control this part of the process.

As the recent incident here in Christchurch showed, both police & the public in one big huddle at the edge of the cordon. From the Doco the impression is that is exactly where they placed the vehicle bomb in Omagh, on the edge where they thought the cordon would be.

NZ is just a terrorist attack waiting to happen. Those sort of groupings are even more of a target for suicide bombers.

Won't happen in New Zealand! As the advert goes. Yeah Right! Given the opportunity.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Information & what to do with it?

Kia Ora,

The Wikileaks expose on information from the US military has caused some red faces, but really had some of that information been used better when it presented the view of the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan might be slightly different.

Whether the information would of made those views more favourable now, no one knows.

As I see it there are different ways you can use the information.

What I see as the US way. Deny anything happened. For many incidents in Iraq it was often denied as a US soldier never saw it & even if they did, the incident just didn't happen despite 100's & sometimes 1000's witnessing something.

In someways similar to what you get when calling NZ police communications about suspicious activity. Often those calls are based on knowing your area or experience, but nothing is done until you have satisfied their piece of paper. Known as other end itis in where one has little idea what the other is seeing or reporting.

This backfires when the opposition (in particular Al Qaeda) video it taking place & the internet allows easy posting of incidents or as has happened on Wikileaks & someone leaked to them a large amount of embarrassing information.

Some would say another way is that where you give out some of the information but twist it to your favour & that has also been used in Iraq & Afghanistan, but again it can backfire.

It is an approach the police use,but for different reasons as they need to keep some of it quiet for legal reasons.

Then you can be completely truthful. Unfortunately in a war that can get people killed & with policing it can affect your case in court.

It is more what you do with the information at the time received, but as the recently released report on US Intelligence quoted people saying. There was just too much information for them.


This means at lower levels information needs to be processed & acted on. In theory with computers etc it should be easier for all information to be feed in & updated assessments made.

But a computer doesn't have the instinct a human has based usually on experience. The Police often solve crimes based on a hunch. Security Guards do the same when dealing with crime & the military do the same on patrol & it is all based on experience & information gained on the ground.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Fear rules the Security Industry!

Kia Ora,

Normally I don't like to publish anonymous comments especially if they are taking a swipe at you with out the facts to back them up, but the other day i received a comment in support of what I am saying on these blogs.

Why I published them was to show I am not the only one saying this within the industry.

Also the fact that someone in the NZ Security Industry will not put their name to supporting what I say, is many want to carryout real security, but are prevented by the companies. If their name was published they would be out of a job & more often than not on already low wages they have a family to support.

Although my company has not been succesful to this stage, what I do have is the freedom to comment on the industry as I & others see it.

There is no regard for staff health & safety for most, no regard to actual security. More often than not the NZ Security Industry has no idea what security is.

They bank on the fear of people wanting to keep their jobs for information not to leak out & the fact that in NZ a security guard is regarded at the very bottom of the food chain, despite many being extremely bright & commtitted to the profession.
Although that is mainly what I have seen in Christchurch, the observations made when travelling or talking to people from other areas show there is no difference in the rest of New Zealand.

That there is the same people showing up in control of the industry shows that there will be no change until something happens like a few deaths.

The Stampede in Germany, although NZ is not likely to have those numbers yet in one place, asks the question how would NZ security or crowd control handle a similar situation. From experience I would say not well at all.

Wikileaks has let the cat out of the bag on the US operations in Afghanistan & I am well aware of similar things happening in Iraq whilst working there, but it is no different to the NZ Security Industry on a much smaller scale. The secrets it knows not only of its clients but within the industry itself would shock most people.

The Industry counts again on that fear keeping people from commenting openly in a way that will bring change.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Do they really care about anyone else or themselves for that matter?

Kia Ora,

Following on from yesterday's Blog I thought we should look at the attitude of the groups like 'boyracers' & use the footage I shot of the 'girlracers' here in Christchurch as an example.

As we experience life we realize that somethings we did when younger impacted on others in ways we didn't think off. No different today until you look at whether they really care about anybody else or themselves. In fact as one of the females in the video showed with her abuse, they think that you have no right for interferring with their criminal activities.

Just yesterday I bumbped into an ex army comrade & we actually discussed this issue. They were talking about how they got caught in the middle of a cruise heading home, a 4WD pulled out in amongst road works & started knocking down all the cones etc. This person exited their vehicle, took the registration of the 4WD & called police. The Plates were not of that vehicle, they then copped a lot of abuse from the vehicles behind them,in particular the young women in one vehicle. Called this person a looser.
Looser? Excuse me but this person has served in New Zealand's Military & is reporting a crime that could result in someones death. that is more than those abusing them have done for the country I would bet.

The same when you look at the car & more importantly the occupants in the video.

First the female urinating in the bushes on the business premises. This impacts on businesses as it is not good for clients or prospective clients to arrive to then smell urine or in some cases worse(something clients need to think of when employing security guards, no toilet they have to go somewhere as holding it in can result in a hernia-I know because that is what surgeon said probably caused the one I had operated on a few years ago).

For the female on the other side of the fence it was actually worse if she had taken into account her own safety.

That area is often frequented by small groups of mainly males, tagging or using it as a shortcut especially at 0120(1.20am). So there is the first threat. The second is that about a foot behind her were some railway tracks that many think are basically unused, but are used almost daily at any time of the day or night for shunting carriages into a siding for loading.

Then of course, once caught they decided to drive off with their lights off putting other road users at risk as well as themselves. They are at fault here not me for catching them. Just like the NZ police when you are signalled to pull over for whatever reason. You are in the wrong if you run from police, not the police!

It is quite obvious when you deal constantly with these people that as far as they are concerned, no one else has rights but them. This is a whole new mindshift from previous generations, where though people bucked the need to conform, they still showeed respect for others.

The PC crowd need to get out & see the real world. It is not nice & been touchy feely will not fix the issues. Those that are causing the issues have no regard for your PC ways. They actually think you are a joke, but will take all the outs you give them & run with them. At least that is my experience mainly here in Christchurch.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

How targeting the little things will impact on crime!

Kia Ora,

The new anti crusing bylaw here in Christchurch as predicted has not stopped the antics of the boyracer community, but it has broken up the big groups in the designated areas or appears too.

In saying that you could hear a lot of vehilces in the city last night & also a lot of highpowered lone vehicles around & the occassional burnout.

But that is not just what gets people upset. It is the little crimes as Danny Watson on talkbackzb alluded too that are really getting under peoples skins.

Last night was sitting based in an area where a lot of minor crime has been occuring, when I heard a noise. Went outside & saw the car above sitting off the road, then noticed someone behind the fence on the railroad side of the fence.

Then there was a movement below me & a female stood up in bushes of business premises pulling her pants up.

Now many people say "oh but we did that" & "stop harrassing these guys they aren't so bad."

To the first point. Yes, most of us have urinated when caught short somewhere we shouldn't, but there is a difference.

As the police said when responding to one call on private property for burnouts, though they couldn't do much if they didn't move them on, toilet stops (& not just urinating as one public building found out when an event kept getting planned that these guys like to attach themselves too-it then had to post security guards to stop that) then becomes vandalism & if that is a business it costs or public property it costs the rate payers.

The other difference is when caught it used to be take the bollocking or kick up the pants from the police & move on. Very few used to abuse especially when you are the one in the wrong. Or as the saying goes "do the crime do the time."

After some more abuse from the lovely ladies (it appeared there were only the two of them) they then took off with lights off so I couldn't read their plates. Actually I could of, but decided to leave it, but they felt as this group does that I was in the wrong for outing their criminal acitivity then put peoples lives in danger by not turning their lights on.

As they left they passed the other boyracer vehicle that had parked up after seeing them. Two more were out urinating & one of them could hardly stand up although that is not that apparent in the video footage.

He also had at least a six pack with him. He pulled that after throwing something at the other vehicle as it drove past, probably his empty bottle judding from the mess you usually find around their stops.

Some of this group is supposed to bright, even having law degrees where the information is coming from on how to avoid paying fines, if scuttlebutt is right.

Obviously they haven't found the law if it is still there, which allows you to urinate on the left hand rear wheel of your vehicle.

How do I know that little bit of useless information. One of two escorts for a person caught urinating when in the NZ army by a Military Policeman(MP).

The MP's evidence included that little gem when outlining the accussed's actions. It caused much mirth in the orderly room & a bollocking from the Sergeant Major through his guffaws.

These little crimes are definitely what upset people & experience shows that if you don't stop these little crimes then down the track it leads to bigger & bigger crimes as people tend to think they can't be touched. In fact you often get told that when dealing with people or hear the police been told it when arresting someone.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Saturday, July 24, 2010

The world works in mysterious ways alright!

Kia Ora,

Well after my last blog thought there might be some comment about Intelligence(intel) as it is a much bigger topic than you can cover in a blog.

But to prove the world works in mysterious ways an email arrived which showed a lack on intel. But gives me some intel to work on.

Not sure the email is a scam but it points to possible scams & raises scam issues with domain names.

Shortly after I bought the domain name foxhoundsecurity.co.nz a scam appeared foxhoundsecuritycards but obviously someone didn't do their research & birthday or well wishes cards don't go with a security business, so it seemed to drop off the radar.

The email I have received stated that an entitiy had applied to buy a number of domains including .com connected to foxhoundsecurity.

Of course said I didn't know the entity applying & it didn't worry me as they couldn't use them to gain work in NZ.

Received a reply stating that there were three possibilities.

First they were a group buying up the domains to sell back to me. This is known as domaining & can be profitable.

The fact that someone is buying domains connected with my company name or trying to scam tells me that through these blogs & other social media the company is getting some traction even if it hasn't translated into much in the way of cash flow yet.

It also tells me they don't know my plans as well as they may think they do. Foxhound Security Ltd & my other company Red Diamond Security Services Ltd were only ever planned to be used in NZ.

As they come under NZ security law, that law & the new bill are totally inadequate for overseas work. In fact the new bill is only good for use as toilet paper as it goes backwards 40 years instead of forward 35-40.

The next claim is a competitor of mine here in NZ will use them to confuse people & impact on my companies.
NZ laws in regards this sort of behaviour can be quite severe if caught.

Also if another entity in NZ claims to be Foxhound Security Ltd they will likely be in breach of the companies act, but also the P.I. & S.G. act 1974. Although the act is not good from a security point of view it does protect any entity who has a licence (sole trader or company) as only one entity can work security in NZ under that name.

This I know because someone with a similar background set up a company as Red Diamond Security Ltd but never licensed it or the person who set up the company for them never checked that the name was already protected by me in the industry. It was the person who set it up we had to deal with & they were quite bolshie to deal with on the issue, even though I wished to talk to the person behind the company.

In the end it was dealt with by reporting it to the registrar.

Currently breach of this provision can result in a $2500 fine & more importantly a ban for five years of holding a license. The fine is due to rise.

I am often critical of the NZ Security Industry of not providing security, but one thing you can not acuse most of them of, in particular the big players, is not been good business people.

They would not risk loosing the ability to work in the industry over the potential my companies will come good in time. At present the businesses are just too small.

The third possibility they put forward was this foreign entity was going to use these names to trade off Foxhound Security Ltd's good name & use the system I have set up.

Well I think it is a good idea but it hasn't succeeded yet & no one really knows the full system, but myself. Though I did say they could invest in it if they wanted too, as it needs that or to grow at its own pace.

Of course there is a fourth possibility is the person who has contacted me & says Foxhound Security can dispute the issue of the domain names is looking for money to start that 'process'.

Still again as I say this intel tells me that the social media is starting to get the company name to be noticed. I am aware that for one search for a particular area of security service the company now comes up in the first page of google search.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Intelligence! What is it & how is it useful?

Kia Ora,

There is the standing joke that Military intelligence is an oxy moron as it doesn't really exist.

But properly provided information can build a good intelligence picture to allow you to defeat the enemy in a military sense or impact on crime in the civilian world.

The problem is what is intelligence & how to use it?

What was noticeable in Iraq was the US preponderence on electronic intelligence over human intelligence (either from 'spies' or those on the ground). At one part we were told that nothing happened unless it was witnessed by a US soldier(that was later extended to coalition soldier).

More than once we, as private security reported suspicious activity on the entrances to the Green Zone, only to be ignored by the US soldiers. Each time within a day or two there would be a suicide bombing at that gate.

I see now since 9/11 the US has developed so many conflicting intelligence gathering organizations, both government & private, that most of the reports are not even read. Much of the information gathered is an exact duplication of another groups & the plan to co ordinate is not happening.

In fact it is so bad that they believe the US has actually made itself less safe as so far attempts of terrorist attacks have been thwarted by normal citizens not the vaunted intelligence network.

It seems to be the same here in NZ when you call in suspicious activity to the police. Those answering the phones at police communications have no idea that those small bits of information going into their system help make up the intelligence picture of an area.

In the late 80's I was taught a very important lesson in what intelligence is & how it is best used.

The I.O. (Intelligence Officer) of our unit had come from the British army. As part of virtually whole of army exercise we were expecting good intelligence, but all we were getting from upline was a summary of the major incidents that we all knew about anyway.

What the I.O. had done though was have his whole cell bring some civilians up. He then had them out talking to locals about information. After each contact with the enemy by our unit, he would interview those involved to get the little things like tactics used, weapons & clothes.
Those were the things that were not coming through, but told us a lot about the enemy.

It is no difference when dealing with crime. If you first go into say a static security guard job (were you are confined to the one site) it is good to note things that seem suspicious or just general activity.

Then you start to see the things that are out of the norm.

When can this be of use?

The NZ police like police everywhere are for ever asking for information if an incident happens. By having those small suspicious incidents noted it builds immediately a picture of what was out of place at the time. The initial reports also allow the police to get a picture of normal activity in that area.

It is still all intelligence & often the most important parts. It is not often the smoking gun that will be found, but the out of place comment or suspicious incident could be what is needed to get an arrest.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

When will Security Guards be seen as People?

Kia Ora,

By Security Guards I am talking about anybody in the NZ Security Industry because in New Zealand everyone is refered to as a guard.

Why this question?

Well last week we had figures for injuries of Police & Corrections officers, this week the likelyhood of Ambulance officers been given stab proof vests as assaults increase.

But when talking to OSH after my attack they put it down to an assault, so it was a police issue. I pointed out it was also a work place issue for security as all these other groups have statistics, but not the security industry.

Part of that is the attitude of the industry (many regard the injuries from a weekends work at bars as a work out), part companies not acknowledging any injuries (to the extent that they won't even acknowledge ACC payments or have forms for injuries) & part society not regarding security as even people at times.

As far as many people are concerned security is untrained labour. Much of security is about experience, often that means getting things wrong & learning from them the hard way.

Over the weekend I was talking to some security guards, one who has brought his own stab vest, another was looking to buy his own(as most have too & the rest don't think they need it) as one of them came past for another check on his patrol he received a call. His mate had gone into a check at a location where they had been threatened by a group of people in the past. A vehicle had followed them in & comms had been lost.

In the end it was just some miscommunication, but the average security guard is often first to dangerous situations & more often than not alone.
Safety Watch: Conflict Resolution
They are also often left on site after a dangerous situation but get no recognition. For example what was not well documented was after the boy racers attacked a police vehicle in Christchurch over a year ago, a lone security guard was left to watch over the area once the police left.

The people in security are often passionate about the industry, but are never given enough recognition or protection.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Sunday, July 18, 2010

How does using the Aims of Patrolling impact on Crime?

Kia Ora,

Anyone who has looked at my advertising over the years or spoken to me will hear the comment that my entities practice Proactive Security using the Aims of Patrolling.

But what are the Aims of Patrolling & how do they impact on crime.

The Aims of Patrolling come from the military & have just been tweaked for the civilian environment.

There are Six aims & they are as follows;

1. Gain Information,

2. Deny Criminal elements Information,

3. Gain & Retain the initiative,

4. Make life uncomfortable for Criminal elements,

5. Provide Protection,

6. Provide Security.

Ok you will say my neighbourhood is not Baghdad, but the same principles used there are what you use to clean up your neighbourhood.

When you patrol in a military environment you are looking for suspicious items or people. No change in the civilian environment. That is what you achieve with the aims.

In fact it used to be here in NZ that you called in every suspicious incident you could & were actively encouraged to do so by the police as it had an impact on crime & to quote one officer a few years ago "cut down on the paper work."

The police say report it now, but the times they actually respond are few & often the questions make you feel like you are the criminal.

Even if the suspicious activity you called was not once investigated, it still put police in the area. That would have an impact on anyone thinking of carrying out crime.

But as has been alluded too on this blog of late, even crime in action doesn't get a reaction these days.

I can now understand why so many experienced police officers are looking for an out.

The other thing the Aims of Patrolling do is what they do for the military & allow you to dominate an area. When using this process it has resulted in a huge reduction in crime in the area.

Actually the first few days or weeks situated in an area can be all action until the word gets out that there are some real security in place. Then it gets very boring unless you have a lot of idiots (usually drunken) moving through.

Several years ago as part of a team, a mate & I were having such an impact on the crime in the area that the police said to him after one incident "at comms they have you & your mates cell phone numbers on file & everytime you are calling even suspicious activity a patrol car is now been dispatched."

Another night I managed to ensure two criminals were caught on that site within two hours of each other. It caused an issue as the police were dealing with an armed incident & the only available unit was still dealing with the first person I had assisted with.

The comments that night were "are you guys trying to clean up crime on your own?"

Just by taking notice of a little wider area than your immediate area can have an impact much greater than you realize.

Most people in the NZ Security Industry only look after their own immediate area because they know no better or they are told that is how they are to operate. Many good security guards leave because they are basically being told not to carryout security.

The military use the Aims of Patrolling as history shows many instances that if you withdraw into just your immediate area, as the NZ Security Industry does, you loose the initiative & allow the enemy/criminals to take the front foot.

It seems from recent interaction with Police communications, they have forgotten this & have become totally reactive in an attempt to make their KPI's (Key Point Indicator's) look good. That does not stop crime. It just records what has happened.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Saturday, July 17, 2010

What is the Story with Police Communications?

Kia Ora,

As I move to increase awareness of the new 0900 Suspicious service still take up sub contract work. Interesting couple of nights & then there is the joke that is called police comms.

But before we get to that a quick look at what we face on the streets & the blatant disregard of laws/common sense shown by New Zealanders especially in Christchurch.



For those that have never visited Christchurch there is these days an alcohol ban in place within what is known as the four avenues.

The above footage was a group of 12 very drunk individuals in blatant breach of the liquor ban.

It was a common theme throughout the two nights.

The first night the weather was atrocious & that seemed to be a signal for some of the worst driving in particular by taxis. Speeds estimated up to 100kmh, lane changes with no indication (a common issue in Christchurch), blocking fire engines, no lights on & if one incident stands out, it is the taxi pulling out with a fare into the path of a 4WD. Luckily the 4WD was one of the few doing the speed limit & had very good brakes.

One other was the cyclist dressed in dark clothing, no lights who cycled the wrong way up the one way street, initially to one side then as they went down the road, moving to the centre of the road. Only to be pulled up with a start on the second night by the police car that just happened to be at the lights.

Both nights there were large numbers of drunks in particular in large groups.

The one thing that took my breath away though was the call to Police communications.

There has been here in NZ a push on drink driving. On the second night, a vehicle parked in front of mine & two young females then got themselves ready to go out. Whilst they did that the driver started followed by the passenger to drink from bottles. The passenger's bottle looked very much like a bottle of alcohol, where as the driver's bottle markings looking similar to some Coca Cola bottles from a distance.

So I continued to observe. They then got out of the vehicle, asked a couple of questions & said we will be back in a couple of hours.

Whilst they were away the car was looked into & quite clearly could be seen were two bottles of alcohol. The driver's was half empty of what appeared to be some sort of red wine.

When these two women returned just over an hour later & left Police communications were called.

Registration was given, car make & model, description of pair in particular driver & types of alcohol. The only thing I didn't do beside pull them over was use my camera to video them drinking.

What was I told? "Oh we will pass on details but instead would you like to fill out the form so it can be followed up?" Form I know which ones as fill them out often, but for drink driving?

If it was so serious it would be a joke. In the last few weeks it seems that police communications has lost touch with what they are actually there for.

Good for me though as it will increase the frustration & people will start looking for other options like the 0900 Suspicious. If we are to tackle the crime that is increasing day by day, one of the first things that has to change is the the way police communications deal with calls.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Part 2 Solutions to our Crime Problems!

Kia Ora,

In the last wee while there have been a few discussions of how to curb our crime problem here in New Zealand.

Of course in the last few days that has grown with another attack on Police officers carrying out their duties.

One I have thrown in the pot is making the Auckland Islands a prison.

Of course the PC brigade would never allow it. But then they are out of touch with what works.

Several years ago there were many proposals of what to do with the old Addington Prison here in Christchurch.

The best I heard came from a former inmate. His idea was to leave it as it was then, slop buckets & all. Bring in a couple of old prison officers & a couple of old prisoners like him. Then every youngster caught out after midnight would get a night in there. Every young person committing crime would get a week in there.

They wouldn't touch them, but they would scare the shit out of them.

As he said "It won't stop everyone going bad as some you just can't change, but had someone done that to me I would not of gone to Paparua(prison)." That is someone who knows what is needed.

Another avenue that has to be looked at & not just given lip service is giving people coming out of prison a real chance.

That comes from a comment I received from a burglar I once caught & comments I have heard others have received in similar situations.

"Call the cops bro. At least in there I know where I stand. Came out with the intention of getting my life on track, but no one gives us a chance, especially those that go on about it. Best chances we get are from the cops."

He then went onto say that worst part about going back was having to listen to the do gooders say it was a result of his bad upbringing. "bro I know that but that is up to me to sort it out.
"
One of the issues raised in my last blog was hitting minor crime or suspicous activity, but last night is an example as to why it is not happening & why if it is left to the police they need better resources.

On the way home from a meeting last night I took the bus, as I headed back over a small walk way I found a chair at the bottom & a Sofa on top. Since it was too big for me to move & there was the issue of where to put it I rang police comms.

"Yes but have you seen someone lignt a fire or is that your thoughts?" "Its my Risk assessment."

Obviously the person I was talking too has not been watching the news for the last few years. Any police officer on the beat or security officer at an event can tell you when an old Sofa(couch) is carried somewhere, the only way it is leaving is after it has been burnt or removed by security/police.

So I expect that if left there the Sofa will be burnt & then the walk bridge will burn with it. All because police comms no longer have the knowledge to realize by reacting to these calls stops a crime further down the track.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

What are the Solutions to our growing Crime Problem?

Kia Ora,

Yesterday I got myself involved in the debate on talkback over arming of the police. Didn't really get my point across, but some of the points coming across from the host were very good, but only part of the equation.

The first good point Danny (Danny Watson newstalkzb) was making was part of the issue is hitting the small nuisance crime.
That is where again the 0900 Suspicious concept is aimed. But he is right that that is where you stop the crime going to another level further up the chain.

Only issue is lack of resources. It is not uncommon to ring police comms to be told there are no units available or if it is Suspicious been put through the third degree.

As I said in an earlier post we even got that when it was suspected an armed robbery was about to go down. Ex Police officer on site was sure it was about to happen if not then, then at end of nights events. Five hours later nothing so recalled as the event finished. Still nothing.

So Danny has a great point, but it needs some action from government for it to happen. In the short term it will cost money, but long term it will save money when you take into account the flow on effect of crime.

His next point was that the Judges have to get hard on crime. Too often the sentences handed down are nothing but a slap with a wet bus ticket & are ignored anyway.

I was told recently that many boy racers are paying their fines by Cheque which they make out for $5 more than the fine, hence the Ministry of Justice can not cash. So a loop hole has been found.

Judges are bound though by the requirement to be giving sentences in line with others given for similar crime.

One Judge I was aware of was being so hard in his sentences, they were all getting overturned. Then when he let a young person off with a lesser sentence instead of the preventitive detention he wanted to give, he was criticized when the young person went on to murder.

People are questioning why the government recently set a minimum sentence for attacks on the like of police. Well until Judges collectively raise the bar on punishments, a standard has to be set.

Danny's other point over the arming of police & where we disagreed was by just arming every officer won't stop the crime.

That part I agree, but it will stop arguments which then esculate. Overseas very few people argue with security & even less argue with armed police. In NZ virtually every person will argue with a police officer.

I am not in favour of general arming as if someone doesn't want to carry a weapon, it is no good forcing them as you would not be able to rely on them to pull the trigger when required. If they don't have one then you know before hand.

In fact the police could use that as part of their tactics. Unarmed officers do the talking first, leaving the armed officer to stand off a little in case the situation does esculate. It satisfies The ROE's (Rules of Engagement) as it allows a step up, but ready to act if it changes quickly.

It also means resources are focussed where they will be used.

Another point he made was been armed wouldn't help in a riot situation. True, but then obviously he never did Internal Security Training when part of the Terroritorial Army as main riot squad does leave their weapons behind or sling them, but you do deploy counter snipers.

Think that is over the top! The amount of shots you now hear, in particular at night here in Christchurch, is just mind blowing.

People go "oh it is only back firing" but back firing doesn't have three bangs in quick succession, they don't have a crack & thump as we called it in the military. It also doesn't have a ricoshet or leave little holes in windows.

Most of these are just randomly fired out of moving vehicles windows, so there is not much you or the police can do unless you have a registration number.

More recently the boy racers have shown they are not above using an air rifle at least against police & the modern air rifle can kill.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

So do we need to arm the New Zealand Police?

Kia Ora,

After yesterday's shooting of a police dog & two police officers debate has erupted again about arming the New Zealand Police force.

It is certainly dangerous enough out there to justify arming the NZ police & parts of the NZ security industry.

There are a lot of myths based around our police been armed. I have just heard a high ranking police officer say NZ police have never been armed full time.

Not exactly true.

As the NZ police maybe not but prior to being known as that they were called the armed constabulary.

It is the same with the security industry. It was armed until 1974 when the current act was put in place. In 1974 it might of seemed overkill having armed security, but these days to not have some armed in certain areas of the industry is shear bloody mindiness.



As I have said in a previous blog there are several issues to consider when looking at arming the police.

First is the training & resources required. To be accurate with say a pistol, requires a huge amount of training (a former British SAS member quoted at us in Iraq that to be confident with a pistol it needs to be drawn 6000 times in training to make it natural) but you can look at other weapons systems that will require initial in depth training, but less on going.

The officer I seen armed on the night I was beaten up had his pistol, that with his body armour on, could not of been drawn in a confident manner in a hurry. It was all about looks.



In NZ it all comes back to money.

If you have watched the 'Bill' you will have heard them refer to SO19 which talking to members of British Police are known as ARV's (Armed Response Vehicle's)which contain groups of permanently armed police officers. As opposed to the Keystone cops situation you get at present where the AOS (Armed Offenders Squad) are doing normal police duties until required.

That to me is best option for NZ, along with stepped up training for those officers who want to have access to firearms.

Of course that is another issue. Whilst the NZ Police Association argues for arming of police, not all their members think they should be.

It is actually quite a large number of police think they should remain unarmed. Percentages quoted today have ranged from 40-50%.



Having people with firearms that do not wish to use them is an issue. Solution is to not train these people at all in firearms use unless they later wish to change. It would free up training resources & time for those that are prepared to.

There should be no stigma to that choice as not everyone can face using a firearm. Even those with the training can have trouble pulling the trigger!

Said it before & will say it again & it has been said by many others with much more experience than me.

When you are fired at, it is quite easy to return fire. Just identify your target & fire. For a soldier your training kicks in & as soon as rounds are coming your way, you start looking to identify where they are coming from to return fire.



Where it gets harder is when you are in a situation like the police, the British in Northern Ireland or us working private security in Iraq & you have to in each situation go through the ROE's(Rules of Engagement or OFOF-orders for opening fire).

The military train in the BHL(Battle Handling Lessons) followed by BHE's(Battle Handling Exercise's) to ensure each person understands their legal obligations.



For example a person shoots your mate then turns & runs. Can you shoot them?

No or not unless they turnback towards you with weapon pointing(or starting too) back towards you. Then your life or those of those whom it is your duty to protect come under threat.

It is also not as easy to pull that trigger when you have to go through that thought process.

Not everyone can do it.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Monday, July 12, 2010

Time to Clamp down on all Crime!

Kia Ora,

It is time to clamp down on all crime! For those not familiar with NZ our police force is basically unarmed. This morning a police dog has being gunned down & two police officers wounded.

A lot of small crimes happen before we generally get to this stage.

That is in part why the 0900 Suspicious service was conceived to allow that 95% of crime that is not allegedly reported to the police to be impacted on.



Now where the figures of unreported crime came from are up for debate, but what isn't is the fact most crime does go unreported.

Right from the start you impact on crime in an area when it is know that someone is taking notice of suspicious or minor criminal activity.

Without statistics the politicians will say that crime is OK. They need to get out on the streets more.

Whats worse is the after this is all over the police officers who have been shot are probably going to be investigated as that is what society does now. Ask these people to put their lives on the line then question every action they take.



As a society we have to stand up & start taking responsibility so we can get back to a society we are proud of.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Is Security really one of the three Basic needs in life today?

Kia Ora,

They say that there are three basic needs in life. Food (& water), Shelter & Security.

But is Security really one of them in todays world?

You do have to wonder with recent events both here in New Zealand & in Britain as examples.



Just looking at what comes up in Amazon when you type in Basic needs of life you do really have to wonder.

In recent years it has become customary for any action taken by the police here in New Zealand to be questioned then at least four investigations take place.

Of course all actions need to be reviewed to see where or how it might of been carried out better, but as for all wasted times on exhaustive investigations when it is more often than not, quite plain the police acted in the right fashion.



Now after a gun man shot three people in the UK, threatened to shoot police & the general public there is first a facebook page supporting him even after he has shot himself & those police in the vicinity of him at that tme are under investigation.

So lets put ourselves in the line of fire to protect the public then get questioned over our actions. Sounds like the conditions the British Army in Northern Ireland operated under or we did even as private security in Iraq.



Then of course as the police vehicle who pulled over the crashed car here in Christchurch called it as a chase when vehicle took off, there is now an investigation.

Of what are they investigating?

It is simple. Vehicle took off, went through a red light then probably before the police vehicle had even started pursuit (if you know the area you know how short the distance travelled is to the crash site) it had crashed at high speed.

No police at fault so any investigation is a waste of time & money. It must also be having an effect on police morale.

This will come back to haunt us, if it already hasn't.

No one seems to want to support those that provide their security!

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Sunday, July 11, 2010

How bad is it getting out there?

Kia Ora,

I am old enough to remember when a murder or violent crime was huge news. These days they are becoming so common more often than not they get a little snippet on the side of the paper if mentioned at all.

So how bad is it getting out there?

Recent threats feed community fears.(Crime)(Reasons for two local incidents last month remain unclear, but some details emerge): An article from: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR)

There are now so many AOS(Armed Offenders Squad) call outs that it is time for these squads to be on full time alert.

That will mean a bigger budget, more resources & more man power as the police will need to replace their numbers on the street.

In the mean time crime is just increasing at an alarming rate.

An article in today's Sunday-Star Times tells of a huge increase in those living on the street. This will only lead to a further increase in crime as people look to survive.



In yesterday's blog I mentioned the lights appearing to be underneath the over bridge on Colombo Street, Christchurch would have appeared to been responding to the person leaving the scene of the accident.

Information now available says they were caught up with by the nearby restaurant, so that puts a slightly different light on a small matter, although the reported behaviour of that person when police arrived was no better.

Last night there were a lot of single vehicles roaming around with the occupants wearing hoodies, looking as if they wanted to find a place to gather.



There is also mention though that the occupants of the vehicle were 26 plus so generally outside the demographics of boy racers.

In my experience, although the main group of what is known of boy racers are around 18-24 there is a hard core of older individuals who seem to be at the heart of it.

The media have in the past had interviews with some who are more 26 plus group.

In one incident, the wider outer group I was warning they were on private property whilst awaiting police were younger & more compliant. Once at the centre it was very different, drunk aggressive & older persons who began throwing bottles.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Friday, July 9, 2010

Youth versus Authority! No Win Situation!

Kia Ora,

Well it seems the international disease that has been about for a while has finally arrived here in Christchurch at least, if not wider New Zealand.

That is Youth versus Authority! But they are really in a no win situation.

Obviously these guys do not remember the 1981 Springbok tour. It has been said that had the second match of the tour gone ahead, due to the quiet opposition the tour would not of lasted.

Storm out of Africa: The 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand

From the moment the anti tour protestors stormed the Hamilton pitch & forced the game to be cancelled, it became a question of law & order.

So blocking an on ramp to a motorway is not going to endear the boy racers community to anyone. An estimated 40 vehicles & 140 people who are part of this hardcore that are causing the issues which ends with all car enthusiasts tainted is nothing short of criminal & idiocy.



There is hope that the judges finally throw the book at these idiots of whom the police arrested 30.

Meanwhile it being quiet in my area after the earlier incident related in my previous blog I went to see what was happening in other areas to see if I could get some footage of crime for these blogs.

Talking to an attendant at a service station he said quiet when suddenly an ambulance & paramedic went past followed by police.

We were watching some crazy driving going on as well.

Then I thought I would move on into central Christchurch to see what was happening.



Suddenly on Morehouse Avenue see all these police cars light up & head over the Colombo street over bridge & some lights start flashing orange.

Was about a minute or less from the intersection when vehicle had crashed in a 'police chase'.

You could tell just by looking at it that the vehicle had hit at extreme speed as it looked to be virtually wrapped around the post.

Reading the police report this morning, I am not sure they could actually call it a chase as the officer who pulled them over would of only just got back to his car & headed off. In effect the chase would of hardly begun by the time there was a crash.

I wondered as I drove past why there were also lights underneath the over bridge, but would now take it was the person who left the scene being spoken too. If you had seen the wreckage then the most likely of the six people in the car (so over loaded illegally) to have left was either the driver or the passenger directly behind them.



Right now I am waiting for the outcry of how the police were in the wrong. Excuse me, minimum crimes that we know of are taking off, overloaded car, going through at least one red light, speeding, probably failing to stop for police, leaving scene of an inury acccident.

Good likley hood of drugs or alcohol involved & odds are driver is on restricted license or is disqualified.

How is it the police's fault?

A simple traffic stop has turned into a major criminal investigation all because some idiot thought they were above the law.

It's good to see the police on the front foot saying it was unneccesary because it didn't need to happen.

There is a saying "do the crime, do the time" & another "the only crime is getting caught". They were caught, by taking the next actions a life has been lost.

The only action now is the driver must get jail time, jail time & more jail time.

None of this PC crap & they are from a good family so should only get home detention or worse community service.

To the Driver of the Vehicle you are an Idiot.

To the boy racers blocking the on ramp Grow Up, you can't win. Show some common sense because there is none been shown at present.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

New Weekend, New Bylaw, same problems!

Kia Ora,

Well Friday night & despite the new Bylaw here in Christchurch there has really being no change here.

Whilst certain streets had the boy racer cruising issue, this area has more had the diesels & more lately the lone car doing a burnout starting tonight at about 8.20pm followed by a shot from what I would say was an air rifle.

The vehicle then speed off.

Just the other day I mentioned to a local business about chip in his window. "stone chip?" "no, air rifle. Pellet went into & destroyed the glass of the cabinets at the front of the premises."



They found the pellet in there next morning.

The modern air rifle is much more powerful & in fact if it wasn't for the small mass of the pellets, their velocity (as quoted to me by an owner of one or two) were faster than most military rifles. I thought they had made a mistake.

But as the police have found in the last few years in the wrong hands or used indiscriminately they can be very dangerous.

Hence the push to bring them under the firearms legislation to be treated as a full firearm.



Obviously these adverts I have here could not enter NZ just by buying them on line, but offshore it is clearly a different story.

Using a firearm is not game but many play the computer games these days & think that all they have to do is push a button to start again.

Pull the trigger & you have to live with the consequences.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Thursday, July 8, 2010

What the Lost Youth & Poor turn too!

Kia Ora,

I found yesterdays blog or the information contained in it very concerning when I came across it.

But as the self confessed ex Jihadist says "what if?"

World wide he is the sort of person the extremists recruit, young & lost or the poor.



There are reports today of suspected Islamic terror groups in Britain talking of different targets.

What is to stop that being a group in New Zealand? The fact New Zealand refers to itself as safe is the biggest attraction to these guys.

Initially anyway terrorist groups tend to be made up of lost young males who are filled with the 'spirit' of what ever religion or 'mission' (ie eco greens)& this makes them risk takers. The same thing happens early in a conventional War when nationalism results in usually the greatest casualty rates.



But what if someone follows the path this guy says he followed & actually does complete his training, then really does believe. As they found in Britain, the biggest threat now is from those who are home grown.

It will start a vicious cycle where ignorance takes hold. Every Muslim will get the blame for the actions of a few & the actions generally by the same sort of person who carried out any attack in the name of another religion usually.

But like in the US after 9/11 it will hurt those that are not even connected.

Like the Sikh who was shot dead in Texas in the mistaken belief he was a Muslim.



Yes, I did forecast there was likely to be people like this in NZ, but it is still not great to find you were right.

That is why I believe the NZ Security Industry needs to raise its standards because of all countries in the world, NZ is the one that could stop this cycle continuing here, by been effective along side the police & other agencies.

http://www/foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Jihad in New Zealand! Yeah Right! Or is it?

Kia Ora,

I was trying to work out how to use Youtube better last night when I came across two threads.

One was a person from Britain who immigrated to New Zealand & had re entered the area of door security. I aim to look more into his postings but seems good & professional, I would like to keep an eye on his take on issues.

The second was much more disturbing.



The initial post that caught my eye was "I used to work for the SIS (Secret Intelligence Service)" & it goes into how he was used undercover to identify Jihadists in Auckland.

Is he the real deal? Not sure but there were some things that made me take note & think maybe he is.

First his Arabic seems very good.

Though his letter to the Prime Minister is a bit of a ramble (something I have been accused of at times myself) there are a few parts in it that peaked my interest.

That is the part where he talks about his SIS handlers saying he didn't have to go fully into the role of a Muslim (since he now says he has converted to atheist & everything must be based on science). That is on the point I have been trying to make. If they don't really know or haven't experienced anything like a suicide bombing then Kiwi's will not understand.



Jihadists are not just nutters who take the Koran, as he calls them literalists (they exist in all religions & are generally the extremists), literally in their interpretation, but usually very good at counter surveillance & reconnaisance.

Through his chats though it emerges as he identifies himself at one point a picture of a young guy who was lost & his nature comes across as addictive, He now requires everything to be referrenced in a scientific nature. Time & experience will tell him that not everything is absolute. Alot is gut instinct & experience.

As my experience has shown along with some of the comments to his postings, the average Muslim is very accepting, in fact more accepting than most westerners. But it is not them you have to worry about.



There are a few comments though that seem to come within NZ that back up some of his claims with their rants against his postings on Islam.

Then there is the postings above & below which back up some recent comments on some Maori forums. I have even read one Maori convert say Islam is the black man's religion. Doesn't know his religion as well as he thinks.

NZ has issues mainly concerning the Treaty of Waitangi & racism that we need to sort through & to a great extent are. Neither side is fully happy, so we must be doing something right.



Islam may actually be good for many Maori unless they take up the radical side & there are already enough Maori advocating armed conflict that this could turn nasty.

Will mean that "you will have to give the pork bones a miss though bro. More for me".

These videos have been getting posted for a while. So is Jihad possible in New Zealand? Most definitely.

Are the authorities on top of things? I doubt it as they have never experienced this type of thing it will be hard for them to envisage it. When they speak to their foreign counterparts although the words used will be the same, they will mean different things.



The day after a TV programme to my way of thinking confirms what I already thought that a mass murderer was allowed to walk free, NZ has to look at the way it views the world & acts in it.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

What about the Security Guards?

Kia Ora,

Today the NZ government signalled the increase of punishment for anyone attacking a Police officer or Corrections officer. Fair enough they need more protection.

But what about the Security Guards?

More often than not dealing with the same people on their own.



If the NZ Security Industry was professional in outlook it would be viewing Health & Safety as empowering to increase the numbers in line with international requirements.

It would be seizing this movement by the current government as a time to push its case prior to the Rugby World Cup 2011.

But not a peep out of any industry organization.

Their version of risk assessment is don't get involved. Well a lot of the idiots out there now do not care if you are involved or not. If you are there, they will attack in a group.



As I said in a previous blog, when a group of ten people showed up at one task here in Christchurch, some armed with iron bars.

They would of taken me on just for standing there, had it not been for a guard from another company coming across from their task for a chat & warning his mates over the radio.

As it stands there will be nothing done until guards start dying.

Oh & well done the Israeli patrol in the West Bank. Just normal soldiers, taking the mickey out of their situation. Seems, as with the NZ Navy reaction to people posing with firearms(something you will see the world over in the armed forces), that the world has gone too PC in the wrong places.

Just these days it goes over the internet!

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Monday, July 5, 2010

The Security Muppet show! What is the difference between Baghdad & New Zealand?

Kia Ora,

The following footage was taken covertly in Baghdad in 2005 of what we called the daily muppet show. It involved up to 20 vehicles of all descriptions passing our villa at about the same time every day as well as several other times a day as an Iraqi prominent person was moved about the city.

It could be quite amusing to watch, but filming it could be more of a threat to your health. Sounds just like Christchurch!



So what is the difference between Baghdad & Christchurch/New Zealand?

Well both know their own people, but whilst the Iraqis are well aware of real security, the New Zealand Security Industry, although there are a lot of people in it who want to carryout real security, tends to not think that should be pushed as doing the extra will not earn them money.

The Iraqis see it differently as they are more worried about their lives but also the money just to keep their family alive.



Many of our jobs, especially in my first contract were as a former member of the British SAS described them as "playing at it",

That was what hit me when coming back. Though many in the industry are putting their best foot forward doing way more than their lowly wages ask of them, overall the industry is only playing at it.

In Baghdad even the muppet show knew it was their lives on the line & you often would see them fire shots into the air to clear the path forward.



In New Zealand it is more a case of "I don't get paid enough(which is true)& it is nothing to do with me".

People forget what the word service means. It is one of the big shocks when you leave the military where you have given a life of service & by being paid a sslary just get in & get things done.

The one difference between NZ & offshore security is offshore you are paid to carryout security & that is what you do. In NZ you are paid to do security but are expected to be the bum boy as well(that is not service, that is slave labour).

Though no one asks me as I have made it clear that I will only carryout security as that is what I am paid for.



Where the confusion is that whilst NZ security industry stops its staff from carrying out actual security it requires them to act as slave labour at the expense of security.

I like the Iraqi attitude. If you want me to do what amounts to another job that will mean my security duties are being neglected, the client will pay a months wages in compensation, cash in hand, over & above normal billing for security services.

As long as it is declared of course for taxation purposes etc.

Part of it though is for the industry to stop just putting bodies out there with little consideration & to start educating the clients, who often actuall think they are getting more.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Sunday, July 4, 2010

How safe is it out there for Security Guards?

Kia Ora,

People hire a security guard but do they really think about the dangers they are putting them in.

Two incidents I witnessed Friday night highlighted just how close security guards sometimes come to real danger.



After completing a previously organized security task, it was back to being on standby for the new 0900 Suspicious service & whilst waiting again went out to see if I could gain any footage of criminal activity.

Took up a new position & in little over 40 minutes witnessed a number of criminal activities (two close to where guards were or appeared to be.)

The first involved a patrol in a vehicle roving around a premises. He had his lights on full & though that is not good security, with a big area it is often all the patrols are forced to do coupled with time constraints.

Only issue with lights on full was they didn't see the person at the edge of their lights dash into cover behind a container. Guard must of signed a book (in office on other side of the container) then left with lights going out & person was seen to move out onto a main road.



Twenty minutes later two persons whom I have seen before also trespassed across that private property.

Was preparing to leave when see in the other direction what appeared to be a security guard searching a property with his torch. Suddenly about 20 metres down & out of his line of sight, jumped over a fence a group of at least 3 people & who also trespassed on this other property.



Expecting the guard might of being answering an alarm, I moved to next side street to confirm before we could ring the police. But it transpired the 'guard' would of actually entered that property from next street over.

Meanwhile the new boy racer by law was in action & there was a noticeable change in tactics as well as a continuation of some old ones.



The two vehicles on the footage could be heard racing at an estimated speed of over 120kmh. The night before had seen a large number of vehicles come down that same road at speed then exit down a side road.

There was still a large number of burnouts, mainly in the line with a quick burn out then move to the next intersection & so on. Hard one to police unless someone can give a registration number.

Yet again there appeared to be shots. Problem is there were four 'reports' the first sounded like an air rifle, the next two were more explosive & the fourth had what in the military we called 'crack & thump' so a firearm was involved.



Again though like the precious occassions, it appeared to be from a moving vehicle, so unless you have a registration or have actually seen the weapon it is hard to call in.

It is actually quite common at night in Christchurch & the reckless use of firearms is more prominent as shown by a media investigation, than most people would realize. Most are just not reported.

That also came out during the shooting of a gunman in Christchurch, in that he had fired shots before but no one in the street had called the police for most incidents & the one they had he was able to explain away.

Security Guards often are facing all that on their own!

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz