NZPA News Dec.pm65 - New Zealand Police Association

December 2002New Zealand Police Association NewsletterSafety First......Protecting yourself from personal attackPart Two: Security Away From HomeBy Association member, Dave PotakaOver the last two months, DavePotaka has pointed out some simplepractical steps for Police Officerscan take to keep themselves andfamily safe at home. In particular,when members are moving intowork areas where they are likely tohave regular contact with criminalsand organised Crime groups. Hecovered things like answering thedoor, windows and lighting, keepingkeys safe, telephone calls, homedeliveries and this month looks atother areas of security away fromhome.Again, this column is meant to be asimple guideline or checklist a evenfor those members who believe thattheir specific area of Police work,makes it necessary for them toimplement safe practices at home.It is recognised that some member’spolicing small local areas in whichthey also live, that anonymity isnot realistic, still there is otheradvice you may consider helpful.Travelling inGeneralYou are at greater risk on routinejourneys, particularly in the generalvicinity of your house and whengoing to and from work.Some ways you can lower this riskis by:• Varying your method of travel,your routes and timings wheneverpossible.• Varying your style of clothing.• Letting someone know where youare going and the approximatetime of return.• Trying to avoid establishedpatterns of movement. Forexample: Don’t regularly go to thesame restaurant, club, bar, cafe,etc. at the same time, same day,and sit at the same table.• Do not make reservations unlessit is essential.• Always travel in company ifpossible.• Check the driveway and roadbefore you leave your home.• If you think you are beingfollowed try to obtain adescription of the persons and/orthe car including the registrationnumber.WALKING• Avoid ‘short cuts’ through vacantlots, gangs alleys or desertedparks.• If you are walking at night, walkon brightly lit, well-used streetsas much as possible Be alert toyour surroundings and takedetours away from loiterers andstreet gangs.• If you must take a poorly litroute, walk near the kerb or wellaway from shrubbery, darkdoorways and other places ofconcealment. In the event of aspecific threat the best advice isnot to go out on foot after dark.VEHICLESAFETY• Secure bonnet locks and lockablepetrol caps should be fittedwhenever possible.• Park your car in a locked garageat home and where possible atwork. An unlocked garage is ahazard since you cannot be surethat it has not been entered. Ifno garage is available leave yourcar where it can be seen by thegeneral public.• Switch off the courtesy lightinside the car so that you are notilluminated when getting into orout of the vehicle.ImprovisedExplosiveDevices (IED)Check your car for possible IEDespecially underneath and inparticular first thing before use inthe morning. IED can take manyforms but to cut down the timeelement and risk when an attackeris planting a device it is usuallysimple and swiftly placed.The following points may be ofassistance:• Do not take it for granted thatthe car is as safe as you left it.Develop the habit of checkingyour car.• Common places for devices are onthe ground underneath the car; infront of or behind the wheels;tucked in behind one of thewheels; underneath a mudflap orunderneath or behind a seat.• A more sophisticated type ofdevice, where time permits, iswired to the ignition switch,radio, courtesy light etc. or in theboot or engine space.On The MoveThe following points should be keptin mind when you are driving:• Ensure that windows are fullyclosed when a car is parked andopened only enough forventilation when you are driving.• Look forward along the rows ofparked vehicles in the street foranything of a suspicious nature.Also use your rear view mirrors forfollowing vehicles.• Avoid narrow and lonely streets -try to keep to well used, well lit,main routes.• Drive your car at a steady pace.• Keep distance from the vehicle infront.• Do not allow yourself to be ‘boxedin’ in traffic and always leaveenough room for manoeuvring.• If something untoward appears tobe taking place on the roadahead, stop and turn before it istoo late.• Be cautious of ‘accident’ scenes.• Do not give lifts or open doors orwindows to unknown persons.172