Drunken Louts!

Kia Ora,

There has been a follow up in the local Christchurch paper "The Press"to the drunken antics over the weekend but in the editorial you get the feeling that the writer has no idea of what security or the police face at these events.

In that the police may have done themselves & the security industry a disservice over the years by playing down previouis incidents.
Young Offenders and Alcohol Related Crime: A Practitioner's Guidebook (Wiley Series in Clinical Approaches to Criminal Behaviour)
And previous incidents there have been plenty of.

At times there have been on the edges of events at Hagley park hundreds of drunk teenagers drinking & fighting. Often with not enough security available to have an impact on it. It is security that should be the first line in dealing with this but the touchy feely way it is approached now means it is not dealt with.

That makes the police job harder.

But it is not just at the park that issues arise.

On one occassion having been tasked with security of an area nearby to Hagley park I was a bit surprised at the end of the same event as this weekend when the area was flooded with over 200 young teenagers drinking, swearing & intent on mayhem. They were moved on but not before a drunk 12 year old tried to staunch me out. Didn't work but I see it is hasn't changed as a 14 year old tried it on someone the other day.

Extending the liquor ban permanently into the area of Hagley park is a great idea but it won't stop the teens drinking. That needs first & foremost education to change the Kiwi mindset on alcohol. Also greater effort on the part of Police, Security but most of all the community to stop this in its tracks.
Alcohol, illegal drugs, violent crime, and traffic-related and other unintended injuries in U.S. local and national news *.: An article from: Journal of Studies on Alcohol
On the occassion where the large group came into area I was carrying out security initially most moved to school next door & police were informed as there was nothing I could do. But a hard core thought they would remain in my area. They were told that once police had finished at the park they were coming through with the dogs.

This was to have amusing repercussions.

The teenagers all moved to the school then off again when community watch then a police patrol showed up.

Shortly after drunk Univeristy students were in the area setting off train alarms then trying to steal vehicles. The police were called again, but the unit dispatched was a dog unit. It encountered groups of teens standing on corners of local streets who sprinted off on seeing the dog unit.
Guidance for local partnerships on alcohol-related crime and disorder data
Whilst they stand on those corners though the teenagers or older groups use properties as toilets, smash bottles & if they are approached by householders instead of as in the past & running they are just as likely to attack the person.

Why can't the police get back on top of out of control crime? Well more often than not they are dealing with out of control drunk young people. It just doesn't happen in Christchurch either!

Academic's take note!

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Stopping Crime!

Kia Ora,

Recently the New Zealand Police Commissioner made a submission to a select committee that police were "trying to stop crime rather than just prosecuting" or words to that effect.

He has come under attack for that statement from a group known as the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

I don't disagree with the commissioner as to that is what police should be doing.

Problem is that is no longer what they do. At least here in Christchurch & from what I have seen elsewhere.

What I do know is many experienced police officers are frustrated that they can no longer police & stop crime before it happens. Their performance is more rated in the cities at least by amount of tickets & arrests.

Local Police used to always encourage us in security to call in any suspicious activity, as we were their eyes & ears. It also impacted on the security of neighbourhoods & cut down on the paper work the police had to carryout.
Crime Prevention in America
Try calling in suspicious activity these days & it is more like you are the criminal.

Those taking the calls are not police officers & so do not often realize what you are seeing is suspicious. People know their own area & what is out of place.

Security should(but many don't) get in tune with their surroundings & note what is happening. If this is done properly then any new staff can by reading reports know what is out of place.
Crime Prevention (Criminal Justice Series)
So the Commissioner is either completely out of touch in how his department is currently working or there is a breakdown in how the police should be operating.

But talking to police on the street it appears that the police are applying the business measuring tool of KPI's which as I have said before I have never seen work in business little lone in a service.

In fact it was seeing this happening when I entered the industry & the fact security companies told their staff to ignore crime or suspicious activity(which you can understand from a business perspective but not a moral or security one) that the 0900 Suspicious idea spawned from.
Handbook of Loss Prevention and Crime Prevention, Fourth Edition
The problem now is crime is so out of control that people just don't report it & the police are now overwhelmed with their workload(especially the paper work) & often don't get the chance to stop crime before it happens. In fact they often don't get to crime after it happens as people that have been burgled often tell you.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Science versus Gut feeling!

Kia Ora,

In a recent post I put bugger the science. Previously someone has questioned my ability to comment when I only rely on experience. military training & gut feeling over 'recognized' qualifications.

Now I am not against science, in fact I once had a choice to make PHD in nuclear physics or the army. I decided on the army although had I read more on Einstein's life I might of still gone nuclear physics. It definitely has its place, but not when it is not also backed by practical experience when practicable.

For example I don't need to see someone actually commit a crime to know they are acting suspiciously. Often it is very much a gut feeling as too whether someone is likely to try something criminal. More often than not right.

Recently here an academic criticised the liquor ban in Christchurch saying it targeted young people unfairly.

He based all this on the figures realsed under the Official Information Act.

Now I have clashed with this academic before at a public meeting where I was able to point out, though they needed to keep an eye on the reason for the meeting they needed to stick to reality.

This person has not here. Obviously they have not been out on a night after midnight in the centre of Christchurch for at least fifteen years. Alcohol has been a major issue within the city that has resulted an upswing in violence.

Or Xmas in the park this last Saturday night as police broke up numerous fights, tipped out alcohol, one teenager was repeatedly stabbed & a police officer assaulted resulting in a fractured jaw as they moved to break up a fight.

Police then had to deal with alcohol related issues including fights in the central city.
True stories of crime from the District attorney's office
Unfortunately most of those likely to come to police or security attention are those of a younger age group. They stand out just by their actions.

During a recent security task I decided to take the bus to the venue. At an interchange two young males were acting the 'man' thinking they were hiding the drinking of their alcohol whilst doing it. All it was doing was drawing attention to them.

When they tried to hide their bottles & board a bus, I intervened which upset them.
Crime and Punishment (Signet Classics)
What they didn't take into account that someone older might was despite their assertion they would not drink on the bus, you just knew they would. That would of brought them to attention of the driver who would of either got into a scuffle or called for police assistance.

Or as they were travelling into the area of the liquor ban they would of quickly come to attention of police & security & they had at least one other bottle each on their body.

This academic wouldn't see that & if they did then stepped up to say something it is likely to end up with them being beaten up these days. It is great to have standards or morals but these days you have to be prepared to put up with some likely collateral damage.
Buzzed: The Straight Facts About the Most Used and Abused Drugs from Alcohol to Ecstasy (Third Edition)
But experience allows you to see these problems coming & in most circumstances be ready before they become an issue. You can have as many qualifications as you want but without being able to pick up the vibes or understand what it is really like on the shop floor they are just worthless bits of paper better used for starting a fire.

In this instance the academic concerned should keep quiet & let those who have too, deal with it.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Finger on the Trigger!

Kia Ora,

To follow up on the previous post it is now evident that the finger is well & truly on the trigger to financial melt down & anarchy.

An old army mate sent me a message which pointed out that in the US over the next six weeks over 4 million people will be taken off the unemployment figures, not because they have jobs, there are no jobs, but because they have come to the end of their 99 weeks they are allowed on the unemployment benefit.

So they will still be unemployed just not in the system so umemployed figures might have one of those times when the figures actually go down. This is one of the proposed austerity measures for Ireland.

How will they survive?

Crime will defintely go up. You have to wonder how it will affect places like California which is basically bankrupt & was letting prisoners go early to try to save money. So more unemployed on the streets. Or Illinois which was having its police cars been repossesed a few at a time.

This was one of the reasons the paid for website shadow stats was set up to show how the figures are manipulated. A comment from someone who uses it would put US unemployment at actually 17% or higher right now.

It also has the true rate of inflation calculated, not the manipulated rates we get in general.

So what could be the trigger for financial meltdown or anarchy?

First the Irish could & may still refuse the bailout. Portugal has said it will refuse. If these two nations do that, then it has been forecast the financial system will collapse very quickly. That might not seem a good outcome but it has happened in history before & believe it or not though very painful it is the best option. Anarchy or social unrest would flare, but there is a chance for a good restart. Unlike the Amreican option which is print more currency which prolongs the collapse(as Japan has managed to do for 20 years), but history shows will make things worse in the long run.
Corruption and Government: Causes, Consequences, and Reform
Another trigger could be rising taxes.

One financial commentator mentions that if today you talk about paying less tax many American citizens will tell you it is your patriotic duty to pay tax. It is to be American to pay tax is a common comment they hear.

As they point out actually no it isn't. Tax used to be only something imposed to help pay for wars in most countries. They point out the US was actually formed over a war that started as a protest against a tax. The tax on tea, hence the Boston tea party.

It is also pointed out that until 1943 general taxation did not exist in the US.

In New Zealand there was much anger over the Dog tax in the 1800's until it was dropped.

More recently there were the demonstrations in Britain that forced the government to drop the poll tax.

Taxes are certainly about to rise world wide as shown in the proposed Irish austerity measures.
Culture of Corruption: Obama and His Team of Tax Cheats, Crooks, and Cronies
The Myth put out by governments is when they spend money it is tax payers money.

Incorrect!

First it is not money it is currency.

Second tax is taken in the first place not to pay for what the government does on peoples behalf, but to pay the interest on the loans to provide their budget. The governments take the loans from the central banks (Federal Reserve in the US, Reserve Bank in NZ & Australia, Bank of England in Britain etc) which are privately owned banks passed off as a statutory independant body that pays a return to governments to make it look like they are part of the government. So they justify their actions by manipulating the truth(many politicians will not actually know this is the truth).

With the internet in particular this information is becomng easier to access & as more people become aware that also could be a trigger to either financial meltdown or anarchy. I know some Americans are now refusing to pay tax as it is illegal under the constitution.
Fighting Corruption in Developing Countries: Strategies and Analysis
In New Zealand either anarchy or financial meltdown could also be triggerered by incidents such as those that have shown up in last few days.

First post the earthquake is the crime in particular in Christchurch, originally said to be down but now revealed as a huge jump. Most people knew it, but it was denied at the time.

Then as revealed yesterday the claim that many assessments for damage are been rejected because the assessors are been paid bonuses to reject claims.

So you are upsetting already stressed people by using excuses not to do something. This is better known as corruption as practiced by bureaucrats.
Economic Gangsters: Corruption, Violence, and the Poverty of Nations (New in Paper)
This will mean people loose the one thing most regard as their main asset(although by definition it isn't until sold), stress is likely to hamper earning ability if they haven't lost their job & so there is no cash to pay mortgages which flows on to the banks who are already not lending.

So more stress, crime levels go up, & in the end the government will have to 'bailout' as they did yesterday, which is essentially a transfer of wealth effectively to the privately owned central bank since governments owe them so much.
The Beijing Consensus: How China's Authoritarian Model Will Dominate the Twenty-First Century
At some point as the governments in Europe are finding, governments will come to the end of options. The US is now at what is seen as the tipping point into possible hyperinflation of 840% of debt to GDP.

Collapse, hyperinflation then collapse which ever way it happens will be fast. It will result in massive unrest although with more unrest it gives governments the excuse for more power, so the trasnfer not only of wealth will be in place but power.

Tax on tea triggered one revolution, hyperinflation triggered another one, what will happen this time when it involves the whole world?

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Descent into Hell begins!

Kia Ora,

The world is beginning its descent into Hell as predicted by a few economic commentators. The Sovereign debt crisis that first raised its head in Dubai nearly two years ago is starting to gather steam.

One commentator has compiled a list of the 30 countries currently living on a wing & a prayer. This was passed to me by a reliable source who like me keeps an eye on a certain group of commontators & we compare notes. In that list New Zealand ranks 13th & Australia is also in the top 30.

They did not mention who was top of the list actually, but I would wager it is the US with over US$200 Trillion(840% of GDP) in debt most of it 'off book' just like ENRON. Britain would be up around the top five. China could even feature though for different reasons.

New Zealand is estimated to be at 200% of GDP but there is a difference. Most of NZ's debt is private. But what bailouts do is transfer that debt to the government & from there to the central bank so transfer the wealth & power to the private bankers who really run things.

Even when you don't want a bailout or know it is bad for you.

Just look at Ireland. If as looks like will happen they accept the bailout then the International Monetary Fund & the European Union will control Ireland, not the Irish. Already the austerity plans been drawn up include a drop in the minimum wage.
The Dollar Crisis: Causes, Consequences, Cures , Revised and Updated
We already see what austerity measures result in. Riots & civil disorder. Britain has taken measures, but says it is not as badly off as Ireland. Not sure where they have got that from. The only difference between the European countries, Britain & the US is the later two are still able to print their own money(courtesy of the private banks better known as the central banks) which will be actually worse in the long run.

During this last week whilst New Zealand has been fixated on the tragedy in the mine, we had our credit rating outlook lowered. This will force the government to take more austerity measures. We already have teens challenging the police over gatherings & alcohol. It is only a short step from there to the riots in Britain as it has spread through social media & all are aware of it. In fact social media was used to organize one of the marches in Britain. One that got out of control in the most recent set of marches.
Rich Dad's Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money
For the average person what they will see is rises in food prices, jobs lost & unemployment will just sky rocket. It is already much higher than offical figures as those figures are manipulated or leave out the people no longer in the system.

As was pointed out in Ireland when as part of the austerity it is proposed to limit time on unemployment. Hey that's great but where are the job's?

This will all result in a rise in crime.
The Corruption of Capitalism: A strategy to rebalance the global economy and restore sustainable growth
So what sort of things could trigger a turn for the worse in regards to civil disorder? In France it has been the raising of the retirement age, in Britain the proposed raising of education fees & cutting cash flow to other education.

In New Zealand it could be frustration with the recovery from the Christchurch earthquake, the snow storm in Southland or the investigation into the mine incident(historically these inquiries result in a lot of anger & accusations). Even more so the holding back of information like the rupture of the gas pipe into the mine or yesterday after constant denials that anything was different about the earthquake an interesting article.
Rich Dad's Advisors: Guide to Investing In Gold and Silver: Protect Your Financial Future
That article first referred to the fact that though the first wee shake was 7.1 it actually realeased the energy of a 7.8 which has scientists a bit mystified, followed by the comment that a "spaghetti junction" of faults lay under the Canterbury plains & had been known about for years. New ones were forming & they all pointed at Christchurch. Now people have been feeling that this was the case but it has been denied since the wee shake with one 'expert' saying there would be no faults actually under Christchurch even though the media had the day before revealed the existance of the Addington fault from the 1869 earthquake.

So withholding information that shouldn't be then it coming to light could be a trigger to social unrest. Others have used the wee shake as an excuse for them commiting crime.

Combine natural disasters with a financial crisis & you have the ingredients for a time bomb. But it is also the time of opportunity & that is not criminal opportunity.
The Dollar Meltdown: Surviving the Impending Currency Crisis with Gold, Oil, and Other Unconventional Investments
One commentator has likened the current situation in the US with so much currency been printed as to the conditions in place in France prior to the French Revolution where many people ended up loosing their heads. The guilliotine was operated & executions carried out apparently by the Ministry of Public Safety.

Another commentator in the US has warned that people need to start stock piling food & buy a rifle then wait for the riots to stop. It is likely to be really that bad. This was from a financial commentator not a survivalist.
Crash Proof 2.0: How to Profit From the Economic Collapse

People are really starting to feel this is all true. It is the time of opportunity also, but most people are starting to feel this. It has been funny how people's attitude change towards you as they start to feel that though they had felt what you have been saying is incorrect because the government or experts tell them so, to what their gut feeling now tells them is starting to happen.

It is just like Health & Safety are supposed to be, prepare for the worst, but hope for the best. Look for the opportunity.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

When to reveal information? What to reveal!

Kia Ora,

Already the blame game is under way over the mine incident on the Coast.

No one is to blame & that is one thing we have to get out of. Forget the blame & start focussing on why it happened & what could be done better next time.

One issue that probably came to a head last night was why no one went into the mine early.

Now I only seen the head of mine rescue three times at briefings but it was clear to me at the first one, by his body langauge there was something he wasn't happy about or wanted to get out but was not allowed too.
All Nine Alive: The Dramatic Mine Rescue That Inspired and Cheered a Nation
Last night he revealed that the pipe that took gas out of the mine had been ruptured & had been leaking methane back into the mine at an alarming rate. Had that information been released early on then there would of been less criticism of decision to wait.

Compare that to the early 'rumour' of three other men making their way out of the mine which the media copped a lot of flak for was actually part of a police media release.

Just another lesson to learn from & look to ensure it doesn't happen in future.

Now there was a lot said about how the experts were giving information & people should stop listening to amateurs. Well a lot of the information was coming from amateurs who had survived a mine explosion & some were even ex mine rescue.

What I had done was take that then use the internet to see what other information there was. Funny though when I went back to double check something I had noticed last night you could no longer access that information. Also whilst initially some of it had come up straight away with the search it was now buried under associated material of the current incident.
Nova: Emergency Mine Rescue
Now why I was rechecking was to confirm information I had supplied from what I had gathered in an earlier search. It also tells you why miners were saying you need to get in fast.

In an earlier post I had said that at Strongman Mine after the explosion it had been found miners did not die in the blast but from the gas afterwards.

Later when looking at something else I found something on the Brunnerton explosion which for much of it was almost word for word the information I had read on the Strongman mine.

So last night I thought I better check on this. Couldn't access those items, but from what I had read & what I did find last night was very revealing.
National Mine-rescue and First-aid Conference Pittsburgh
Ended up back with the Kaitangata mine incident of 1879. Compared to most this was a very shallow mine at the time. Many of the men were wandering around with candles looking into areas believing for some reason that mines in New Zealand were not afflicted by the gas menace of the UK. Though there was concern of one person sticking a lighted candle right into certain areas.

Because it was only 200 metres in when the mine exploded everyone knew about it. The only person killed by the actual explosion was the boy & his pit pony that were entering the mine at the time.

There was a period whilst they waited for other miners to come to carryout a rescue. What they found was interesting. Inside the mine no one appeared to have been killed by the explosion but by a sudden on rush of gas as they tried to in many case crawl out using what oxygen there was. It seems they realized what was about to happen having maybe struck a pocket of gas.
CO?-absorption characteristics of mine rescue breathing apparatus
One of the wives who lost her husband at Kaitangata was to loose her second husband at Brunnerton.

Something of debate here in Christchurch of late post the earthquake was the reaction of animals prior to a quake.

On the morning of the Brunnerton mine explosion the pit ponies initially refused to go into the mine which they had never done before & so had to be forced.

Those near the point of explosion in this mine were killed by it & signs showed that. But of the remainder again people appeared to be untouched by the blast but were found to have been either crawling or hiding in the crevice where the damaged ventilation device was(this sort of reaction probably lead to the idea of air stations in modern mines)& again had died of gas.
National first-aid and mine rescue contest
Then the Strongman mine which last night was hard to find except accounts by those there. One told of how they were the only person to come out of the area where the explosion occurred because he had walked around the corner & wet patches had stopped the fireball going further. He was blown of his feet & his recollection was all had died in the blast.

But they could of been knocked unconscious & then died as the gas got to them.

At Brunnerton two men were found a wee way in suffering such, but as they were not revived at the time but carried straight to fresh air, the fresh air was said to have killed them.

At Kaitangata mention was made of what appeared to be silmilar occurences.
History -- Man, Moment, Machine Mine Rescue Mask
The most telling comment from that survivor was "our rescue guys went straight in." You have too. But it was no waiting to test for gas. It was breathing apparatus on then take the canary in. When the Canary died you got out. Waited then grab another canary & get back in.

As was said to be happening at recent incident gas ebbed & flowed.

So on that type of repeated experience people were offering their opinion. Whether knowing the fact the pipe was damaged would of changed things I am not sure, but it would of helped people cope with the waiting.
Mine rescue work and organization
People tend to forget that Health & Safety is to mitigate possible hazards not eliminate them as you just can't. People do irrational things & Papatuanuku(Earth mother)does what she wants too & no man can control that as much as they like to think they can.

In todays world with the types of communication available information needs to be got out quickly or it could over take you but it needs to be accurate. When you withhold relevant information it just stokes the fires of frustration & anger.
Newswire Photo (XL): Oxygen helmets in mine rescues
But no blame should be pointed at any of those involved in the rescue. Though I don't agree with the process or procedure(with the information now of the damaged gas pipe it would likely be seen as a very very good option though)those who battled so hard to deliver should be held as good role models. I fear though at least one will become the scapegoat to appease anger.

One thing that has accompanied all previous inquiries of mine disasters is blame, counter blame accustions of cover ups & often blaming of the dead. In fact the reason for the Brunnerton mine & Strongman were almost identical. Shot in wrong location.

In Brunnerton the Prime Minister of the time one 'King' Dick Seddon was accussed of medling in the inquiry & even worse the miners felt betrayed by him as he was a former West Coast coal miner.
Principles of mine rescue (SuDoc L 38.17/3:16/995)
It might be asking a lot but can we this time put the blame aside, use the lessons to make things better in the future & take our processes back to a place where right from the start those in charge have a greater freedom of choice.

Many of those affected by this incident have been affected before. When I was going back through the mine incidents I suddenly realized with horror that the cousin who lost a son in law this time it seems, also lost an immediate family member in the Strongman incident.

On a policing & security front there will have to be a lot of leeway shown on the Coast over the next wee while as peoples reactions to this will show up in many different ways.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Understanding the Process!

Kia Ora,

It was not good news yesterday when a second explosion occurred at the mine on the Coast.

Officially there is no expectation of finding anyone alive, though how explosions work in reality is often a lot different to the way they should. Seen that both during training in the army & whilst working in Iraq, where you seen people walk away when you expected no one too.

But the chances are extremely slim that anyone has survived when you add in the gas situation even less so.

Right from the start I have thought the process is wrong & one expert has now come out & said the window to get in was the first four hours after the first explosion as the old time miners have always said(science confirming what we already know again). But there was always a risk of a further explosion. It also took two hours before anyone was aware as no one was knew until the two survivors walked out. So the time was cut down to just two hours for best likely time to conduct a rescue.

A lot of questions have been raised as to why the police were in charge. These days as pointed out they run search & rescue situations, that they took it seriously was shown by the rank of the person in charge.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Disaster Preparedness
Once that process was in place Superintendent Gary Knowles did a very good & difficult job. Anyone who says otherwise is as a reporter who questioned his credentials was described a 'tosspot'.

What people have to realize is why the police now seem to take so long to do things.

In the past police have relied on gut feeling, instinct & SOP's as guidelines(as they are) & have been hammered when they have made mistakes as you will.

So their whole processes in major undertakings (even vehicle accidents of a serious nature are now treated as a crime scene) has shifted too far the other way. This results in a culture where people treat SOP's as something set in concrete.
Crisis Preparedness Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Home Storage and Physical Survival
It is now endemic throughout New Zealand not just in the police force. You even get it when you ring for emergency services especially suspicious activity. Any reason not to respond unless something is actually happening of a serious nature. Yet experience & gut feeling tell you when someone is up to no good. By the time something is actually happening it is often too late to ring.

So in light of that the Superintendent did very well. Knowing he was dammed if he did or if he didn't. Put yourself in his shoes & think of the decisions he had to make. Despite all the advice he still is the one who has to make a decision. Not as easy as people think when lives are at stake.

What the powers that be have forgot is people with the training will go in to a situation knowing the dangers to save their mates or make a difference. Had a team been able to go in in first few hours after initial explosion & confirm that say everyone was dead, there would of been a lot less frustration/anger build up. It is the not knowing & lack of action that is the biggest issue.
Facing the Unexpected: Disaster Preparedness and Response in the United States (<i>Natural Hazards and Disasters: Reducing Loss and Building Sustainability in a Hazardous World</i>: A Series)
We have seen it with successive governments where they would not commit military to Peace keeping or peace making situations for around 30 years worried about what would happen if someone got killed.

Soldiers will go as long as they have good background knowledge & are aware of the dangers. They also value their mates above all else. Probably the biggest fear never talked about is not letting your mates down not the fact you may die.

No different to miners. They know the danger but to help their mates they will go in.

In fact no different to Police officers on the beat.

It is the system & the process that is the issue & it could come back to bite us very hard should terrorists decide to hit New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Focussing Energies!

Kia Ora,

Well the frustration is building & some anger starting to show around the mine incident. Whanau(family) tell me there are other connections to both this incident & the Strongman explosion in 1967. They also tell me that miners are not happy with progress of rescue & with modern equipment they should of been in soon after the explosion.

But since we haven't gone down that path then we need the best equipment available & support those that are in charge.

The New Zealand army bomb disposal robot was able to be restarted but then battery failed another 500 metres on. A second robot has been sent in. Not right for the conditions but they are trying to use what they have to help make a difference.

As this is being typed news has come through that bore hole been drilled has finally got through. Also that Australian robot that arrived by air this morning is now on the way to the mine site. Though initial footage of that robot it looked it could be too big to maybe get past the dozer parked in middle of tunnel 1500 metres in. We just hope that is not the case.
Robot Programming : A Practical Guide to Behavior-Based Robotics
This is where the focussing of energies comes in. Here in Christchurch we have a group of engineering students that belong to ENSOC from Canterbury University. They are best known for two things. Out of control parties & the infamous undie 500 which has resulted generally in riots at its finish in Dunedin. This year the undie 500 was banned from Dunedin & the alternatives organized finally fell over when they decided to focus their energies & monies onto the recovery efforts here in Christchurch post the earthquake.

Now here is another issue for them to focus their energies on. As opposed to drunken antics & unsavoury behaviour here is another chance to do some real good.

Build a robot to be able to be used in these situations. Obviously they have to ensure it has the power, can stand up to extreme conditions, not be prone to igniting gasses & most of all smaller than current systems. Oh & it can't be radio controlled. First the signalling equipment could trigger an explosion & second the signals are not likely to get through.
Theory of Applied Robotics: Kinematics, Dynamics, and Control (2nd Edition)
Now there are always going to be ideas on how to do it. So it needs some trialing.

When the army robot first stopped working it was said to be due to water. It now appears the amount of water was quite significant. But at the time the Mayor of Greymouth wondered why the robot hadn't been wrapped in glad wrap(cling film) to waterproof it. Good West Coast thinking for a short term solution at trying to do something.

But actually that solution would not work much longer than without it. Whilst a regimental signaller in the army for a period it was common for people within the wider infantry unit to put plastic bags over handsets when there was wet weather. They weren't needed as long as the handset was in good condition. What did happen though was especially in the high humidity/temperature situation as apparently you also have in the mine it caused condensation inside the handsets causing them to malfunction. This was even more relevant when as happened everyone left the plastic bags on after the rain.
Robot Builder's Bonanza, Third Edition
So it would be great if these talents could be channelled in this direction.

In the meantime with the frustration growing amongst the families & community it is not helped by some of the silly quesitons been asked or the manner they are been asked in particular by foreign media.

The Police Superintendant & CEO are handling it very well.

Noticeable is that one NZ TV channel seems to have either no one in the briefing room or they are keeping real quiet, just a camera & instead when those in the community or families want to chat they are interviewing them.

Best advice for foreign media is back off & let the local media do the interviewing as West Coasters tend to be very reserved & will talk to people they know if only by watching them on TV. Then arrange to get teh interview through local media.

One thing to note is the West Coast does not get all New Zealand TV channels although many do now get sky through the Satellite connection. Cell phones do not work in many areas as well. It is that isolated.

In a way it is helping by allowing people to talk when it is right for them. On the Coast everyone will have a connection to mining somewhere along the line.
Build Your Own Humanoid Robots : 6 Amazing and Affordable Projects (TAB Robotics)
But there is the challenge to ENSOC. It might not be in time to help here, but despite the assertion that this should not happen with all we know these days you just know it is going too as man cannot stop every thing papatuanuku(earth mother) throws at us.

Finally there has been allgedly questions asked overseas as to why this mine was built through a known fault line.

This is New Zealand! It is hard to do anything & not find a faultline & they are the ones we know about. As was recently revealed by papatuanuku there was a hidden one close to here in Christchurch & only three days ago an aftershock was centred less than a kilometre from where I sit right at this moment.

Could of the fault line had something to do with the explosion. Of course, but if you worried about that no minerals would ever be extracted in New Zealand especially on the West Coast.

People are upset enough & frustrated without that sort of comment showing little knowledge of the area. It just adds to the issues that the local authorities will have to deal with that may in some instances show up as some form of crime.

It we were going to worry about faultlines & what they might do on the West Coast my runanga(council in this case of our sub tribe) would not of built our Marae(meeting place), would not be investing in the West Coast to create jobs to bring our people back & help the wider community. Yes we do prepare for them & are aware but it doesn't stop us moving foward.

In fact if we had to stick to a business plan you wouldn't do business on much of the West Coast.

Hardy people who keep trying solutions despite the knock backs from bureaucrats.

So come on ENSOC show that spirit of the West Coasters!

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Process versus People!

Kia Ora,

Over the last few posts I have been critical of the processes used in the mine rescue & have been for sometime in the processes used across the board in New Zealand.

That is not, as has been happening, a criticism of the people involved in the rescue of the miners.

First the CEO of the mine company has been brilliant & you can see it hurts him. As the original mine manager he has been responsible for hiring most of the people & design including safety. He has stood up & done what he has too.

Next is the Police commander. I am not sure the process is right but he is doing a great job. On his shoulders rest the decision to risk more people's lives. Not something that is easy.

There has been a lot of criticism in particular of the police commander. Some of that has come from people with family in the mine. That is just part of the frustration & stress with people needing an outlet.

As my family come from South Westland it was always on the cards that many would know the people in the mine especially since many of our whanau now reside in Hoki(Hokitika) or Grey(Greymouth) whilst many others like myself live 'over the hill'(as the Southern Alps are referred too). With the Australian Foreign Minister adding another term used in Australasia saying they would help where they could since it was only across the 'ditch'(better known as the Tasman sea).

Well overnight came the news that one of my cousins son in law was one of those trapped. Not that I know them. In this part of the world it does not take much to have a connection to an event. Whilst the rest of the world talks about the six degress of seperation, NZ talks about two degrees.
All Nine Alive: The Dramatic Mine Rescue That Inspired and Cheered a Nation
So whilst the people involved should not be criticized it is the process that comes under the spotlight.

One expert has said it has been mentioned that with all they know these disasters should not happen. But they do & that they are expected is shown by the preparations including having mine rescue teams.

One thing that guides people is experience. Now the report into the Strongman mine explosion was raised yesterday where once it was realized miners were still down the mine, miners kept going back in collapsing from gas or lack of oxygen, recovering then re entering the mine.

As an ex soldier I can understand that as it just cuts against the grain to sit & do nothing when you can be helping especially when it is your mates involved. I know soldiers still get frustrated everytime there is a situation such as the earthquake especially here in Christchurch. You sit in the barracks wanting to do what you can, but too often the powers that be do not want the military involved as they are scared they will take over. That was expressed to me post the earthquake by a member of civil defence.

But that experience & the fact that rescuers have been lost or caused explosions would be a fact to consider.
Nova: Emergency Mine Rescue
The part of the report they didn't read out was how they found most if not all the miners had survived the explosion but died due to gas.

With todays mine set up that is encouraging as they did not then have areas to head too. Again as happened in Baghdad the gas explosion only killed by causing buildings to collapse. Those standing in front though were badly burnt & needed urgent medical assistance. So it will depend on a persons position in relation to the explosion as to their survival.

Another thing to consider even close to the explosion is the pressure wave from an explosion. It can cause injury but it can also knock someone to safety or to the ground missing the worst. The wave precedes the rest of the explosion. It can be seen on a large scale through footage of aerial bombing.
1882 Colliery Explosion Volunteers Rescue Mine Lift Art
Of course the question been asked is with all the improvements in equipment & technology why isn't there something for example like a robot that can enter these situations immediately or as suggested before a portable extraction system for resucers to move in with them? Maybe idea can be worked on in light of this incident.

In light of that the New Zealand military tried to assist with one of its bomb disposal robots. It failed. Two issues here are we are now down a bomb disposal robot & more importantly successive governments have cut funding so much that it is common for NZ military equipment to break down(especially when it is a flight for the PM) & most of it is held together by gaffer tape & chewing gum.
National Mine-rescue and First-aid Conference Pittsburgh
But it is the processes that are going to be under the biggest question.

As irritating as some of the questions from international media have been with some being deemed inappropriate they are asking questions that need to be often asked.

But as said in previous posts the NZ mindset will have a lot of inquiries which in the end say nothing or just simply blame the miners. The terms of the inquries though going on past experience will not answer those hard questions that are been asked now. So to say it is inappropriate whilst maybe right is the excuse that those above the people dealing with the incident to not include them in any terms.

It is the process that needs to change. From a slow to react mindset back to one that is dynamic with solutions.
CO?-absorption characteristics of mine rescue breathing apparatus
Whilst this incident has been on going almost missed has been the downgrading of the outlook of the NZ economy( It actually didn't make the main news broadcasts until at least 12 hours after it was announced). Now with the actions been taken by the US the likely outcome of the worlds financial system meltdown will be fast.

Anywhere like NZ who now takes forever to react to situations will loose out.

Frustrations such as those building on the West Coast & at a slower rate here in Christchurch will boil over resulting in more unrest, crime & possible break down in society. It is already starting overseas & what triggers it could be anything.

Seems we have forgot the most important thing in any equation is the people.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

When will we learn?

Kia Ora,

It seems these days as we move to everything by procedure we are loosing the ability to react quickly to a situation.

Of course right now it is the mine disaster & suddenly after four days all the things people have been suggesting are suddenly happening.

But as a caller to radio said earlier it is an old mining adage that right after an explosion there is no gas as it is all burnt out in the explosion but will build after that. So had people been able to get down shortly after things could of been different right now. Though the information been given out is that if people survived the blast(& historically it has been shown many or most actually do)then the areas set up as go to points would be able to sustain them.

But it is another issue that is now of course in the background that has come to light again.

It is the issue of mental health & how we deal with it. This has come to light because of a murder conviction of someone that was twice in the weeks leading up to the murder, the person who carried it out had, along with family members sort help from the mental health services. They were seen & advised he was no risk to himself or others.

The problem is for his family is the same happened with his father, only that time though it was said to be an accident, the family believe he took his own life after been talked from leaving the area of a high road here in Christchurch. His car left the road further down & went into the sea.
Prentice Hall Reviews & Rationales: Mental Health Nursing (2nd Edition)
One of the first jobs I had in security on leaving the army was security at one of our major hospitals.

We spent a lot of time dealing with mental health patients. What became obvious was the psych emergency teams had to work from a procedure & tick off a check list even though their eyes told them differently.

There was an incident in particular just before I left, where we as security calmed a person down who was worried about himself & his kids. He was told he was OK let go with an appointment to come back in a week to assess. His children were allowed to stay with him & he killed them, then whilst under assessment for his mental health he took his own life. This was only brought to the media attention by his wife who had split with him over these issues & had let the children stay because of the clearance.
Foundations of Mental Health Care
It goes back to what I have said often. Standard Operating Procedures(SOP's) are guidelines only but in NZ we now see these as set in concrete.

Again it comes back to SOP's been good from a training point of view & a good starting point for any incident by having your thinking already going through the steps required. But desptie been based on experience they do not fit every situation.

Anyone who has seen the first Diehard movie will remember how the FBI handbook was used against them.
Mental Health and Mental Illness
This is still the concern I have for the Rugby World Cup, that if a major incident happens there will be too much of a worry about procedures & protecting a site for resulting inquiries when in fact they will have maybe 30 seconds before the next incident in the case of a terrorist attack.

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Confusion name of the game. Frustration Reigns!

Kia Ora,

Well you would think with all the disasters going on around here in the South Island in the last few months the powers that be would of learnt when confusion is the name of the game. Frustration Reigns.

First information was the date of the Strongman mine disaster was 1967 not 1968. As I said in previous post I have a relation whose family member died there. But it was talked about in passing so not only did we not know the true date but not even the name. Typical of New Zealand country areas. We just don't talk about these things. So when the date 1968 came from several so called reputable sources I took it as right. But like me none of them seem to have checked.

But right since the news of the mine explosion came to light the information has been contradictory from hour to hour. Tonight the information about the two who made it out was totally in contradiction from what was presented the previous days.

Then there was the comment about the 'rumour' going around about the three people the first two said were following them out. Funny but that 'rumour' came direct from police releases quoting the two survivors so far.

So who else do you believe?
Beautiful Visualization: Looking at Data through the Eyes of Experts
Then there has been the issue of people not sure who is down the mine. As the Mayor of Greymouth said right now the whole of the West Coast knows so you may as well release the names to stop conjecture.

The whole of the West Coast would of known in about an hour. It might be a long distance in area with difficult roads, but it is close knit. It is only a few years really since the phone system stopped been communual in some parts of the West Coast. Everybody knows everyone else's business & they help each other.
Beautiful Evidence
New Zealand needs to get its disaster response in order. We have had the warnings & instead of patting ourselves on our backs saying well done, it should be what can we do better?

Otherwise you get the frustration that is building both here in Christchurch post the earthquake & currently on the West Coast. Passage of information is one & learn how to use those better who want to help & the resources on offer.
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It seems that we are forgetting that we need information & the correct information to garner confidence.

You get it as security ringing in suspicious activity that might be of use to the police even if they don't respond. They are supposed to have this computer system that can handle all this information but if the people taking the information don't understand the context you are offering it then it is worthless.

The current system only builds frustration & when people get frustrated it first shows in work for security then police get involved & if allowed to build too far it gets right out of hand.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Misuse of Procedures!

Kia Ora,

In previous posts I have spoken about how New Zealand is not ready for the Rugby World cup & the current incident with the Mine explosion has just emphasized it.

As I have said before if confronted by a suicide bomber NZ would hold about four investigations to determine whether it was a suicide bombing when in reality they had 30 seconds to respond.

Now standard operating procedures can work for you or against you & in New Zealand at present it seems we have forgotten the so called number 8 wire mentality that made us world leaders.

Right from its inception this mine has shown some flaws in the NZ processes.

First is the application of Health & Safety. Previously someone questioned my ability to comment on Health & Safety even asking what method I use.

As I said at the time I use what I learnt in the military which is plan for worst case scenario then ask So What? for every possible action.

This process worked in Iraq as it becomes second nature & you are doing it on the move, just like you do in the military. It allows dynamic thinking on your feet. It means you learn from all experiences even those of others.

The problem with the NZ legislation is it leaves too much latitude for businesses to short cut. Not that the mine has done this but first question is why did the gas sensing equipment have to be flown from Australia?
The Security Risk Assessment Handbook: A Complete Guide for Performing Security Risk Assessments
Now it is known that coal releases gas & this area is an area of previous mine explosions. It runs into the same seam of the worst mine disaster in NZ history, the Brunner mine explosion of 1896. It is also a short distance from where a relation lost a close family member in the 1968 Strongman mine incident(they also managed to be in Inangahua for the earthquake that year), so though a lot of precautions were taken there was still a lack of the vital monitoring equipment in the area.
The Essentials of Risk Management
There has also been comments by experts that the explosion doesn't look good. The fact two people walked out & said at the time three more were at that time expected to follow means there is a good chance many if not all survived.

How many of the experts have actually been near a large gas explosion?

Well I have when a 'suicide' bomber had their vehicle detonated on them at the embassy near our villa in Baghdad. It wasn't no ordinary suicide bomb, this was a butane(gas) tanker. Though our villa was within 100 metres we suffered no damage nor did the embassy from what we could see. Blast walls protected us, the explosive force did knock down three local houses & that was where most of the deaths occurred(10 all up with 7 from one family). Most of the police & the driver of the 'suicide' bomb actually survived although badly burnt & were actually the closest to the blast.

Information so far points to fact explosion appears to have happened near the opening of the mine, so it is again likely those in the mine are just sitting tight in oxygen rich areas that are present in modern mines. How the blast went within the confines of the mine is the big question, but the fact that those that got out were from an area behind the blast through an emergency escape tunnel says the effects are likely to be limited depending on subsequent gas build up.
Standard Operating Procedure
But again it is the procedures that have been the biggest worry both post the Christchurch Earthquake & during the current mine incident.

Now procedures are great for training to give the mind something to focus on when confronted by a situation. But they don't fit every situation.

Today there was talk of waiting for the scientific evidence to stack up before they send in the mine rescue team. But there is no monitoring of the gas levels overnight. The earlier someone could get in after the blast the better as gas will build if there is no extraction.
Standard Operating Procedures and Guidelines
Personally I would of had the army over ASAP especially once they realized the weather was closing in with light drizzle(for those not aware light drizzle on the West Coast is heavy downpours everywhere else)& would prevent helicopters dropping the equipment as planned. Why? Because a section of infantry at each monitored shaft as outlined means you can continue to monitor 24 hours a day with good communication & they can be self sustaining for a prolonged period by deploying with their own supplies.

The second thing I would of done is let the West Coasters come up with a No 8 wire solution for going in ASAP with a homespun portable extraction system for the gas.
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Now that may seem fool hardy & people will say we need to do it scientifically & controlled.

But the frustration is building.

My Whanau(family) come from South Westland(Southern part of what is referred to as the West Coast) & most things are sorted out locally as they just don't have the time or often communications to wait for the outside world(there are around the area of where we are based no cell phone communications & only satellite internet). Though I have only lived there for short periods one thing I know is West Coasters will only put up with the frustration for so long before they take matters into their own hands.
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All these books might have good tidbits in them but we have to get back to doing things the New Zealand way which was take a bit from each & come up with our own common sense solution. These days we seem to care more about what corrupt bureaucrats say as to the best practice(as soon as I hear that word I know it isn't) than actually taking notice of what people want or are thinking.

Follow procedures yes but not just for the sake of following them. It has to make sense & bugger the science.

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