When will they learn?

Kia Ora,

It seems our local terrorists, better known as boy racers, just don't seem to get the fact that they are breaking the law, but also not wanted.

With the new security service being offered if not responding to a call, procedure is to find an area to park up, in particular known trouble spots.

At present that means it is about 300 metres from base with boy racers often now congregating there.

On Friday night a couple of vehicles were observed parking in the usual spot then could be heard what sounded like the continuation of damage to businesses there  & the police were called.

It was the second week in a row that they have being called there. One person was observed, what it later transpired was not looking for a place to go to the toilet, but  trying to enter the premises.

Later on in a new subdivision a vehicle with four pers wearing hoodies was observed acting suspiciously & police called.

It appeared from response there were more than one report of their activities.

Saturday night though produced a surprise. It would be nice to think that the calls made as part of the service had something to do with it, but no way of confirming that.

Held up by admin, suddenly heard a noise & looked down the road to see police cars everywhere in what was obviously a planned or co ordinated move on those operating in that area.

Destroying a business or parts aligned to those businesses just because you think you can is not the sign of mature or even immature adults.  It falls in the realms of anarchists, but in this event it is just spoilt brats.

Our communities do not deserve this sort of behaviour & businesses, in the current environment in particular, can not afford the extra amount to fix up the damage.

These idiots could result in job losses over & above what the economy is causing & likely to cause. It could have a downstream effect resulting in more job losses.

I suppose it will only take effect when it is their own job!

    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

School Security

Kia Ora,

There has been a few issues with internet of late so delays in getting this blog up to date. Don't you love telecommunications?

One of the recent issues has been that of School security. Though not on the scale of the issues overseas yet, NZ is already well past the nice school yards of yester year.

This week has seen first a school teacher stabbed by a 13 year old & then a 15 year old girl had to be talked down by a teacher after threatening other students with a knife.

One of the issues arising from this has been the schools worrying about the Bill of Rights in regards to any searches of students.

There are certainly precautions that need to be taken, such as females only searched by females, privacy & always having a witness on hand when searching, but in this case I would say that is secondary as it clashes with another law. 

My understanding is Parliament actually set this law(Bill of Rights) up like this.

That other law is Health & Safety, in particular of other students & teachers. Not to mention any security they may employ.

If they don't want to enforce compliance with entry conditions, then a compromise is having security on site during school hours. A minimum of two guards, numbers depending of the size of school, & have them constantly patrolling.

The signs of potential trouble can usually be picked up before it happens when you combine experience & training.

We have to stop being PC & starting imposing rules on the young people of today.

One thing you notice when you have had to deal with or work with teenagers, most of them would actually like some rules.

They are still going to push them, but without any effectively in place either in most school environments or in public they are going to keep doing more outrageous things to get noticed.

In fact experience has shown that most of the worst kids actually like discipline more. Especially if used in channelling their energies in areas where they are more at home other than a classroom.

A few years ago now, as part of the army, we engaged with a boys home. The leader of our training was known throughout the army as a hard task master.

Whilst carrying out some specialist training he used to impose certain punishments & whilst the boys were training with us they got exactly the same punishments.

When we visited their accomodation afterwards they all wanted this leader to see where they lived. In been hard on them, in their minds he actually showed he cared.

Once they leave the school environment it becomes a clash of then expecting not to have any restrictions placed on them & the rules of society.

You see it with the boy racer community here in Christchurch.

They do not believe they are doing anything wrong when using someones property as a toilet, destroying signage & property belonging to businesses & items of public property.
When you confront them over this they are of the belief that you have no right to interfere in what they are doing & they have the right to destroy property.

With the continuing economic downturn & repercussions of it, we are seeing more & more people prepared to take on the authorities.

We have sown the seeds of our coming nightmares.

                                                 http://www.foxhoundsecurity.conz

Training for Bomb alerts.

Kia Ora,

It has being interesting to watch the reaction of late after the latest bombing attempt in New York.

The objects in two incidents, that were deemed suspicious could of being easily dealt with in a safe manner had the correct training being applied.

It was something that former members of the RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary) working  in Baghdad commented on.

The comment was "one IRA ASU cell could of tied up the whole of Baghdad in the way the US responded to threats." An ASU cell was thought to generally consist of four people.

From New York it appears nothing has being learned.

It was also part of our army training based on the British experience in Northern Ireland. Each team  came up with a way to deal with suspicious packages on their own as other wise the 'bomb' squads would never stop going from one incident to another & would basically lock  down a city or area

Having each team go through some procedures meant most iteams were dealt with, with little or no disturbance.

So how does that relate to NZ, the NZ security Industry, security training or even the NZ police?

Well due to lack of training the same situation could happen here as in New York. In fact it already does.

Often the area closed off is much greater than that needed for the size of the suspicious item.

There are clearly at times no procedures to allow activities to carry on.

For example the Dunedin airport bomb scare. I landed there a week after it. Yes I can see where the mens toilet can effect passengers, but where were the procedures to carry on in another part of the airport.

Now  report said that after that one had being cleared, after waiting for 'bomb' squad to arrive from Christchurch, then rest of airport was cleared.

Excuse me but the proper procedure is clear, cordon, contain & control & in that includes searching all other areas once initial item is cordoned, in particular where the emergency services are going to congregate. Obviously in NZ you show up clear the one you know about then think, well maybe there is another.

Terrorist tactics world wide are use a device or a hoax as the come on then hit with the second , maybe even third (as happened this week in Al Hilla, in Iraq) aimed at emergency services. We are ready for the Rugby World Cup.
Yeah Right.

Good training can not only make a real incident safer, but also deal with  potential issues before they become a problem.

This also means changing the mindset of the NZ security industry to one that looks beyond its little world.

To do that though will need help from the Politicians & the bureaucrats, though Sir Humphrey seems to be in residence here & that is not likely to happen.

So maybe we just have to do it ourselves.

                                         http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Will New Security Service have an effect?

Kia Ora,

Will the new Security Service I have launched through my company have an effect on crime?

I think the more important question is will people use it? It will definitely have an effect as shown by experience & the effects this last weekend.

Basically the service is a 0900 call & there is a response within defined areas & during a defined time period initially extending to all hours & areas of Christchurch as the service grows.

On response then the details of the suspcious or criminal activity is recorded & if neccesary Police called.

Of course the most common comment straight away is "but we can do that ourselves or call the Police".

Yes people can, but it has being estimated that up to 95% of crime in NZ is not reported & this has being increasing as the perception the police will not respond continues.

Of course the Police don't do anyting to change that perception for businesses by asking for a fax number & faxing through the report form.

So does it have the effect?

As I said earlier experience shows it does & that is why this service was developed in this fashion.

Just this weekend gone showed it can be effective.

On the first night remained at base location waiting for calls & in a short period of time observed boyracers carrying out criminal activity, including damaging business surrounds, trespassing & damaging public property. Police were called three times for different offences.

After that the activity died down.

The next night got on the road early to park up in known crime areas whilst waiting for calls.

There was a heavy fog & boyracers were again in the area. By positioning vehicle in known hotspot with details obviously being recorded it didn't take long for the effect to be seen.

Three boyracer vehicles came around the corner, slowed on hitting the heavy fog which then chose that moment to lift. They drove slowly past the vehicle & parked about 200 metres down the road. Quick conference & they were off in a quiet fashion.

No great crimes stopped, but it just shows how effective good basic security can be.

                                                       www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

How to improve the Security Industry!

Kia Ora,

Being thinking about this for a while. The ways we can improve the NZ security industry. In fact being thinking about it since I entered the industry on leaving the army as the standards are so low & the people of NZ don't deserve such low standards.

Well the first way is of course is by government legislation, but the attitude of the select committee & politicians in general to this means the proposed legislation, which is a bit of a joke anyway, & any regulations will not be sufficient.

In fact they are likely to take the industry backwards judging on what was in the proposed bill.

Next is the Industry itself, lead by the associations. Again not likely as they can grab work if someone else is sticking to their standards, so why stick to something that is not legislated for.

At least one association actually requires you to drop your standards to be part of their grouping.

Then comes the insurance industry who could make it quite easy to raise standards, lower costs to clients in the long run & lower their own risk in financial terms by insisting on compliance with international standards.

But you need to look at how the insurance industry in NZ works & it does none of the above.

First you have liability insurance. Over the last few years, I have noticed the amount rise & the cover drop.

Like the insuarnce you get for being directors or in a governance role when you look at it, it actually doesn't cover you for anything. As the directors of the failed finance companies are finding out.

Recent reading about Warren Buffett made me think more about this. Here is one of the richest men in the world, who actually owns insurance companies that specialize in this type of insurance, yet he will not have his directors insured.

Why? Because he says it makes them lazy. True when one of your directors is Bill Gates, he might be able to cover any issues arising. By not insuring them, Buffett reckons he makes the directors (including himself) do their homework & make responsible decisions.

So what does that have to do with NZ security. The industry is lazy & the insurance industry allows them to be so. If it sat down & looked at it properly then OSH would require more staff.
The Insurance industry can insist on this as part of their coverage. In fact they often say there has to be security for certain events. But they don't ensure it is OSH compliant. 

It usually isn't because only one guard is put on duty when the minimum if you do an assessment is two. That is also an international standard.

Who watches the property or person when the guard needs to go to the toilet?

Where is the toilet? That is the question guards often ask to be told hold on, in breach of OSH. Sixteen hours without a toilet break is not accepted anywhere else.

Each year when you renew your liability insurance you get a form to tick, but it never requires a company to show that it has being compliant with OSH or any other releveant laws. So it adds no value to the business.

Apart from everyone saying you have to have liability insurance, in particular government contracts, it is actually of no value.

For example what is known as Cash in Transit or armoured vans to everyone else there is no requirement to have a standard.

People will argue they do, but you only have to watch the crews in action to see there are no real drills or training. With the world's economy in melt down (despite the smoke, mirrors & manipulation of figures that is what is happening right now) more robberies are likely, almost on a daily basis.

Another question I have asked some Cash in Transit crews is the subject of body armour, many think they need it, one told me they didn't. As pointed out, if a proper risk assessment is done then not only should they have body armour, but also a riot helmet & if allowed firearms. As well as proper training, not just wandering to the van & back as happens most times now.

On the question of body armour also the insurance industry can have an effect on.

For example in Iraq, you could supply your own bodyarmour if you wished, but because so many people were running around trying to buy this or that & the lightest going, a standard had to be set.

So as the threat increased the minimum you could use of your personal issue had to be level IV or greater. It also had to be properly rated & current. Other wise you were not covered by insurance.

Ironically you still got your insurance payment (or your family did) if you had no bodyarmour available.

But like OSH it recognized that at times there would be none available (unless you had your own) that it is an expensive item & procedures needed to be in place to ensure safety was paramount.

Right now in the security industry there are very few if any SOP's used & if they are there no one knows how to use them, as they are only ever a guideline as they can not cover every situation.
There are also many in the industry running around with stab vests & armour whose ratings are out of date or are of an unknown quality.

In the four years since returning from Iraq, I have not once being asked to produce my SOP's or certify my bodyarmour or show why I think it is needed.

If my company is liable, I don't need insurance to ensure I protect a person or property. But even when it hasn't being my company that military duty of service kicks in & you are determined as possible to not let it happen on your watch.

But more than once I have worked with guards who show up with a sleeping mat.

So the industry can be brought into line with the world standards & is going to need to be as crime threatens to get more out of control with worsening economic conditions.

In the meantime with a small company I am endeavouring to do my bit to raise the standards.

www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

World in Turmoil

Kia Ora,

It  has being an interesting week.

First there has being the attempted car bombing in Time Square, New York.

Mayor Bloomberg made the statement that it was down to great people & police work.

Now people are just saying lucky & I would go with this one.

It was only after the failed detonation that it was detected.

The bomb was called amateurish, but what is not known well is that is how many in Iraq were put together.

There was one ocassion where to avoid detection by security forces, the suicide bomber picked up passengers in his taxi. It was only when there were some popping sounds from the boot of a premature detonation that the passengers realized, but luckily it failed.

As it was relayed, that when the Iraqi police arrived the three fares were giving the driver the hiding of his life.

This morning there is news of at least three deaths in riots in Greece. Yet if you have being studying the economic woes of the world, Greece is one of the western countries with the lest debt. Being part of the Eurozone though, it can't do what the US & UK are doing by trying to print their way out of trouble. In the long run that is a worse option if you look at history.

So what does that bode for the rest of the world?

The more people say there is a recovery, the bigger the shock there is going to be for those hit by the depression taking full effect & therefore the bigger the emotions that will be unleashed.

So, no where is safe.

Then we go to the Liquor licence hearings in Christchurch, where police oppose the issuing of liquor licences to Party buses.

In one part of their submission, the police refer to the time where 100 patrons of  three party buses, through aggressive behaviour were able to deny the police the ability to detain for questioning a male suspected of assaulting a woman.

So to say Greece won't happen in NZ is a myth. It bubbles away just under the surface & having had riot training courtesy of the military, you often see the requirements for a riot to happen building. In particular with the NZ alcohol issue is to the fore.

As the economies worsen you will see more extreme groups form ready to stir any crowd into action against the police or even security who deny them what they believe is their right.

So an increase of good security (which in general doesn't exist or the security staff are not allowed to practise it) is required not just to combat terrorism, but the growing trend of crime in general.

As of today there is a new security service available here in Christchurch with the aim to make our communities safe.

Details can be found at www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz