Can you trust the Information Governments give?

Kia Ora,

Why this question?

Security concerns have again arisen over the upcoming Commonwealth games in India.

Only saw a part of the coverage on TV last night but what I caught was the president of the New Zealand Olympic committee & chef de mission for our games team commenting. One comment I heard was about a security persons comment about poor security & the reply to the effect five governments were pulling together so don't you think they would know more?

I have had a similar question put to me when talking about possible terrorist attacks here during or prior to the Rugby World Cup 2011. "But the government would know."
The History of Terrorism: From Antiquity to al Qaeda
Well from my experience no they wouldn't.

Governments have a poor track record of knowing the true story as they are 'advised' by bureaucrats who more often than not know even less. The new Security Personnel Bill springs immediately to mind. As does the debacle that has come out in recent days where the NZSIS has again botched a background check on someone appointed to a high position. This time as the defence forces advisor on science, so requiring security clearance to the highest level.

Then there is the question as too whether a government has given all or the correct information so as to mislead. Some would say this is the case with the weapons of mass destruction that led to the invasion of Iraq.
The Mind of the Terrorist: The Psychology of Terrorism from the IRA to al-Qaeda
Just today from a security consultant there was information which would worry any security professional on potential threats to the Commonwealth games atheletes residence. They wouldn't be a reason to stop going but they need to be dealt with & quickly.

What they talk about though needs a military or PSD(private security detail) background to understand, not a NZ police background only. This is a whole different ball game.
Inside Terrorism
Problem is until it happens most people will side with the President of the NZ Olympic Committee & chef de mission of the games team.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Will the Christchurch Earthquake change the New Zealand mindset?

Kia Ora,

Since I started this blog a common thread has been the New Zealand mindset to threats in particular terrorism.

Will that change now a disaster has hit? Frankly from what I am seeing no.

You are seeing people complaining of how the scientists have said consistantly that an aftershock of 6 is likely & that this was not the expected big one(earthquake) from the Alpine Fault line. In fact though many of us including myself thought that is what it was as we are been told a lot it is overdue.
Crisis Preparedness Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Home Storage and Physical Survival
People say they were scared at the time & I have no doubt most were, but myself I had two thoughts. First was Wow didn't know a tilt slab building could flex so much this is going to fall over. The second was for my father, wider family & our Marae as they are all very close to the Alpine Fault(within 100's of metres). So I am very aware of what can happen & have always taken a keen interest in this.

Having Knowledge can help you overcome the fear.

Too many are in denial. We should be using that knowledge to ensure the rebuilds are stronger, not delaying because someone thinks the historical look of Christchurch will be changed.

A comment by a person helping in the aftermath in response to complaints about bad building standards, was the standards were not designed to save the buildings but lives which is what they did or words to that effect. This means all buildings in the quake zone should be checked to see if they will stand up to another large quake. I know this has been done at least one shopping mall & it was rated to stand up to a specific large quake larger than the one that occurred.

But most people in Christchurch outside those who have been helping or worst affected still are in a form of denial. Even those badly hit think that nothing worse can happen despite the fact no one died. It is something you find in security here in Christchurch. When selling burglar alarms the comment was made that the hardest person to sell an alarm too as they don't believe they need it anymore are those that have been burgled.

A sign in one area says "welcome to Baghdad" & when interviewed by Paul Holmes someone commented it was like "Baghdad on a bad day." In fact they don't even come close. The aftershocks have just been like Baghdad on a normal day.
Deluxe 2-Person by SurvivalKitsOnline Perfect Survival Kit for Emergency Disaster Preparedness for Earthquake, Hurricane, Fire, Evacuations, Auto, Home and Family
There is now a concern for the Rugby World Cup 2011 which has been raised, but again the comments are there is little likelyhood of terrorist attacks.

It is the same type of denial when after some of the recent earthquakes have come from a new epicentre in the old volcano that is now Lyttleton Harbour. Questions about the volcano have been dismissed by the experts as it has not been an active volcano for 5.8 million years. Thing is only about two weeks ago it was reported a volcano that had been extinct for a very long time(sorry can't recall the years but it was enough to make you think) erupted.

Just because something is not likely doesn't mean it won't happen.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Disaster Preparedness
So will there be a change in mindset?

I very much doubt it. A few more will take been ready for an earthquake seriously, many wll ditch their emergency kits within a year as they forget the whole thing. Most will figure it has happened once so will not happen again to them (despite there been a few who have been through two or three other quakes of similar magnitude in the city).

There is no difference there to the attitude of a likely terrorist attack here in New Zealand.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Confirmation just like that!

Kia Ora,

Well after yesterday's blog it was like confirmation within about an hour of point about citizen's arrest.

Was talking to an ex army mate who mentioned another mate when talking about citizen's arrest & how he had informed him what you needed to consider for a citizen's arrest.

Some points were the same like hours of darkness were in the mix, but others were vastly difference. That is where the issue is. If those that are using it or supposed to know have no real idea then no way should anyone use it.

In fact there was the one area that everyone seems to agree. Unless it is a major crime forget it. More likely to get you in trouble than help you. Better off to detain.

In the meantime today I caught some calls to a radio station confirming the title of yesterday's blog.

A lot of different expamples but it kept coming back to the NZ Police been overwhelmed & under recourced to be able to do the job properly anymore. It is putting pressure on the police & having effects such as depression then experienced people leaving.

Yet it seems that every woe of society gets dumped on the police to deal with.
Criminal Procedure Examples & Explanations, 5e
Then also today a meeting from someone in the NZ Security Industry here in Christchurch whom I haven't seen for years & that confirmaiton that the industry in New Zealand is in a poor state.

It comes back to the mindset not just of the industry but of the country that you don't need to worry as it is just not that bad here & those things like terrorist attacks will never happen here.

We have a saying for that. Yeah Right!

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Terrorist Raidss! Why do people feel they are picked on?

Kia Ora,

Well have been taking part in a forum where the discussion stemmed from the terrorist raids in the Tuhoe area here in New Zealand in the last few years.

For those that are not in NZ, what happened was after police surveillance, the NZ police raided an area where the Tuhoe Iwi(tribe) is based. From memory 17 were arrested country wide, only two really with connections to Tuhoe, but the community was raided with roads blocked off where the training had allegedly taken place. Most of those arrested were from eco green groups & one person even had an arab name, which in itself is not suspicous but when connected to terrorism things take a different slant.

The first thing to come out was people say the raids were wrong as the charges were thrown out & new ones under another act were drawn up.

That is not what really happened, the charges were thrown out as they were brought under the new Terrorism act which the judge pointed out was badly written.

That is what happens when politicians listen to bureaucrats who have no idea what they are talking about. By not knowing they were not ready & rushed through bad legislation.

The same is happening with the new security personnel bill. Though not rushed the bureaucrats have no idea what they are talking about, so have produced some finely written toilet paper which will be shown to be inadequate & then some very rushed bad replacement will come into force.

Next some are complaining that they were not connected with any terrorists (depends on whose definition as there are so many it can range from work place bullies right through to organized crime & groups such as Al Qaeada, eco greens, anti abortionists) & their children were targeted.

If you let gangs, terrorist organization or drugs & you keep your kids with you then you can not expect otherwise as distasteful as that might seem. Basically it is your fault for putting your children in that situation. Bad parenting & poor community responsbility, no matter what rights you have to grievance as Tuhoe genuienly do.

In recent history there have been enough examples of children been used to carryout or assist terrorist attacks or activities. Vietnam children throwing grenades at vehicles or laying improvised IED's, South Africa kids throwing grenades into vehicles (participants in both have told me how hard it was to shoot towards children to keep them away), Northern Ireland people of all ages placing improvised IED's with magnets against vehicles used by security forces.
Whose terrorism? A classroom activity enlists students in defining terrorism and then applying their definitions to world events.: An article from: Radical Teacher
Whilst working in Iraq knowing this we were looking for the IED's & grenades. In Afghanistan it has been taken a step further with children been used as suicide bombers (so far apparently unsuccessful).

On a lessor level children are often used to carryout criminal activity on behalf of their parents or other adults. Only today a report came out of a 12 year old selling drugs at school on behalf of family.

In this situation in particular Maori have this habit of defending those issues which are destroying us as a people. Gangs/terrorism drug use, child abuse, domestic violence & the list goes on.
Terrorism: definition, justification, and applications.(Terrorism. The Philosophical Issues )(Book review): An article from: Social Theory and Practice
People such as police do not find it easy to point firearms at children as many of them are fathers, but like going into a hostage rescue situation you have to treat everyone as a terrorist until you are sure otherwise.

If I remember properly at the time the police also detained a school bus. Funny thing is when acting as enemy party on one exercise we used a school bus to elude friendly forces to move to a new area of operations. We train to learn from those sort of experiences.

On another exercise the enemy party stole a military ambulance & managed to use it to eliminate some high ranking officials. Rest of exercise & since Ambulances have got a good going over at least by NZ forcs.

In Iraq on more than one occasion insurgents used ambulance to good effect & there was always the rumour of a fire engine fitted as a suicide bomb.

Instead of complaining they should say, "why did we get targeted?" & What can we do to ensure it doesn't happen again?"

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

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

Marlborough be very Afraid!

Kia Ora,

One of the items of news going around today is the possible staging of the Undie 500 rally ending on a property in Marlborough.

The comments attributed to one of the owners shows they have no idea what they have let themselves in for.



Where as their neighbour Peter Yealands does. To get where Peter has means he has had to take risks after weighing up the pro's & con's & quite obviously he sees this as too risky.

As I have stated before having carried out security for ENSOC (Engineering Students of Canterbury (University) functions in the past, they will have to insist on a lot of security (not the numbers ENSOC come up with) & being relatively isolated the security will require riot gear.



Before someone says I don't know the area & it is not that isolated, I went to school in Blenheim & my first security job on leaving the army was in Blenheim where I was at times required to answer alarms in Seddon township, past Peter Yealands vineyards (the neighbour of where the party is proposed). For any police or other responses it takes time to get there.

Therefore any security is going to be have to be prepared to fend for itself in the intervening time.



What sort of mindless behaviour can they expect.

Last night around here would be one thing that is likely to happen on the fringes, burnouts by boy racers, racing, a flurry of what appeared to be shots from an air rifle at one point.

At the party, severe intoxication, fighting, fires (the bigger the better & I have being in Marlborough when a fire has swept over those grasslands), theft, sexual assaults even to the extent where the owners are terrorized in their own home.



It is not being in the student area in Dunedin that causes the issues. It is the mindset of the ENSOC students going down there. Just, as they carry this type of behaviour out on a weekly basis, they get out when they see the police. The Otago students don't realize what they are in for.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Crime & Terrorism to rise!

Kia Ora,

In an earlier blog I titled it crime is to rise. At the time I wrote that the expected coming economic crisis will result in a rise of crime.



Well today I received an economic update email from Robert Kiyosaki & guess what. Being an ex Vietnam Veteran he sees the same & the rise of terrorism.

In fact he labels many of the current criminal activities in the US & the wider world as Terrorism.

Same as I & many of us with experience in the NZ security industry label many of the crimes here in NZ & here in Christchurch the boy racer community.

Then he mentions the first US citizen as a suicide bomber who recently detonated in Somalia.

His point was one I have being trying to make in my blogs. As the economy worsens, so will crime.



But not only will crime worsen but the conditions eventuate from which Terrorism recruits.

So as the situation is expected to worsen, say for example the boy racers will become more extreme, there was a letter to the editor in todays 'Press' in which a young male threatens to organize basically a fight back by the young ones 'harassed' by the police.

You don't get harrassed if you aren't breaking the law.

Already classed by many as Terrorists, their actions are liable to worsen.

http://securitynz-dusty67.blogspot.com

What is the connection between BP & the NZ Security Industry?

Kia ora,

A topical issue at present is the BP oil disaster. But what really was behind the poor response to the initial incident, why it most likely happened (listening to some mates in the industry gives me a clue) & how does it connect with the issues in the NZ Security Industry?

It was comments by a couple of mates in the oil industry at present that got me thinking of what is likely to be behind the initial incident & the failure since to cope with it.

Overall the American system works on the principle that the market will provide the best practice & I have heard our own policticians say this as opposed to over regulation.

It certainly can allow business to flourish, but if the market has allowed businesses to short cut then when things go wrong it is exposed.

The comments I refer too were they could not belief the US industry were still doing something a certain way.

The point is that if BP are doing it you can bet everyone else is to stay on an even field of play.

This was behind points identified that resulted in the 9/11 attacks where different groups involved in airport security/work did not communicate with each other as each stayed in its own little world.

I would like to think that the US has taken that lesson on board, but the NZ Security Industry has not in my view.

At about the time of 9/11 I was contracted to carryout some security work in the vicinity of one of our major airports.

There was a situation there that should of being picked up, but I later found out had been in place for about two weeks because none of the five security companies or Government departments were allowed to look outside their area of responsibility or they faced the sack(being fired).

Ask any person who has lived with Terrorism would find that acceptable behaviour.

But again it comes back to the NZ mindset which the NZ security Industry just reflects, as was seen by it taking days for locals to call in the abandoned vehicle in Auckland (then point out it took the police 24 hours to respond), only to find it had a bomb in it.

That Incident was wiped off the pages by the more important issue of a Member of parliament  misusing his government credit card & even paying to watch porn.

We really have our priorites right in this country.

                                                     http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Why worry about Terrorism when your Focus is Basic Security?

Kia Ora,

The above is a question I am often asked. So why do I look at terrorism when the focus is basic security?

Because if basic security is carried out correctly then the terrorist threat along with criminal activity is limited.

A security guard does not, as someone said of those at their place of work, stand there brain dead but ready to act.

As I pointed out to them their guards if doing their job properly should be looking well beyond their premises. If they have the right observation skills that every person in the NZ security industry should have, then the guards will see most issues coming.

The problem is one I have talked about often. Lack of real security training & guards being told to ignore all that happens off their site.

That same skill applies whether you are standing outside a licensed premise, static security on a site such as a bank or government department or dealing with terrorists.

The amount of times we reported suspicious activity, such as someone with a video camera at the gates, to the American soldiers on the gates. Yet time & again this suspicious actinity was not acted on to be followed within a day or two by a suicide bomber.

It is what most of the NZ security industry does not realize, yes we have to make money to survive, but the real reason you patrol comes under six headings known to the military as the aims of patrolling.

The way they can be employed is slightly different compared to how the military or PSD teams might apply them, but commercial security if they are to be effective need

to use them.

The following is the Aims of Patrolling modified slightly for civilian use.

1. To Gain & Retain the Initiative

2. To Gain Information

3. To Deny Criminal/Terrorist Elements Information

4. To Make Criminal Elements Uncomfortable

5. To Provide Protection
                                 
6. To Provide Security

These aims do not always necessitate you actually moving as you can use your senses to achieve the same goals.

These aims would not even need explaining to someone from Britain as they do it as second nature.

But NZ as someone said on the news tonight when talking about a relation who was murdered " it just doesn't happen in NZ". Sorry but it does & it is all happening with greater regularity.

It is only a short hop to regular, what most people would regard as, terrorist activity.

                                                                      http://www/foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

New Zealand is ready for the Rugby World Cup 2011. NOT!

Kia Ora,

Is New Zealand really ready to host the Rugby World Cup 2011? Not after another debacle over security I think not. A lot of fingers were being pointed at the police last night but they can't do everything it needs a change in mindset for the whole country.

This is the situation which eventuated last night, but has gone from the news services today.

A vehicle which had being sitting for days in a car park of a sports field according to residents, yet nothing was done until Tuesday when one resident called the police. They then showed up 24 hours later to find a bomb in the vehicle.

Compare that with Britain with their history of combating terrorism. My understanding of their actions is no vehicle is left sitting parked for more than 24 hours. Any residents would of called it in well before they did in Auckland.

Taking the item of the news services is too late. It got on there so it will be world wide, this the day after NZ was rated the most peaceful country in the world.

I understand a consultant being used for the World Cup is not a New Zealander & the assessment is all is safe & I think I have an idea who it is.

Thing is when assessing for threats such as possible suicide bombings are hard to picture if you have not lived in that environment. Those of us who have (alot of Kiwis), see the threat assessment as terrorist attacks & suicide bombings extremely likley either during or prior to the Rugby World Cup.

To combat a terrorist or terrorism you have to be able to think like them, that is something I have being accussed of more than once.

Currently in NZ there are a multitude of responses to likely bomb threats & I know talking to someone in a Government department that their response was totally lacking (being British they identified it but no one wants to know) where as Government department next door to them has a response in line with how terrorists think.

In NZ there seems to be a believe that you just deal with the one incident & it will be all Jake (OK).

But that is not standard operating procedure for any terrorist group. These current bomb alerts with hoax or simulated bombs or even real ones not properly set could just as well be the groups planning something seeing how NZ services, security industry & population react to such incidents.

They would then stage anther hoax or real bomb & plant seondary devices to catch in the first instance the emergency services, but also where people would be evacuated too.

This was the action taken in Northern Ireland in the Omagh bombing.

Even worse today is the suicide bomber.

The following was an incident in Iraq during my time there.

The Police Academy was mortared or rocketed on a daily basis, but on this occassion the bombers used this to their advantage as people were taking the same actions everyday.

Two bombers got into the Academy area (there has being some suggestion they bribed their way in past the check points) at breakfast time.

What then appears to have happened is one bomber lined up with the breakfast crowd before detonotating.

Everyone else thinking it was one of the regular mortar or rocket attacks ran to the shelters, where in one the other bomber was waiting, as people crowded in they then detonated their vest.

One thing noted in the NZ responses is the public are allowed to stand around at the cordons edge as a crowd.

All that has to be done here is work out where the cordons are likely to go in & plant devices for maximum effect.

Similar tactics were used when a 'suicide' bomb was detonated outside the embassy next to our villa in Iraq. The responding Iraqi police units later found three unexploded devices along the street, that had failed to explode as they responded to the incident.

Standard tactic with suicide bombers is two to three with short gaps in between or in the case of an attack on Abu Gharib at least seven other bombers. The difference with Abu Gharib was four were used to isolate the area then three others attempted to breach the camp, one after another.

New Zealand ready for the Rugby World Cup 2011? I think it is a long way from even being close.

                                                                 http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Good Security: It does exist!

Kia Ora,

Alot of my security blogs are about the need for the NZ security industry to bring itself up to speed.

But that is not to say there is not good security companies here. Today there was an interview with an operator from a company which I was aware of having good standards.

The operator also naturally had good standards as he comes from outside NZ so understands good security.

There is also one good events security company, but it is good for the NZ environment as I often tell its owner for the Rugby World cup 2011 it is a whole new step up in level & in particular mindset.

There are a lot of good people who have left the industry because they have being punished for actually carrying out security.

So there are individuals, companies that do provide real security, but it needs the powers that be to recognize that the industry as a whole needs to improve & that does not always mean carrying out some recognized course or a course based on how people perform in the class room.

Security is a physical profession that should value experience & skills people bring to it.

Training is of course needed, but as couple of stories from Iraq reminds me, courses are not always the answer.

Two individuals with time in Iraq had to attend a course prior to starting with their new company. The drills taught were the standard body guard drills with national variations, but in one incident they told the story where they stood & laughed.

The Instructor said "I don't like your attitude" or words to that effect, but these two just replied " you do that in Baghdad, just roll out the extra body bags" or words to that effect.

Second story is about a group of higly qualified instructors arriving in Baghdad to take a newly required course & after the first session been basically told to f... off by the staff they were training as it might have its place in some environments, but not in Baghdad.

Bodyguard training as I received from experienced operators in NZ on a formal NZQA course gave you a base, but when you are required to do the real thing it quickly becomes obvious that each situation requires a totally different approach.

On return I was offered an upgrade for free with assessment by an instructor as my level had never being tested on a practical basis.
First issue with NZ training industry was on a couple of courses you were, but most you were not so standards were different. We had been tested to a practical level.

The other issue is having that experience & higher skill level, how does someone without it understand where you are coming from or assess you?

It is something the military in many countries have found over the years when soldiers come back from operations & stay in the military they then go on promotion courses & when told something will not work, calmly reply "well it did in so & so" & it can not be argued that it does not work. But it does cause issues for instructors.

That is why some military courses changed their stance on tactics & you could not fail on tactics. A successful tactic is one that works, no matter how crazy it might seem in the light of day.

We also seen though that systems can be too inflexible if people don't have that wider mindset to see where each fits.

                                           http://www/foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Who is going down with the ship?

Kia Ora,

An interesting few days & few discussions in amongst been very busy.

First is a discussion with someone much more experienced & qualified than me who has had to carry out a number of courses to be 'recognized' in the NZ industry, even though those courses do not come anywhere near his military training or experience.

Our conversation turned to the Rugby World Cup 2011 & the training required to get the NZ industry up to standard required.

He related that recently he had run some simulations for someone & when they through in terrorist situations, no one knew what to do.

Basically it is not  just the training that is needed it is, as I have said before, a change in mindset & for that you don't need a bit of paper, but real time training & practice.

In short  at this point in time the only way NZ will be ready is by making the standard only ex NZ, British or South African military or ex British or South African Police to begin with.

The hardest part of the mindset comes from the fact that NZ does not see itself as a terrorist target or had many attacks, so in the industries minds eye the worst they can see is some drunken brawls & maybe a bomb threat or two(even then they are not ready).

With Terrorism it is too late once it has happened to think about training or changing the mindset, but it seems that something has to occur before it will happen here.

Today there was an article in the "Press" about a recent release of the US military's vision of the future issues.

It wasn't rocket science to work a lot of it out & in fact much of it says exactly what I have been saying in these blogs. You just look at history & it shows you what is going to happen.

To quote Winston Churchill again "the further back you look, the further forward you see." Just the tools used change.

One point it makes is one I have been on about since leaving the army & entering the NZ security industry.

More & more they see a convergence of the criminal activities of Organized crime & Terrorists.

That directly relates to the mindset of the NZ security industry which constantly tells it's people to ignore crime or suspicious activity.

Terrorist attacks are preceded by criminal or suspicious activity either by the terrorists or someone such as organized crime. Crime is also seen to more often in the future to been used to finance terrorist operations sine the world is now activily looking for connections to finance.

So if you impact crime & suspicious activity, then you impact on the ability for terrorist networks to operate.

It happens to some extent at times here in Christchurch where the boy racers are attracting the attention whilst in the background criminal elements are carrying out crimes. They have often been given drugs as part of the arrangement & this was known to be going on in 2001.

How do we know all this, because good training coupled with experience in the industry & that gained in particular by the British in Northern Ireland & expanded on by experience in Iraq, show one that it happens & two we can counter much of it by good basic security with a good mindset. Something lacking in the NZ industry at present.

                                          http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

How is this going to bring us closer as a Nation?

Kia Ora,

In recent weeks there have being some concerning developments & incidents this last week haven't helped.

After months of negotiation, suddenly the government pulled back from the deal with Tuhoe, by saying they would not deliver the main point of contention.

So why is this a security concern?

Up until now there has being more a focus on terrorism as practised outside the country, but what about people who might regard themselves as freedom fighters within the country?

The concerning developments in recent weeks have been on a certain internet forum individuals commenting on arming themselves & taking back the country.

That is likely to have only being those few, but bad decisions like the Tuhoe one, worsening economic conditions leading to more extreme views & maybe just a general hardening of attitudes could very well push people in that direction.

What is worse is yet again Police headquarters show they are in no way ready for the Rugby World Cup 2011.

The information was supplied by email to them, but the reply was take it to a local police station.

This is what is called intelligence & only the national body has the resources needed to follow up, not the officer behind the desk at the local station.

It is the type of intelligence gathering that the NZ security industry does not have in its security training.

In fact, as has being stated before, most companies actually tell you to ignore anything suspicious or criminal in nature.

At times the police do very well with intelligence they get on crime, but when it appears to be outside their comprehension, then it appears they struggle.

I am not of course talking about the officer out on the street. They are going just from one incident to the next.

Good intelligence is what will be needed to combat what is already happening around the world just in relation to the failing economies. NZ is not immune & it is coming. For the Rugby World Cup 2011 it is going to be even more imperative.

As the Americans found in Iraq, they relied too much on electronic intelligence, not what the people on the ground were picking up.


                                                      http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

From the Terrorists point of view.

Kia Ora,

Being a hectic time, so a bit of a delay in the blogs. Three incidents or issues have come up & in trying to explain it to people in NZ I have had to go back to looking at it from a terrorists point of view.

First incident was the bomb alert at Dunedin airport. Of note was the description of the device & it begs the question as to why the whole airport was closed down after an initial check that there were no other devices.

From a terrorists point of view they would of got good information out of this. Drills used, how they can tie up major transport hubs in NZ due to poor standard operating procedures & that many cities in NZ, that will be used for the rugby world cup, have no explosive specialists.

As the British soon learnt in Northern Ireland, those on the ground need to be trained a little higher in IED recognition & even have drills to clear items themselves or you can tie a whole city up with just a few incidents.

That is a lesson that was put into NZ army training, but is lacking in NZ security training.

The next thing that arose was the annoucing of the Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens)Concerts.

Now I love his music & would like to go to one of the concerts, but I would consider them a likely target.

The reasons they are likely targets are as follows.

Yusuf is a moderate Muslim & those that carryout acts of terrorism consider them legitimate targets as they are not sticking to their view of the Koran.
I have being security for a TV Christian Evangelist who requires bodyguards & that was because for the same reason. A lesser evangelist had his family massacred by an extreme Christian group.

In the US at present there is a marked increase in open hostility towards the government, in particular over Obama being President & issues such as Healthcare.

In NZ here in an article within the last week it was stated that there was 7000 Saudi students. Most of them will be good law abiding people. There will be a few that will likely have other agendas on their mind.

What is generally not known is that despite all the focus on Iran & Syria allowing support to the insurgency in Iraq, most actually came across the border from Saudi Arabia & the majority of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudi Students.

After the reporters stunt exposing the poor security & the comments in particular by the Minister of Police that security would be upped for the World Cup, but not before would signal to a terrorist that the best time is now & this concert is a perfect opportunity.

The third major issue is the press release by the Police inspector in charge of planning for the Rugby World Cup in which he states that they have planned for terrorist acts which though are unlikely.

From a terrorists point of view they will be laughing all the way to the bank. The World Cup as one of  the largest sporting event in the world supposedly, will be on the radar or as pointed out above in the events leading up to it. To say otherwise means you have your head in the sand.

He also points out he was at an international briefing for the Soccer World Cup.

Point he is missing as are many in NZ, is it is a huge jump in mindset from security or policing in NZ to the requirements of such an event, when terrorism is likely, when most people in NZ will never have experienced terrorism in the way most likely to hit on an ongoing basis.

Many live with the daily terrorism associated with organized crime or in Christchurch's case boyracers, but not what comes through with suicide bombings or associated activities.

Speaking to police officers on the ground, many agree & many do not want to be armed. Others tell me their weapon skills & lack of training means many are more dangerous to themselves or others around them

That is why the police associations campaign to arm police needs one of two things. A huge influx in money for training or the formation of groups of permanently armed police on standby for incidents requiring their skills.

Meanwhile NZ goes on believing that there is not threat. The biggest threat is the believe their is no threat.

Terrorism concerns.

Kia ora,

Over the last week there have being major terrorism concerns for the IPL Cricket & the Commonwealth Games after bomb blasts outside a stadium prior to an IPL game.

But as predicted in an earlier blog, the Indians, just delayed the game a bit then carried on. It is part of life in many parts of the world.

But yet again it calls into question the possibility of terrorism in New Zealand.

It is not just a matter of good security training, but yet again a change in mindset.

The reaction of a former player turned commentator & his comments, show that an attack on New Zealand will have a greater effect than a full on attack at the Commonwealth Games.

How hard will it be to change the NZ mindset in regards to anything to do with security or even policing let alone terrorism.

Two incidents  in this last week show this has a long way to go. A very long way.

The first was part of the increasing tendecy to flout authority of any kind & ended up with the shooting of a security guard with an air rifle by a teenager.

Someone said to me "it was only an air rifle". The modern air rifle can be more powerful than many .22, just the pellet is small. Shot in the wrong place & they kill.

Just ask the family of the police sergeant killed by one.

The second is the incident is the ruckus over the police car turning to chase a speeding vehicle & then being hit by a motorcyclist killing the motorcyclist.

The comment is all about how wrong the police officer was.

The initial impression I received from the media coverage was that the police vehicle had a vehicle approaching at speed, had turned blind & was hit by the motor cyclist coming from behind the patrol car, but that didn't add up to where the police car was hit from the images shown.

Now comment by the driver of the speeding vehicle puts it in a different light, though not knowing the full facts this is how I see it.

Ute was speeding, Police car turned as bike was behind the Ute, police car would of had clear view  unless the bike was also speeding or even racing the Ute.

But still the venom is at the police like they deliberately did it.

Then the dirver of the Ute claims that his Mazda bounty could not reach the speed of 154kmh.

Funny that as teams were able to get their Pajero's to 180/200 kmh in Iraq & even with four to five tonne armoured landcruisers we reached speeds of 160 to 180Kmh & many of these were well underpowered compared to any bounty.

So with attitudes like that it is going to take a huge mindset change for the public of NZ to accept the security levels needed to stage a world class sporting event.

And again that then leads to the even greater mindset change needed by the NZ security industry.

Suicide bombers do not stop just because you say so.

On current tactics, they will arrived armed to fight their way in to inflict maximum damage. Few bombers to neutralize any opposition then the next ones get that bit further.

To combat it we need to practise basic security for real, not just play at it. Hands up all those in the NZ security industry who knows what a suicide bomber looks like after they have detonated their vest?

Mayhem & Terrorism!

Kia Ora,

Few days delay here from when this was going to be posted, but being working on how social media interacts to assist a business. The effect is huge when you realize what it can do.

Anyway to Mayhem & Terrorism. Am I talking again about Suicide bombers?

No, but Christchurch's very own brand of terrorism & the lack of respect for others that todays society brings.

Over the last two weeks we have had to put up with a group talking loudly on their balcony whilst trying to sleep. They do not realize it or didn't until told, that it is a breach of the Resource Management act. On Friday added to that was the base in the music, although the person in charge did try to keep it down for as long as he could.

Invariably other issues arose.

As I was getting ready to go over to point out the music needed to be turned off as after midnight heard a noise & looked out to see one of party goers head over to a station wagon full of young people, one of whom then decides that the frontage of the complex is his toilet. Well until he got a bollocking & party was also told to cut the noise.

Just prior to that though a group had gathered on the edge of the complex to smoke pot, which of course they didn't think was a drug.

Finally the party was over & then the police were called as two females decided that the best way for them to travel was in the boot of the car.

It is illegal because it is dangerous. People have died doing that before.

So nothing major, but don't need to go to do security when it is coming to you.

But it had reprecussions the next night.

You could hear the Christchurch Terrorist's better known as boy racers in groups in the area.

At about midnight went down stairs to office to turn off an item & as I open the door about four feet away a girl comes through the trees on our boundary & takes her pants down, looking to use the front of our office as a toilet.

She got a sharp wake up, & ran off but then a mate of hers came around the corner where she had being going between our company vehicles.

About 0215 am were woken by a noise to see a van that had being at the party parked in same spot & just as badly as night before. But instead of guy & his girlfriend it was the homeboys who were wandering around the place, looking like they were up to no good. But as got ready to call the police, they left.

Head outside to make sure there is no tagging & look down the road to see boy racers setting up a diesel then starting use it.

Police rung & this time police units & fire units blocked the road. Apparently a large amount of diesel had being applied to the road in a dangerous spot just around a cormer & it appeared that a jumbo rubbish bin had also being set alight.

Now they may seem tame incidents but they are normal activity in many areas of Christchurch on any given night.

Why do I call the boy racer's terrorists because that is what they do. They go into an area & terrorize the inhabitants so that people are too scared to give out too many details in case they come back to threaten or do harm to them.

I am aware of one incident recently were a group of these Terrorists (they use a form of intimidation or terrorism to  try to get their way) alledgedly went onto an address of informants as a group & threatened them.

I have personally attended a series of incidents where it went from intimidating staff at a 24 hour factory, to once the business owner was there, so his workers could leave, putting a flue through the buildings windows, trying to tip over the owners car & trying to intimidate security on our arrival.

The following week they stoned the static security guard two nights in a row when he began to take their details.

In a susequent action they broke windows in other businesses & tried to set the one in question on fire as I arrived, which were all cover for burglaries in the area.

More recently of course they have taken to attacking & shooting at police patrols & then attacking an aviation security patrol.

They like to class themselves  as car enthusiasts. They are nothing of the sort.

The real car enthusiast has respect & treasures their vehicle.

Sorry but they are terrorists & so far all attempts to deal with them have failed as they just don't care. As far as they are concermed no one has the right to stop them.

Welll not initially but the new security service we are about to launch will in time become a bane to their existance. We do expect a reaction but are prepared for it.

Is more training for NZ police the Answer?

Kia Ora,

There is a comment the other day from Simon re the NZ police training more in particular with firearms.

Personally I don't think that is the answer as it has as much to do with the mindset needed to pull a trigger & understand where you fit in the equation to supply security. It also doesn't take into account the day to day policing requirements in NZ.

First many of the current police force I have spoken too, when they become aware that I worked in Iraq confide that they part they hated the most in police training was using firearms & that they could not do what we did in Iraq.

Secondly to just combat the current crime issues out there at present we would need to increase the police force by about three times. It has being estimated that 95% of crime is not reported currently in NZ.

At times I would day more. It is quite common for the police or security to stumble across crimes that have being going on for a while but no one has reported as they don't think the police are going to respond.

On top of that there is now quite evidently needed a force like the British SO 19 permanently armed police moving around ready to react. The current requirement to get AOS together, if you know what is happening, is like watching Keystone cops.
You can't have that happening when it is peoples lives. 

That is not a criticism of the members of AOS, but of the system used to bring them together then disperse to an incident. The time taken is a joke.

In last few days whilst talking to someone on a business matter they raised an issue that they had heard from a third party & which plays into the terrorist stunt scenario.

The story goes that here in Christchurch a Muslim changed to a Christian church & related that there were many sleepers in the Christchurch community.

Now there was no clarification as to what they meant by sleepers whether that was in a security view of sleepers being possible jihadists or sleepers as in Muslims keeping a low profile because they are in what they perceive to be a predominantly Christian society.

I have seen the same in Christian groups where hard line Christians lower their profile by becoming part of a more moderate group.

Again the NZ mindset doesn't think that is possible in NZ. It is possible anywhere.


One other issue that has being brought to my attention over the last few days by a mate is the reaction at the time to the terrorist stunts.

There were claims by the stadiums that the terrorist stunts could of caused panic & injuries if not deaths.

As it was pointed out to me that is the stadiums saying they are not prepared for the real thing & have no procedures in place.

From personal experience carrying out security in our stadiums & major organizations over a number of years they have had no procedures or if they have them they have no idea what they are, or they are not current or they are completely wrong.


One major organization had as its bomb threat procedure hit the fire alarm.

Now for a bomb threat the reaction required is totally different than for a fire & the assembly places could need to be significantly different & even changeable.

I doubt that if I checked their again they have changed their procedures.

Another has, but they have not kept them updated for the new type of threat or even consider that normal terrorist threat could be present & therefore counter those tactics.

The other issue is even if they have a security presence on site, they are generally not even informed if there is a bomb threat.

True in NZ most of them would not know what to look for or to do, but before police are called in this respect someone has to carryout a preliminary check.

As the British found in Northern Ireland if you don't have the people on the ground trained in first recognition then a whole city can be tied up by false calls mixed with real ones.

In fact it was a comment made by a former member of the RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary) was that one IRA cell (usually about four people) could of tied up Baghdad because of the way the US forces were reacting to situations.

That reaction is no different than calling the police first in all instances.

In at least three incdents my military training has stopped the need to call police & secure the area.

If you find one & are awaiting police what can you do to secure the area & how far do you secure? What are the ballistic features of the possible bomb likely to be?

That extra training needs to be part of the normal security package, but most it amounts to seeing a package & calling the police. Usually from their cell phone which could easily detonate a bomb if it was one.

What Happened? When?

Kia Ora,

Yet again NZ shows its propensity to collectively forget issues within a week. A week ago it was all the terrorist stunts, but by Tuesday you weren't hearing a thing.

Just to clarify the end of my last blog, as far as I know I didn't kill anyone in Iraq, but it was the mindset you had to be prepared for. Everytime you fired a warning shot you knew it could kill.

The point was you need the right mindset to pull the trigger & no one actually knows if they can do it when the time comes. Personally I would of fired over a hundred warning rounds into & at vehicles.

People will say that is easy. Is it? On one team we had a 'special forces' person who looked the part, knew martial arts, had all the best gear, but when it came time to fire a warning shot where the vehicle was seen approaching from about 2 km away at an estimated speed of 200 Kmh (quite common in Iraq) he failed. It was left to this plain infantryman three vehicles in front to fire.

Other news has being a NZ intelligience gathering group are to now focus inwardly as well in the lead up to the Rugby World cup.

The problem with electronic intelligience gathering is it only an aid for the humint & gut feeling of those on the street. Over realiance on it & you end up like the Americans with egg on their faces more often than not. They didn't listen to their soldiers on the street often enough.

Again though we see nothing has being learnt.

As I am typing this I am listening to the test cricket in Wellington & with the Aussie concerns over security in particular heightened after the revelation of the terrorist stunt & Michael Clarke's personal issues, a streaker has just run right across the field of play, side stepped a security guard, outrun all the rest & gone.

Now a streaker is not a terrorist attack, but there are basic strategies to combat this sort of activity that most security not only don't practice, they don't know.

True it also often comes to the client dictating the numbers because politicians are too weak to put in place formula's for minimum numbers of security required at events or even on task's.

As one ex army comrade said "now they have said they will not change the security requirements before the Rugby World Cup, then there is almost surely going to be an attack prior", & she was in the Dental Corp.  But she understands security. Too bad more don't.

Huge Change in mindset needed!

Kia ora,

Well the debate continues over the terrorist stunts carried out by a NZ newspaper.

When you read the articles they actually did very little but walk in with alcohol & minature explosives, gain access to restricted areas & dress up as construction workers on one occassion.

Yet the authorities have aimed their remarks at the reporters not on those who are to provide the security.

Their are comments that the security will be a lot different for the Rugby World Cup. Why should it be different then? In todays world the threat is always there. To be ready for the  Rugby World Cup, the changes need to happen now, because the biggest change that has to occur is a mindset change.

One thing that was noticed in Iraq was former NZ soldiers fitted in well, but many former NZ police officers(without a military background) struggled initially with the change in mindset required.

Even as dangerous as the street of NZ have become with crime so random, it is still a huge change in mindset to be in an environment where you have to shoot to maybe kill & be aware that death may come from anywhere.

As one person I had quite a few dealings with in Iraq said "the west has already lost this war as these guys are committed".

Having, as the police organizer said " a heavy but low key presence" isn't going to work.

With the prospect of suicide bombers, you need to be meeting them at a distance from the objective. The tactics they use have being refined & adapted.

Thanks to briefings whilst in Iraq at the time of the attack on Abu Gharib, internet footage provied by the attackers & looking at past attacks it was easy to see the similarities in the attack on a prison in Afghanistan. This time it was successful.

These attacks are seldom carried out in isolation & they will come armed to get further in to their target.

That means meeting them at the furtherest point from the target.

It means with the police already overstreteched & undermanned, professional private security are required for the more in the face roles. Leave the polce to their jobs or specialist roles.

Experienced police officers both in & now out of the force, have being worried for sometime that what I have being talking about would happen & they are not ready.

How many of the current force are ready to shoot to kill? Even most soldiers over history have not actually shot to kill. It is more likely now, but pulling the trigger is not what everyone can do when the time comes.

At worst case & suicide bombers do show up, they are mission orientated & the only thing that will stop them is to kill them.

Harsh, but that is the fact of life. After 18 months of training how many of the current event security staff will be ready for the possability they could die?

About 1% I would say & they would be all ex military.

Security! In reality NZ is just playing at it.