Is it really all just about the World Cup? Are we ready?

Kia Ora,

All you hear about in New Zealand at present is the world cup. That is the Rugby World cup.

That is all everyone is focussed on but they seem to be missing the big picture & they also have this belief that we are ready.

Focus on the Rugby World Cup might be a good thing in some ways as it takes peoples minds off the worsening financial crisis. But it overlooks the big picture.

As I have mentioned before I believe, a former member of the British Special forces raised a similar issue whilst we were working in Iraq.

Every security professional especially ex military were focussing on Iraq & Afghanistan, but what was everyone going to do afterwards? There would not be a lot of extra jobs created world wide to take on all those working in Iraq alone.
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The situation is no different with the Rugby World Cup. For instance everyone say here in Christchurch will be looking to get some work at the cup. Many with a view that it is the only way most locals are going to get to see the good games as it is already far too expensive for tickets.

But there is not enough work & will be even less with the impending world wide financial meltdown to employ all that extra security required outside the actual cup. Even if the Security industry is one that will benefit from the financial crisis.
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Then yet again there is the question as to whether New Zealand is ready to host something like the Rugby World Cup.

On the evidence I would say not. Recent incidents include the complete close down of the Auckland international airport, of the Wellington train services again, bomb alerts that take hours for a bomb squad to show up when properly trained security staff might of been able to resolve the situation.

Then there has been the reaction to firstly the Christchurch earthquake. Whilst the emergency services were good though there were no major issues, some of the other associated groups though were not as good as was claimed when everybody were back slapping themselves after the wee shake.
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Then there has been the response to the mine incident. It is the process/procedures not the personel who have worked well in a very demanding environment. Though information that has since come to light will most likely vindicate their response, the whole process in how we respond to major incidents now needs to be upgraded.
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There are claims in the last few days that we are ready for anything including terrorist attacks at the Rugby World Cup.

But again I go back to Iraq where police officers who also served in the military made the comments that "NZ police without a military background even at least territorial should not work security in Iraq." Though those police that did in the main handled themselves well many found it a big change in mindset to policing in NZ. Although there was the one who allgedly tried to sue the recruiter & company for not telling them how dangerous Iraq was.

Excuse me? But that shows the step up in mindset needed.

It is the mindset that counts. As I have said before on finding I worked in Iraq/was in the army many serving police officers have said they are uncomfortable with firearms. Then it comes to having to pull the trigger.

Not as easy as people think from playing video games, not to mention the training needed for it to become instinctive.
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When it comes to terrorism anybody can be involved, not just young men with an attitude. That old person who may of lost their relations, the children who have been set up as a suicide bomber(as happened on several occassions in Afghanistan) or even a cow as happened on one occassion(though that one backfired as the cow with explosives inside turned around & followed the insurgents). Can people really pull the trigger if really needed on someone who looks so innocent?

In NZ I doubt it as they have never encountered it & therefore the mindset is never there.

Could I? Don't know as all my shots were warning shots but probably as you knew that at anytime you could be expected too. After one incident it really brought it home you might just have to do it, no matter how innocent they seemed.

Ready for the Rugby World Cup? I doubt it.

As I have said on numerous occassions our processes have to change as if a suicide bomber hits then you have 30 seconds to decide if it was or not as another one is coming.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz