New Zealand Security Magazine - August-September 2024

NZ S M

Nick

Dynon

Chief Editor

Nick has written for NZSM since 2013. He writes on all things security, but is particularly fascinated with the fault lines between security and privacy, and between individual, enterprise and national security. Prior to NZSM he clocked up over 20 years experience in various border security and military roles.

Disclaimer:

The information contained in this publication is given in good faith and has been derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, neither the publishers nor any person involved in the preparation of this publication accept any form of liability whatsoever for its contents including advertisements, editorials, opinions, advice or information or for any consequences from its use.

Copyright: No article or part thereof may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher.

Kia ora and welcome to the August-September 2024 issue of New Zealand Security Magazine! In this issue we provide tips on nominating for the NZ Security Awards, explore Paris Olympics surveillance, recognise Saved a Life Medal recipients, and much, much more!.

Firstly, a very big thanks to our wonderful advertisers who continue to partner with us despite uncertain economic times. Our advertisers are committed to our industry Through their sponsorship of this magazine they play an important role by contributing to a vibrant and informed security sector.

Our gratitude for this fourth issue of NZSM for 2024 extends to our supporters and leading manufacturers and distributors TSS (Trade Security Supplies), Loktronic, HID, simPRO, Dahua, and Vivotek (Clear Digital) We’d also like to recognise our association and academic content partners for this issue, the NZSA and Massey University’s Centre for Defence and Security Studies

. Inside this issue, we mark International Security Officers’ Day 2024 (24 July) by recognising security officers who have in recent months been awarded the NZSA Saved a Life Medal These are security professionals who have literally saved a person’s life in either preventing or responding to a life threatening event We acknowledge these heroes.

Some great guest contributor content in this issue. In addition to articles by Police Minister Mark Mitchell and counter-terrorism scholar Dr John Battersby, we feature a thought-provoking piece by Professor Anne Toomey McKenna from the University of Richmond (US) on the extensive – and controversial – surveillance measures deployed for the Paris Olympics.

Also in this issue, we’re honoured to be joined again by Alarm Watch’s Technical Manager Graeme McKenzie who compares DIY and professional CCTV systems, and HID’s Steven Commander talks access control system cybersecurity. Lastly, in our long-read for August, ICARAS Consultants’ Jamie Williams explores the lessons for New Zealand from Sweden’s gang violence problems

Finally, get those nominations in for the 2024 New Zealand Security Awards! There are 19 categories up for grabs. As has become an annual thing in the lead-up to the Awards, I provide my tips on how to do a nomination that does good service to your deserving nominee. Don’t leave it to the last moment!

There’s all this and much more to explore in this issue of NZSM. Also, if you haven’t already, consider subscribing to our to-your-inbox eNewsletter THE BRIEF. It’s a great way to keep up-to-date with the latest. Details on the Defsec website.

Nicholas Dynon, Auckland

DEFSEC

Contact Details:

Chief Editor, Nick Dynon

Phone: + 64 (0) 223 663 691

Email: nick@defsec.net.nz

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Phone: + 64 (0)274 597 621

Email: craig@defsec.net.nz

Postal and delivery address: 27 West Crescent, Te Puru 3575, Thames, RD5, New Zealand

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New Zealand Security Magazine

Friday 20th September 2024

Crowne Plaza Hotel Auckland

These awards are an opportunity for us to recognise and celebrate excellence, outstanding service and performance within the New Zealand security industry.

MAKE A NOMINATION

If you know an individual or organisation who is making a difference to our industry, please nominate them for an award.

NOMINATIONS CLOSE 5PM, THU 15th AUGUST 2024

ATTEND THE AWARDS EVENING

Join us for a celebratory evening as we announce the award winners!

Friday 20th September 2024, Crowne Plaza Hotel Auckland

ACCOMMODATION

Crowne Plaza Hotel Auckland

Visit our website for full event information, including to make a nomination, register for the Awards evening and book discounted accommodation: https://security.org.nz/nz-security-awards-2024/

For further enquiries please visit www.nzsa@security.org.nz

Dahua Technology announces new distribution partners in New Zealand

Video-centric AIoT provider Dahua Technology inks strategic partnerships in Aotearoa with distributors Clear Digital and C.R. Kennedy (NZ).

Dahua Technology New Zealand Limited is proud to announce two strategic partnerships with Clear Digital and C.R. Kennedy (NZ) Limited as their official distribution partners in New Zealand.

These collaborations will enhance Dahua’s market presence and deliver superior AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things – the combination of artificial technologies and the internet of things infrastructure) solutions and security products throughout the region.

Partnership with Clear Digital Clear Digital has forged an impressive reputation as a leading distributor in New Zealand’s security sector.

Clear Digital’s consultative approach, combined with robust sales and technical support, comprehensive training programs, reliable logistics, and professional services, has established the distributor as a preferred partner for security installers, system integrators, and consultants throughout the country.

“ We are thrilled to partner with Clear Digital, a company that shares our commitment to innovation, quality, and customer service,” said Lawrence Zhang, the Country Manager of Dahua Technology New Zealand Limited. “This collaboration will allow us to better serve our customers by leveraging Clear Digital’s expertise and extensive network.”

Clear Digital prides itself on offering added value services, such as pre-sales design, pre-configuration, and

on-site commissioning, ensuring that clients receive tailored and efficient solutions. Their dedication to building solid, trust-based relationships aligns with Dahua Technology’s mission to deliver reliable and cutting-edge security solutions.

Partnership with C.R.

Kennedy (NZ)

Dahua’s long-standing and successful collaboration with C.R. Kennedy in Australia sets a strong foundation for a promising partnership in New Zealand.

C .R. Kennedy (NZ) has established itself as a leading distributor, known for its consultative approach, robust sales and technical support, comprehensive training programs, reliable logistics, and professional services.

“It is with great enthusiasm that we embark on this new partnership with Dahua Technology,” said Gerard Emery, Managing Director of C.R. Kennedy (NZ). “Dahua’s reputation

for high-quality, innovative security solutions aligns perfectly with our values, and we are confident that this collaboration will enable us to provide even greater value and support to our customers in the New Zealand security market.”

C.R. Kennedy’s strong foundation in a wide range of industries, including healthcare, surveying, and the casino sector, will significantly enhance Dahua’s vertical market coverage, making this collaboration highly effective in delivering superior IP surveillance hardware, Video Management Software, and security products to these sectors.

For more information on Dahua Technology New Zealand and the product offerings and services from Clear Digital and C.R. Kennedy (NZ), please visit Clear Digital and C.R. Kennedy (NZ):

Clear Digital: www.cleardigital.co.nz/ C.R. Kennedy: www.crkennedy.co.nz/

Dahua Leads The Market With Cutting-Edge Innovations

At Dahua, innovation is the key to the success of our products. Committed to technological innovation, we invest approximately 10% of our sales revenue in R&D every year. This dedication is evident in Dahua’s latest advancements. Dahua’s Multivision and AcuPick technologies represent a significant leap in security and surveillance capabilities.

Dahua’s Multivision camera redefines surveillance with its innovative integration of multiple lenses. This cutting-edge technology ensures comprehensive monitoring with exceptional clarity, making it ideal for a wide range of environments.

Key Multivision products include the TiOC Duo for seamless fusion and panoramic views, the Full-color Duo for vibrant images in low light, and the PTZ Duo for precise zoom and tracking. AcuPick technology, which harnesses the innovative concept of in-depth integration, effectively utilises both front-end and back-end intelligence to help users locate targets more conveniently, more quickly, and more accurately within video data.

AcuPick 2.0, introduced to the New Zealand market in late August 2024, enhances video search functionalities with advanced features, providing users with unparalleled speed, accuracy and convenience. Its compatibility with both Dahua and third-party cameras ensures flexibility and reduced costs.

Dahua Technology New Zealand Limited

Level 3, Building 5/666 Great South Road

Ellerslie, Auckland 1051

Web: www.dahuasecurity.com/au

Email: dahua.nz@dahuatech.com

Phone: 0800 700 106

Dahua Technology New Zealand drives market innovation and growth

In a bold move to reshape the New Zealand security landscape, Dahua Technology has put in place innovative strategies to revolutionise the channel market.

As one of the largest global security brands, Dahua is committed to strengthening partnerships with local distributors and integrators, driving market growth, and addressing the unique challenges faced by the New Zealand market.

Independently owned, ONVIF compliant, and adhering to New Zealand government procurement standards, Dahua is positioned to lead the way.

New Zealand’s IP surveillance market presents unique challenges, including the prevalence of uncontrolled imports from overseas. These imports have negatively impacted Dahua and its local partners, leading distributors and integrators to promote alternative products or channel Dahua’s professional range through alternative routes.

Key Initiatives for Market Repositioning

Leading the Market

Empowering distributors enables Dahua Technology New Zealand to build trust within the channel.

Dahua is committed to comprehensive product testing before launch and supporting partners with any BOM specified by the Dahua project team. Dahua’s dedicated inhouse team at its support centre in Ellerslie, Auckland, provides best-inclass technical and project support.

Senior Product Manager Simon Cao, now fully on board in New Zealand, leads Dahua’s local team of technicians and collaborates closely with the project team.

Strengthening bonds with Partners

Shifting from a sales-led to a partnerdriven business, Dahua Technology New Zealand has launched a Dealer Partner Program to promote transparency and enhance loyalty among resellers.

Partners further benefit from the DH Partner App, which is a mobile app for Dahua system integrators/installers that provides functional tools, news, and exclusive benefits. With the DoLynk Care platform embedded, users can easily manage their Dahua business and install devices in one app.

Protecting the channel

Dahua’s significant investment underscores the need – and highlights

their commitment – to protect the market from grey market importers. Their recently announced new distribution arrangements with Clear Digital and CR Kennedy (NZ) will reflect a joint venture approach with stringent controls and processes essential to ensure products are only procured via authorised channels.

Dahua condemns unauthorised reselling and urges purchases through official channels. Importantly, unauthorised products are not eligible for after-sales service and warranties, and only authorised products are eligible to scan to earn points on the DH Partner App.

Dahua New Zealand has established a dedicated Dahua experience centre in Auckland to showcase our Smart Home, Smart Retail, and AcuPick technology aimed at the SMB market, with plans underway to introduce a mobile experience centre and joint roadshows with leading technology partners in the near future.

Uniview partners with Trade Security Supplies to strengthen New Zealand presence

Security distributor Trade Security Supplies (TSS) welcomes new partnership with leading global manufacturer of professional IP video surveillance devices and solutions Uniview.

Uniview has announced a strategic collaboration with TSS for New Zealand distribution. This partnership will look to combine Uniview’s cutting-edge technologies with TSS’ depth of expertise and customer service values.

At the forefront of security innovation, Uniview’s offering encompasses state-of-the-art surveillance cameras, advanced AI analytics, and comprehensive security management systems.

The recently established TSS, comprised of a team of highly regarded security industry veterans, is set to provide a robust foundation of strong local technical support for deployments of Uniview’s technological innovations.

Through this partnership, Trade Security Supplies will gain access to Uniview’s latest surveillance technologies, including AI-powered cameras and intelligent analytics.

Uniview joins security alarm systems manufacturer Paradox in TSS’ brand line-up.

“We’ve set out with the intention of putting our customers and their needs at the centre of everything we do,” said TSS Managing Director Andrew Moss. “It’s about delivering service backed by exceptional product knowledge imparted with a personal touch.”

“Our philosophy is simple; we prioritise core brands to ensure a focused approach and improved customer experience.”

“Uniview is a strong brand and offers a compelling range of solutions that have great alignment with Paradox,” said Andrew, “ and we’re excited to now be offering Uniview’s range of innovative security solutions”

Within its Uniview Range, TSS stocks Uniview’s Uni6 Camera (IPC3616SS-ADF28K-IK), which enables an operator to zero in on the specific detail they’re looking for in no time. It’s a game changer for security and surveillance!

Achieving quick and precise searches with advanced

colour retrieval technology, the Uni-6 Camera differentiates between vehicle colours and a person’s clothing, making search time faster and easier than ever before. It’s in stock at TSS, and available for a demo at TSS’ Auckland HQ.

The TSS team is also taking great pleasure in test-driving UNV Wise-ISP fifth-generation night vision technology. Even in ultra-low light conditions (0.0003 Lux), without additional LED lighting, operators can experience vivid, full-colour visuals, making night literally appear like day.

With UNV Wise-ISP, Uniview has created industryleading algorithms to improve image quality in cloudy weather, night time, indoors, and more. Via continuous software and algorithm improvements, Uniview’s WiseISP has become the new leader in ultra-low light video surveillance. It has to be seen to be believed!

For more information about TSS’ Uniview range, visit https://www.tssupplies.co.nz/Uniview.

Meet the Team: Andrew Moss GM, Basil Sykes, Technical Sales, Steve Mace, Technical Sales, Aaron Mace, Trade Sales Support

We’re not in the business of only taking orders or moving boxes.

We’re in the business of making and shaking hands. promises

You’re in good company.

Safeguarding the Cybersecurity of Your Access Control Systems

Protecting an organisation’s physical access control system from cyber threats requires close internal collaboration, writes HID End-User and Consultants Business Manager, Steven Commander.

Identifying and treating vulnerabilities

Cybersecurity isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when most of us think about the access control systems that prevent unauthorised entrance to our buildings and other physical spaces. But, increasingly, it should be.

Access control systems – like any other networked system – are vulnerable to a range of cyber threats from card cloning to all-out network attacks, placing people, buildings, and entire corporate networks at risk.

Many organisations are looking to address these security gaps and eliminate the silos between their physical and network security operations. According to Gartner, 41 percent of enterprises plan to converge parts of cyber and physical security by 2025, up from 10 percent in 2020.

Converged Security: Cybersecurity and Access Control

Physical access control involves the transmission of sensitive data through several components, from credentials to readers, controllers, servers, software clients and more. Unless this entire chain is protected, it is vulnerable to attacks and data breaches.

Although we tend to become a little desensitised to the alarming cyberattack cost statistics that circulate each year, these cyber-physical threats do have real-world consequences. Once your access control systems are compromised, an intruder can access restricted areas, disable alarms, alter permissions and steal proprietary corporate information.

Protecting access data means ensuring its confidentiality, integrity and availability. Yet because most organisations treat physical and cybersecurity as separate domains, they don’t have a comprehensive view of their threat-scapes. The threats literally fall through the cracks.

Although organisations in New Zealand and Australia have tended to be slow to take a converged approach to managing their security risk, there are signs this is changing. In our part of the world, the Australian government, has

taken the lead in connecting the cyber-physical dots with recent changes to the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018. The new regulations now require critical infrastructure organisations – including hospitals, utilities, broadcasters, data centres, energy suppliers, freight infrastructure, grocery supply chains and others – to maintain risk management plans that include the threat of unauthorised physical access alongside a range of cyber and information security threats. But the New Zealand government also has some guidance on the matter. Its Protective Security Requirements (PSR) urges organisations to keep their access control system software and hardware up to date. “Ensure your software is updated to address known vulnerabilities,” it says. “Consider updating EACS cards and readers as they age and become vulnerable to new threats.”

What’s Challenging About Securing Access Systems

While awareness may be growing, there remains confusion about what it means to strengthen the cybersecurity of access control systems. While certifications such as NIST 800-53 or TÜVIT have emerged, they aren’t enough to address the extent of the issue.

That’s because securing access systems requires ‘systems thinking’ and examining how information travels from component to component. How is sensitive information about employee identities and authorisation privileges provisioned onto credentials? How is it stored and managed? Evaluating these risks requires knowledge across domains like operating systems, active directories and databases, as well as knowledge about encryption protocols and algorithms. This requires close collaboration amongst different teams and internal experts – no siloes!

Making Cybersecurity a Priority

How best to ensure the cybersecurity of your access control systems? HID recommends a “good, better, best” type of framework that starts by establishing a baseline before making further upgrades and improvements. Here’s what that might look like for different parts of an access control system.

Area of Vulnerability: Credentials

• Purpose: Securely store access control data.

• Set a baseline with 13,56MHz technology cards. Data stored on the card should be protected with encryption (AES 128 is best practice). So should data that’s communicated from card to reader during the authentication process.

• Improve security by deploying key management policies. Also, look for solutions that have been penetration tested and certified by a third party.

Area of Vulnerability: Readers

• Purpose: Process credentials and send them to a controller.

• Set a baseline with readers that support 13,56MHz and are equipped with a secure element to store encryption keys.

• Improve security by selecting a solution that offers a secure communication channel between reader and controller Manage updates and upgrades via authorised maintenance applications, not configuration cards.

Area of Vulnerability: Controllers

• Purpose: Interface with readers and cards to determine whether user permissions are sufficient to grant access to an area.

• Set a baseline installing controllers in a secure, tamperproof enclosure. Connect them to a secure, dedicated VLAN and deactivate all other interfaces (like USB and SD). Remove all default configurations and ensure that firmware and patches are always up-to-date..

• Improve security by allowing only approved IP addresses to connect to the controller — and ensure that encryption is used to protect data at rest and in transit .

Area of Vulnerability: Access control servers and clients

• Purpose: Serve as the system’s main database and management console, recording activity and enabling organisations to make changes and adjust settings.

• Set a baseline by hosting servers and clients on a secure, dedicated VLAN. Select a solution that offers transparent Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) reporting and complies with Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) standards like ISA/IEC 62443-4-1— and make sure to keep software and operating system patches up-todate.

• Improve security by encrypting data at rest and in transit and deploying custom TLS certificates.

Ultimately, access control architecture must fit seamlessly into your broader network and IT architecture. That makes securing access systems an opportunity to increase operational efficiency and streamline broader IT strategies, as well as to decrease risk.

Access control systems are the modern-day keys to the castle. Protect them by removing your organisation’s ageold security siloes and addressing each cyber-physical threat your system faces and each area of vulnerability that resides within your system.

AI mass surveillance at Paris Olympics – a legal scholar on the security boon and privacy nightmare

Anne Toomey McKenna, Visiting Professor of Law, University of Richmond, USA, writes that the Paris Olympics has created the pretext for a slippery slide into mass surveillance dystopia.

Anne Toomey McKenna is Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Richmond, USA.

The 2024 Paris Olympics is drawing the eyes of the world as thousands of athletes and support personnel and hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the globe converge in France. It’s not just the eyes of the world that will be watching. Artificial intelligence systems will be watching, too.

G overnment and private companies will be using advanced AI tools and other surveillance tech to conduct pervasive and persistent surveillance before, during and after the Games. The Olympic world stage and international crowds pose increased security risks so significant that in recent years authorities and critics have described the Olympics as the “world’s largest security operations outside of war.”

The French government, hand in hand with the private tech sector, has harnessed that legitimate need for increased security as grounds to deploy technologically advanced surveillance and data gathering tools. Its surveillance plans to meet those risks, including controversial use of experimental AI video surveillance, are so extensive that the country had to change its laws to make the planned surveillance legal.

The plan goes beyond new AI video surveillance systems. According to news reports, the prime minister’s office has negotiated a provisional decree that is classified to permit the government to significantly ramp up traditional, surreptitious surveillance and information gathering tools for the duration of the Games. These include wiretapping; collecting geolocation, communications and computer data; and capturing greater amounts of visual and audio data.

I a m a law professor and attorney, and I research, teach and write about privacy, artificial intelligence and surveillance. I also provide legal and policy guidance on these subjects to legislators and others. Increased security risks can and do require increased surveillance. This year, France has faced concerns about its Olympic security capabilities and credible threats around public sporting events.

Preventive measures should be proportional to the risks, however. Globally, critics claim that France is using the Olympics as a surveillance power grab and that the government will use this “exceptional” surveillance justification to normalise society-wide state surveillance

At the same time, there are legitimate concerns about adequate and effective

surveillance for security. In the U.S., for example, the nation is asking how the Secret Service’s security surveillance failed to prevent an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13, 2024.

AI-powered mass surveillance

Enabled by newly expanded surveillance laws, French authorities have been working with AI companies Videtics, Orange Business, ChapsVision and Wintics to deploy sweeping AI video surveillance. They have used the AI surveillance during major concerts, sporting events and in metro and train stations during heavy use periods, including around a Taylor Swift concert and the Cannes Film Festival. French officials said these AI surveillance experiments went well and the “lights are green” for future uses.

The AI software in use is generally designed to flag certain events like changes in crowd size and movement, abandoned objects, the presence or use of weapons, a body on the ground, smoke or flames, and certain traffic violations. The goal is for the surveillance systems to immediately, in real time, detect events like a crowd surging toward a gate or a person leaving a backpack on a crowded street corner and alert security personnel. Flagging these events seems like a

logical and sensible use of technology.

But the real privacy and legal questions flow from how these systems function and are being used. How much and what types of data have to be collected and analysed to flag these events? What are the systems’ training data, error rates and evidence of bias or inaccuracy? What is done with the data after it is collected, and who has access to it?

There’s little in the way of transparency to answer these questions. Despite safeguards aimed at preventing the use of biometric data that can identify people, it’s possible the training data captures this information and the systems could be adjusted to use it.

By giving these private companies access to thousands of video cameras already located throughout France, harnessing and coordinating the surveillance capabilities of rail companies and transport operators, and allowing the use of drones with cameras , France is legally permitting and supporting these companies to test and train AI software on its citizens and visitors.

Legalised mass surveillance

Both the need for and the practice of government surveillance at the Olympics is nothing new. Security and privacy concerns at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing were so high that the FBI urged “all athletes” to leave personal cellphones at home and only use a burner phone while in China because of the extreme level of government surveillance.

France, however, is a member state of the European Union. The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation is one of the strongest data privacy laws in the world, and the EU’s AI Act is leading efforts to regulate harmful uses of AI technologies. As a member of the EU, France must follow EU law.

Preparing for the Olympics, France in 2023 enacted Law No. 2023-380, a package of laws to provide a legal framework for the 2024 Olympics It includes the controversial Article 7, a provision that allows French law enforcement and its tech contractors to experiment with intelligent video surveillance before, during and after

the 2024 Olympics, and Article 10, which specifically permits the use of AI software to review video and camera feeds. These laws make France the first EU country to legalise such a wide-reaching AI-powered surveillance system.

Scholars , civil society groups and civil liberty advocates have pointed out that these articles are contrary to the General Data Protection Regulation and the EU’s efforts to regulate AI. They argue that Article 7 specifically violates the General Data Protection Regulation’s provisions protecting biometric data.

French officials and tech company representatives have said that the AI software can accomplish its goals of identifying and flagging those specific types of events without identifying people or running afoul of the General Data Protection Regulation’s restrictions around processing of biometric data.

But European civil rights organisations have pointed out that if the purpose and function of the algorithms and AI-driven cameras are to detect specific suspicious events in public spaces, these systems will necessarily “capture and analyse physiological features and behaviours” of people in these spaces. These include body positions, gait, movements, gestures and appearance.

The critics argue that this is biometric data being captured and processed, and thus France’s law violates the General Data Protection Regulation.

AI-powered security – at a cost

For the French government and the AI companies so far, the AI surveillance has been a mutually beneficial success. The algorithmic watchers are being used more and give governments and their tech collaborators much more data than humans alone could provide.

But these AI-enabled surveillance systems are poorly regulated and subject to little in the way of independent testing. Once the data is collected, the potential for further data analysis and privacy invasions is enormous.

This article was originally published in The Conversation on 18 July 2024.

Graeme McKenzie: DIY vs Professional CCTV Systems

For those weighing the decision, professional IP camera systems, despite their higher cost, present several compelling advantages over consumer-level cameras, writes Alarm Watch’s Technical Manager Graeme McKenzie.

Graeme McKenzie is Technical Manager at Alarm Watch.

When it comes to choosing between DIY and professional CCTV systems, the difference in price is often quite noticeable. This disparity can be attributed to several key factors that distinguish the two types of systems.

One of the primary distinctions is image quality. Professional systems typically offer cameras with higher megapixels, starting at 4 MP, which provide superior clarity, especially in low-light conditions. Cameras ranging from 4 MP to 8 MP are commonly used in these systems. In contrast, consumer systems usually begin at 1080p (2 MP), which may suffice for viewing on mobile devices but falls short on larger screens or when detailed imagery is needed as evidence.

Some consumer cameras claim to offer 4K resolution, which might sound impressive. However, it’s essential to understand what this means.

A 4K resolution translates to approximately 3840 x 2160 pixels. This equates to about 8.3 megapixels (MP), as 1 megapixel is 1 million pixels. While this higher resolution provides clearer and more detailed images compared to lower resolutions, it’s important to remember that the overall image quality also depends on other factors like the camera sensor quality and lens.

Camera technology also sets these systems apart. Professional setups utilise advanced chipsets, ensuring better processing, analytics, and adaptation to changing light conditions. Some even deliver fullcolour images at night. Meanwhile,

consumer cameras often rely on less sophisticated or outdated processors, which can impact recording quality and analytical capabilities.

The way these systems handle storage and subscriptions adds another layer of difference. Professional systems record locally to a hard drive on the client’s premises, meaning they don’t require internet access for recording or playback. This contrasts with consumer systems, which frequently use subscription models for accessing recordings and depend on the client’s internet connection for cloud storage and recording.

The reliability of the connection is another consideration. Professional CCTV systems are typically fully wired, eliminating the concerns associated with wireless systems, such as battery life and Wi-Fi signal strength.

The temptation of wireless and rechargeable batteries in consumer systems is strong due to the ease of installation, but they often become problematic. Batteries can go flat too often, requiring regular replacements or recharging, and wireless cameras are more susceptible to theft as their mounting brackets can be easily removed.

Installation costs further highlight the differences. Consumer systems are

generally cheaper to install, particularly with battery-powered Wi-Fi cameras, while professional installations can be more costly and time-consuming.

However, professional systems offer greater flexibility with nonproprietary components, allowing interchangeability between cameras from different manufacturers. This flexibility is often lacking in consumer systems, which may have proprietary cameras that limit compatibility and upgrade options.

Warranties also play a crucial role. Professional systems typically come with both parts warranties from the manufacturer and installation warranties from the installation company, providing additional peace of mind. They also offer superior cybersecurity features to prevent unauthorised access, a critical aspect often overlooked in consumerlevel systems.

For those weighing the decision, professional IP camera systems, despite their higher cost, present several compelling advantages over consumerlevel cameras.

The quality and reliability of professional systems ensure they operate trouble-free for extended periods, unlike consumer cameras that often need frequent replacements. Additionally, professional systems provide robust protection against

hacking and malware, offering a higher level of security.

Professional IP camera systems are designed to handle video recording from a large number of networked cameras, boasting better capacity, bandwidth, and tracking capabilities compared to consumer systems. They also feature advanced functionalities, such as intelligent video capabilities and superior image quality, that are not typically found in consumer cameras. Integration is another strength of professional systems. They can seamlessly incorporate other security measures, enhancing overall security protocols. Unlike consumer cameras, which are generally only viewable by the end user, professional systems can be connected to monitoring stations for comprehensive security management. Finally, professional IP camera systems are tailored to meet the demands of both domestic and commercial applications.

They are ideal for businesses, schools, hospitals, government facilities, and other commercial organisations. While consumer IP cameras are affordable, they simply do not meet the rigorous requirements of these environments, making professional systems the better choice for those seeking reliable and highquality security solutions.

Nominating for the 2024 New Zealand Security Awards

If you’re thinking you have a colleague who might be worthy of a New Zealand Security Award, nominate them, writes chief editor Nicholas Dynon, but make sure your nomination is a compliant and competitive one.

Nicholas Dynon is chief editor of NZSM, and a widely published commentator on New Zealand’s defence, national security and private security sectors.

Nominations for the 2024 New Zealand Security Industry Awards are due to close Thursday 15 August., This year will culminate in a gala awards dinner at the Crowne Plaza, Auckland, on Friday 20 September

For the past couple of years now I’ve published an article in the August issue of NZSM to provide advice – from my perspective – on how to make your nomination count, and with this year’s nomination deadline looming on 15 August it makes sense to again reiterate the tips and tricks.

When I sat on the judging panel some years ago, I tended to find myself on the one hand inspired by the many impressive nominations I saw, yet

on the other hand frustrated by the abundance of pretty ordinary ones.

In the vast majority of cases it wasn’t that the nominee wasn’t up to scratch, but rather that the nomination itself was either non-compliant, poorly put together, or inadequately evidenced.

Nominating a colleague for an award is a good thing – for two reasons. Firstly, excellence should be recognised, and outstanding individuals within the industry should be celebrated. Secondly, quite simply, the more nominations submitted in a particular category the more competitive the pool and the more worthy the winner. That’s a good thing for the industry.

In this article, I offer my perspectives on what makes a competitive nomination, including

some tips on how to ensure you’ve given your nominee an even chance of being among the finalists.

Ensure your nomination is compliant

If you’ve taken the effort to identify a colleague for nomination, then it’s important that you make that nomination count. A good place to start is to ensure that your nomination is fully compliant with the Conditions of Entry (Terms and Conditions). If you don’t know what these are, it’s worthwhile acquainting yourself with them.

G olden rule. Make sure your nomination is prepared and submitted well in advance of the close off date (5.00pm on Thursday 15 August 2024). Late entries are not accepted, and you don’t want to take the time to prepare a nomination only for it to be disqualified at the starting blocks.

The other key dates to keep in mind are April 2023 to July 2024. Nominations must relate to work, employment or activity carried out within this 15-month period. By all

means mention relevant pre-April 2023 milestones for backstory and context, but avoid going too far down that rabbit hole. The judges are required to assess work and achievements that fall specifically within the past 15 months.

Each nomination must contain a fully completed nomination form in the format provided, including a testimonial not exceeding 1,200 characters describing why “the nominee has the attributes and professional experience that would make them a deserving recipient of the award”. Supporting information may be uploaded with each nomination but limited to two files per nomination with a maximum file size of 2MB per file.

I ’ve seen too many nominations that failed to follow the required format. Worse still, I’ve seen too many where the nomination was nothing more than a short paragraph two or three sentences in length. Something like this gives the judges nothing to assess. It’s an immediate fail.

The most disappointing example of this I’ve seen was in relation to a

nominee who I believe would likely have won their category if their nominator had gone to the effort of writing more than just a sentence or two. In the interests of fairness, the judges can only consider information in the papers before them even if they are otherwise aware of the exploits of the nominee.

Put in the effort; aim for excellence

The New Zealand Security Awards are all about recognising and celebrating excellence. If you don’t aim for and achieve excellence in your preparation of a nomination, then it logically follows that the judges will struggle to see excellence in your nominee.

I recommend that you read the tips on the NZSA website’s Nomination Information and Conditions of Entry pages. They contain useful tips.

One of these is to directly address each of the ‘recognition requirements’ specified in the category criteria in a clear and concise manner. For example, in the Guarding Sector Trainee of the Year category, the category criteria

require the individual to demonstrate that:

They will have displayed commitment towards training and achieving results though the NZQA national qualification framework. The recipient will be a person who is self-motivated, sets goals and aspires to progress their security career.

The NZSA recommends that responses to each of the recognition requirements be addressed individually, in the order listed within the Category Criteria (with the use of headings or bullet points to ensure they are easy to follow), and as clearly and concisely as possible.

Read the category criteria carefully. The two trainee categories, for example, require that the nominee has “displayed commitment towards training and achieving results through the NZQA national qualification framework.” If you’re thinking of nominating someone for this category, confirm that they are indeed displaying commitment towards NZQA training rather than forms of training not relevant to that framework.

In order to systematically and fairly assess nominations, the judges award points in relation to each of the specified recognition requirements. It is therefore very important that each one is responded to.

It’s also important to demonstrate exactly how a nominee meets each of the recognition requirements by way of specific examples, stories and references. These can be supported by attachments to the nomination. Note that the Testimonial field on the online nomination form allows for a maximum of only 1,200 characters, so make the most of attachments (two documents with a maximum file size of 2MB).

If this sounds like a whole lot of effort, that’s because it is! The judges do not want to be reading War and Peace, but putting a nomination together does require you to get a reasonable amount of information across in a convincing way. Don’t underestimate the task. Be prepared to write, but stay on message. Take care to avoid getting side-tracked with superfluous or

unnecessary information and detail. None of the categories require the nominee to enjoy footy or boating in their spare time.

Don’t undersell your nominee, but be careful to avoid making hyperbolic statements about them without associated evidence. Overuse of superlatives and hyperbole cheapens a nomination and calls into question its credibility.

For example, if your customer champion nominee is indeed “viewed as providing a substantial and quantifiable benefit to the customers business operations”, then how so? What are some specific examples of the quantifiable benefits your nominee has provided?

Think about the type of evidence you should be submitting to back up your claims. The evidence should be as objective as possible. Relevant metrics/statistics and external stakeholder testimonials can constitute compelling evidence, but they can take time to collect – so don’t leave your nomination to the last minute.

I concur with the NZSA’s recommendation that you get your

nomination proof read by a third party prior to it being submitted, ensuring that it reads well, addresses all of the category criteria and effectively ‘sells’ the merits of the nominee. This is critically important – a second pair of eyes can make all the difference.

Also, be aware that there may have been some slight changes to the assessment descriptors in some of the categories since the last time you put together a nomination. Make sure you’re nominating your nominee against the current criteria!

A word about categories

There are 19 categories to choose from, which seems like a lot. But given the diversity of sectors and roles within the industry, it’s not a long list. Take care to select the most appropriate category for your nominee.

That being said, sometimes a nominee might – in your opinion –be a potential contender across more than one category. There’s no harm in submitting separate nominations for the one individual across multiple categories, but if you do just make sure that each of the nominations are

tailored to the specific category criteria.

For the NZSA, getting the categories right is a perennial challenge, and in recent years there’s been plenty of tweaking in this regard. Categories such as ‘Cash Services Professional of the Year’ and ‘Visionary Leadership’, for example, were last year jettisoned in favour of the newer categories of ‘Customer Champion of the Year’ and ‘Security Specialist of the Year’.

Subtle changes have also been made to this year’s categories. Last year’s “Outstanding Staff Retention/Staff Development Programme” category has been tweaked to become “Outstanding Staff Retention/Culture Development Programme”, and the category criteria has been tweaked accordingly.

Similarly, last year’s “Outstanding Skills for Industry Employee of the Year” category has been replaced with the new “Outstanding MSD Placement Candidate of the Year” category. Such changes occur for any number of reasons, including changes to industry programmes, evolutionary changes in practices, feedback from the industry and whether or not the

category attracts a sufficient number of nominations. Change is the natural order of things, so don’t assume a category you’ve previously nominated someone in is either unchanged or still there at all.

If in doubt, have a go!

There can be a lot of preconceived ideas when it comes to the awards. Some people see them though a tall poppy syndrome lens, while others see them as little more than a marketing exercise. Such perceptions are unreasonably cynical and wrong.

Disappointingly, there are some cynics in the industry who peddle the untruth that awards sponsors are somehow more likely to end up winning an award. If you look at the list of 2023 sponsors, you’ll see that most of them didn’t actually field any nominees, and a good proportion of those that did failed to notch up a win. Such baseless speculation is dumb, and it does a disservice to the industry and a dishonour to the cynic.

There also exists a misperception that only nominees who are ‘super heroes’ win awards. This is false. In the

main, finalists and winners are really just people who meet the category criteria really well through their commitment and hard work.

For the Patrol Officer and Security Officer of the Year categories specifically, the criteria do state that the award recognises excellence, commitment and professionalism “including service to customers and outstanding acts.” And here we do often find amazing stories of bravery, compassion, and heroism, although they are not a prerequisite.

Results in recent years do seem to indicate that “outstanding acts” tend to trump “service to customers”, and the measure of “outstanding” is often pegged to the level of danger faced by the nominee during the act in question.

In Australia, such acts are covered by the Australian Security Valour Medal (ASVM), a category within the Australian Security Medals Foundation (ASMF) Awards, which, in turn, is part of the annual Australian Security Industry Awards. In my opinion, acts of valour or heroism are indeed worthy of a medal, and – as I wrote last year – I believe there is a case for a similar annual medals-based award in Aotearoa New Zealand in accordance with a framework similar to the ASMF

It’s worthwhile noting, however, that recipients of the NZSA’s Saved a Life Medal (which are awarded at times during the year) are honoured with a roll call at the New Zealand Security Awards night and are automatically be included as a nominee under the appropriate award category.

Lastly, if you haven’t nominated someone for an award previously, have a go. The New Zealand Security Awards is an important annual event not just because it’s a stage upon which to acknowledge high performing colleagues. It’s a showcase of our industry to the broader community, and an enduring record of the wonderful stories of excellence expressed in the nominations you submit.

Make this the year you get nominating. If you’re thinking about nominating a colleague but you’re a little unsure whether to do so, just do it!

NZSA Saved a Life Medal Winners recognised

With International Security Officers’ Day celebrated last month, we salute the latest cohort of life-saving security officers recently recognised by the NZSA as Saved a Life Medal winners.

Security personnel are often first responders to a wide range of safety incidents and emergency situations, and their actions in response to these can directly lead to the saving of lives.

“Whilst these professionals don’t seek accolades or recognition, the Saved a Life Medal programme provides a way in which the community can support and recognise those who demonstrate the very best in security professionalism,” states the NZSA.

Nominations for the Medal are assessed by the NZSA executive, and recipients receive an inscribed award and are recognised in the bi-monthly NZSA newsletter and on the NZSA website social media platforms. They are also honoured with a roll call at the annual New Zealand Security Awards and are automatically included as nominees under the appropriate award category.

The NZSA welcomes nominations from anyone who can verify that the actions of a Security Officer, or a Security Team, directly contributed to the saving of a life, including:

• Assisting or removing a person, or persons, from life threatening situations

• Providing care to a person, or persons, resulting in their surviving life-threatening injuries

• Preventing a person, or persons, from causing life threatening harm to others

• Preventing a person, or persons from causing life threatening harm to themselves

• Identifying and removing risks that if unmitigated, could have caused life threatening harm to others

Nominations can be made via the NZSA website and must be received within four months of the incident and be supported by evidence such as media reporting, letters of acknowledgement or witness statements.

The latest cohort of recipients includes Kenneth Bethell from Aegis Private Security, Gurpreet Singh, Gagandeep Bhalla, Venusula Tilo Faasavalu, and Talaveta Toala from FIRST Security, and Gloria Peea, Gagan Bhalla, Neil Tomuli, Pule Talia, Sinapati Tuugasala, and Fuarosa Oloaga from Armourguard Security. Victor Korotky from FIRST Security received highly commended recognition.

Kenneth Bethell, Aegis Private Security

Kenneth (Kenny) is the second in charge of Aegis Private Security, Rotorua, providing security services in the Bay of Plenty region.

On 15 May 2024 Kenny was unable to contact a colleague on her cell phone and noting that she is elderly, lives alone, and usually responds promptly to any missed phone or text calls, he sought approval from the owner to conduct a house call and check on her welfare.

On arrival at the property Kenny again tried to contact the resident without any success. He noted that some things seemed out of place with curtains still closed and the outside lights on, even though it was daytime.

Kenny made a call to the resident’s daughter, who similarly was unable to make contact.

After discussing Kenny’s concerns, the daughter immediately drove to check on her mum and when entering the house found her unconscious next to her bed, having suffered a fall. She immediately called the ambulance, which arrived swiftly and provided the necessary medical assistance and ultimately transported her to the hospital emergency department.

The family later updated Kenny that their mother was recovering and in a stable condition however the paramedics mentioned that if care was delayed for another hour, she might not have survived.

As the family expressed in their letter of thanks, Kenny’s awareness and prompt actions truly saved her life.

Pictured L-R: Kenneth Bethell, with his colleague Sharon whose life he saved

Bing Kenny, Allied Security

Security Officer Bing Kenny is employed by Allied Security and whilst on duty at Woolworths Bayfair on 3 May 2024, he observed an incident of assault between two customers. Kenny fearlessly intervened and pulled a young person away from the victim who was being attacked. As he was pulling the assailant away, a knife was dropped and Bing was able to secure the knife and restrain the young person.

Following the incident Security Officer Kenny had the calmness to check on the welfare of the customer who had been attacked, members of the staff and public in the immediate area.

Security Officer Kenny’s actions were selfless and instrumental in preventing the loss of life and he was awarded a District Commanders Awards for his actions by NZ Police.

Anthony Stewart, Armourguard Security Security Officer Antony (Tony) Stewart commenced employment at the Armourguard Palmerston North branch early 2024 and has already proven himself to be an excellent Security Officer, including saving the life of two individuals on a single day.

On 16 May 2024 Tony was seconded to the Downtown Mall site. Early in the afternoon he was conducting an external check of the building when he noticed a male, estimated at 20 years old, hanging over the railing of the adjacent level 1 carpark.

Whilst some distance from youth, Tony called out to check if he was okay, and the youth responded “no”. Tony immediately ran to the location of the male and once close to him was able to engage in conversation.

Despite assertions that he wanted to jump, Tony was able to encourage him to move to a nearby stairwell where he was able to calm the youth down and summon assistance. Tony remained with the still agitated youth until police arrived and took him for medical assessment.

Later in the evening Security Officer Stewart was watching the complex cameras when he noticed two youths on the top floor car park who were creating a disturbance. Tony and the Downtown custodian went to investigate and as it was dark and raining, Tony used his torch to illuminate the car park area when he noticed a dark figure in the distance.

As they approached it became apparent that it was a young female in her early 20’s and sitting on the ledge of the carpark outer wall. When the female refused to respond to requests to come down from the ledge, Tony instructed the custodian to remain with her whilst he stepped back out of sight and then proceeded to call Police for assistance.

The police response was prompt and in force. Four police officers spent over an hour negotiating with the female but when she became very agitated and made a motion towards the edge of the ledge, the officers moved in and took her into custody. Congratulations on your efforts Tony.

Gurpreet Singh, FIRST Security

Gurpreet Singh is a Senior Security Officer for FIRST Security in the Auckland One Rail contract.

On 14 April 2024 Gurpreet observed a person on a station platform and behind the yellow line. As a train approached the platform the person slowly started heading towards the train and then attempted to jump in front of it.

Gurpreet immediately notified the SCC (Station Control Centre) and then rushed to where the person was located. As he approached, the person attempted to scale a fence and jump onto the tracks. Gurpreet was able to hold the person against the fence and to prevent them jumping until Police arrived and took them into their care.

Pictured: Bing Kenny

Pictured L-R: Antony Stewart and Steffan Dudley

Pictured L-R: Brian Switalla and Gurpreet Singh

Gagandeep Bhalla, FIRST Security

Gagandeep Bhalla is a Security Officer for FIRST Security and working on the Auckland One Rail contract.

An incident occurred at a South Auckland train station on 22 March in which Gagandeep observed a teenager jump off an overbridge and land awkwardly on the platform edge. It was immediately apparent that the person had sustained severe head injuries and was unconscious.

Gagandeep urgently requested two members of the public to provide assistance and together they lifted the young person and carried them to a hospital Emergency Department.

He then cordoned off the area pending Police arrival and taking of statements. Several days later he checked with Hospital Security and was advised that the young person was still a patient and was recovering.

Senior Security Officer Venusula Tilo Faasavalu and Security Officer Talaveta Toala are employed by FIRST Security on the Auckland One Rail contract.

On the day of the incident, a member of the public exited from a south bound train holding the left side of their chest as they were in pain. Talaveta contacted AOR’s SCC (Station Control Centre) and ambulance service. Venusula noticed that the person was holding their hand next to their chest

area and had started shaking uncontrollably and their eyes began rolling.

Talaveta was still on the phone with the paramedics and informed them that the patient appeared to be having a seizure. The paramedics spoke to Venusula and guided her on how to administer CPR to revive the patient.

Thankfully the person started coughing and recommenced breathing. They were supported and cared for until the ambulance arrived onsite and took them to hospital.

Gloria Peea, Armourguard Security

Gloria Peea is employed by Armourguard Security at the Auckland Transport Bus Stop at Mangere Town Centre. On 22 October 2023 at 21.25 hours, Gloria was alerted to a youth on the roof of the doctors surgery at Mangere Bus Station.

The youth was spoken to by Gloria who told her she wanted to end her life and that her father had just passed away, and doesn’t know who her mother is. Gloria continued to talk with her and managed to coax her down by bribing her with a pizza.

Police response was slow, and with her quick acting, nature and awareness, Gloria most certainly stopped the youth from attempting suicide.

Gagan Bhalla, Armourguard Security

On 11 September 2023 Security Officer Gagan Bhalla was on duty at the Middlemore Train Station.

At approximately 9am an individual made his way onto the platform and was observed as showing signs of stress and agitation and nearing the edge of the platform. On being asked to stand clear for his safety the individual complied and departed the station.

He then returned several hours later and again approached the edge of the platform. When again asked to stand clear he became aggressive and threatening that he was going to commit suicide by jumping in front of a train.

Gagan tried to console and calm the individual whilst also alerting AOR and the Police. At this time the individual calmed and left the station, only to return again around 3pm. Noting that he was under observation from Gagan, and that he was in communication with back up services, the individual boarded a train heading to Manukau.

Pictured L-R: Brian Switalla and Gagandeep Bhalla.

Pictured L-R: Brian Switalla and Talaveta Toala

Pictured L-R: Warwick Stenson, Gloria Peea and Shane O’Halloran

Venusula Tilo Faasavalu & Takaveta Toala, FIRST Security

G agan was able to notify AOR and Police and request their presence for arrival at the Manukau Station.

Neil Tomuli & Pule Talia, Armourguard Security

Early on the morning of 20 July 2023 the Auckland CBD was shut down as Police and Emergency Services responded to an active shooter situation. Unfortunately, the incident resulted in three deaths, including the perpetrator.

Neil and Pule were on duty at the Britomart Train Station and construction site located next to the incident scene. Both Neil and Pule immediately enacted the protocols from the Emergency Response Manual and placed a cordon around the site, preventing public and onlookers from entering the scene and with the assistance of Police, pushing back members of the public who were at risk.

Their actions were unprompted and letters of commendation from Auckland Transport state that they needed to be recognised as their actions undoubtedly saved a number of people and also instilled confidence in Auckland’s Public Transport Network.

Sinapati Tuugasala & Fuarosa Oloaga, Armourguard Security

On 15 August 2023 Security Officers Sinapati Tuugasala and Fuarosa Oloaga were on duty at the Manukau train station. At approximately midday a young male came running down the escalator and jumped over the gate. He was observed by the officers who started to follow at a safe

distance, and the male then jumped down onto the rail tracks and started running towards a stopped train.

The officers then approached the male and attempted to encourage him back onto the platform however the individual refused and said he wanted to die. The control centre, having been alerted by Sinapati, was observing via camera and immediately cancelled the train’s departure.

A fter further reassurance and coaxing from Sinapati and Fuarosa, the male eventually returned to the platform allowing passenger services to resume. Unfortunately, the male declined further support and departed the scene before police were able to attend.

Highly Commended – Victor Korotky, FIRST Security Security Officer Victor Korotky is a Security Officer with FIRST Security and employed on the Auckland One Rail contract.

On the day of the incident, Victor was working at a South Auckland train station when he observed a person sitting on the overbridge and threatening to jump off. He reported the situation to AOR’s SCC (Station Control Centre) and Police who attended promptly and dealt with the situation, eventually escorting the person to hospital.

During the incident, which resulted in the closure of the rail network, Victor kept the area contained and prevented customers from entering the area by guiding them to a different route.

Pictured L-R: Brett Farrell, Venusula Til Faasavalu, Su Kaur, Brian Switalla, Nick Gibbs, Victor Korotky, Lisa D’Oliveira, Gagandeep Bhalla, Talaveta Toala, Gurpreet Singh, Garvin Couch, Tim Covic, and Isaac Cubitt

Pictured L-R: Warwick Stenson, Gagan Bhalla and Shane O’Halloran

Pictured L-R: Warwick Stenson, Neil Tomuli and Pule Talia, and Shane O’Halloran

Pictured L-R: Warwick Stenson, Fuarosa Oloaga and Sinapati Tuugasala, and Shane O’Halloran

NZSA CEO’s July Newsletter

In this abridged July update, NZSA CEO Gary Morrison covers International Security Officer’s Day, parental leave entitlements, NZ Security Awards, MSD Security Cadet Programme, security consultants SIG, and more.

Gary Morrison is CEO of the New Zealand Security Association (NZSA). A qualified accountant, Gary was GM of Armourguard Security for New Zealand and Fiji prior to establishing Icon Security Group.

Over the last two months I have had the privilege to review and validate six separate nominations for Saved a Life Medal recognition, and in one of the nominations the security officer concerned was instrumental in saving two separate individuals over the course of a single shift.

We have profiled the various medal winners under separate cover and on our website but what they highlight is the very important, and often unrecognised, role that workers in our industry perform.

It is important that we recognise the outstanding efforts of our workers and that we take every available opportunity to tell and promote our stories.

I encourage all stakeholders, including industry customers, to support us in this cause by taking a

few minutes to recognise when these life-saving events occur, and to submit a nomination allowing us to recognise our industry heroes.

International Security Officer’s Day

International Security Officer’s Day will be [at time of writing] celebrated on the 24th of July.

Our thanks go out to those members and institutions who have purchased the badges for their staff, and we encourage all employers and customers to pass on their recognition.

New Member Management and Engagement System

Over the last few months our Finance and Operations Manager, Tacia Strawbridge, has been flat out behind the scenes preparing for our move from a spreadsheet-based platform to Gecco which provides a modern, flexible member management and engagement

system designed specifically for member-based associations.

Some of the changes will become more obvious in coming months as member interface becomes more seamless, including system generated emailing, member benefits and the member listing link to our website.

Parental Leave payments

Parental leave payments have increased by 6% from Monday 1 July 2024 to reflect the rise in average weekly earnings.

The maximum parental leave payment rate for eligible employees and self-employed parents will increase from $712.17 to $754.87 gross per week.

New Zealand Security Awards 2024

As covered later in this newsletter, nominations for the 2024 New Zealand Security Awards are now open and with a final submission date of Thursday 15 August.

There are 19 award categories covering a wide range of roles and the nomination process is online and easy to follow.

We are looking forward to a record number of nominations and the opportunity to celebrate the award

winners at the formal awards dinner on Friday 20 September at the Crowne Plaza, Auckland. With attendance capped at 250, we recommend you get your bookings in promptly.

Seedpod microlearning modules

Last month we launched the Skillpod microlearning modules for human skills on the NZSA Training Hub. Successful organisations know that a skilled and future-ready workforce is key to delivering business outcomes in today’s challenging labour market. By partnering with Skillpod we are able to give our members immediate access to relevant and leading-edge training around basics such as communication, leadership and managing unconscious bias.

For more information please visit the NZSA Training Hub

CoA Skill Standard Development

The current three-unit standards that make up the CoA (Mandatory) Training provide the initial learning for those entering the protective security division of the industry and requiring a licence under the Property Guard, Personal Guard or Crowd Controller classes.

This training is obviously critical to the safety of our workers, and it

has been extremely concerning and frustrating to witness the drop-off in the quality of training delivery, and the lack of monitoring of standards, that occurred following the previous governments disbandment of the ITOs and move to Te Pukenga and WDC’s (Work Development Councils).

Since the commencement of this year, Ringa Hora (the Service Sector WDC) has led the process of engaging with industry stakeholders to rewrite the three CoA Unit Standards as Skill Standards. This has allowed us to be far more stringent in specifying the content within the training and to set requirements around delivery and assessment.

As it stands currently the adoption of the new Skill Standards is not required until December 2026, however we are leading industry discussion on the joint development of compliant learning and assessment materials, along with training plans, and with implementation targeted as promptly as possible. This would strengthen the standard and quality of training and ensure a consistent and standardised delivery and assessment across all training providers.

It is also important that we recognise the work of the STSIG (Security Training Special Interest

Group) and those industry participants who have volunteered a significant amount of time into this process already.

Electronic Security Qualification Review

The Level 3 and 4 Electronic Security qualifications that make up the Security Technician Apprenticeship programme were last reviewed in 2017 and whilst largely recognised as being fit for purpose, there has been a need to remove out of date references and to ensure that new and emerging technologies are included.

Our thanks go out to the small group of industry providers who have volunteered their time, along with representatives from ETEC and Waihanga Ara Rau, to update Unit Standards 26841, 5881, 5891 and 5892 respectively.

Once the changes have been approved by NZQA, they will be incorporated into the training delivery and assessment by ETEC.

Establishing Security Consulting Special Interest Group (SCSIG)

As the peak body representing security providers in New Zealand, the NZSA has a critical role to play in influencing and determining key industry issues such as licensing, training, standards, good practice and career pathways, and in lifting public, corporate and government awareness and perception of the private security industry and the important role that we play in society.

To do this effectively it is important that we establish and maintain effective communication channels and have the ability to tap into the collective knowledge and expertise across all industry stakeholders.

An effective mechanism for this is through the establishment of Special Interest Groups (SIG’s) that allow us to bring together interested parties with specialist knowledge and a desire to act for the good of industry.

We are currently in the process of establishing a Security Consulting Special Interest Group (SCSIG) to give guidance on the key security consulting issues (as noted above) and are seeking

expressions of interest from those who wish to be involved.

The SCSIG will initially be chaired by NZSA board member Jonathan Howe of Beca Applied Technologies and will meet online on a two monthly basis. Matters such as Terms of Reference and key focus areas will be determined at the inaugural meeting.

If you have the necessary skills and knowledge and would like to participate, please contact NZSA CEO, Gary Morrison, at gary@ security.org.nz and provide a brief supporting CV as verification of skills and capability.

MSD Security Cadet Programme

We are pleased to announce a new employment-based programme with the Ministry of Social Development where we will place Auckland and Wellington based candidates, who are currently on a benefit, into long term employment with our members.

The candidates will be offered a Security Cadet position that will allow them to gain experience in at least three or four different positions during their first year of employment and with the potential to fast-track into more senior roles.

Members who employ the cadets will be financially supported under the Flexi-Wage programme and the NZSA will provide pastural care for the candidate and arrange access to the Seedpod learning modules on the NZSA Training Hub.

Employers who would like to register their interest in participating in the programme should contact Gary Morrison at gary@security.org.nz.

Partnership with ATT re employment of Security Technician Apprentices

ATT (Apprenticeship Training Trust) was established 30+ years ago and currently supports and manages some 330 apprentices across New Zealand in the plumbing, gas-fitting, drain-laying and electrical trades.

The NZSA has partnered with ATT to offer employment opportunities for those electrical apprentices who are interested in roles within the security sector, and also for security providers who are looking to recruit at entry level or apprenticeship level positions.

With the country in a technical recession, the electrical industry has seen a recent downturn in activity and that has obviously impacted on current employment opportunities, and hence a growing interest from apprentices in the security sector, particularly given that the Electrotechnology Level 3 qualification has relevance to both.

In coming months, we will circulate the CVs of those electrical apprentices who are registered with ATT and seeking employment in the security sector and similarly, welcome all enquiries from members who may have an interest in talking to ATT about either employing an apprentice directly, or utilising an apprentice under the ATT Group Employment model where the apprentice is employed by ATT.

Please email Gary Morison at gary@security.org.nz to register your interest.

As always, we welcome all comments and feedback on NZSA or industry issues and activity.

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Government creates Ministerial Advisory Group for retail crime victims

The coalition Government is establishing a Ministerial Advisory Group for the victims of retail crime as part of its plan to restore law and order.

“New Zealand has seen an exponential growth in retail crime over the past five years, with an 86 percent increase in retail crime of all types and, very concerningly, a 72 percent increase in sexual assault-related offences at retail locations,” Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith stated in a 11 July media release.

“Around 230,000 New Zealanders work in the retail sector, with increasing numbers experiencing the personal and economic impacts of violent and theft-related crimes,” he said.

“The new Ministerial Advisory Group will engage directly with victims, workers, business owners, retail experts and advocacy groups over the next two years to provide the Government specific proposals to address urgent challenges in retail crime.”

“We are running a targeted expression-of-interest process to ensure the group has the right combination of skills and experience to make it highly effective,” Mrs McKee says.

Sunny Kaushal, Chair of the Dairy & Business Owners Group and President of the Crime Prevention Group, has been appointed Chair of the proposed Group.

“This group will help ensure there are 20,000 fewer victims of violent crime by 2029 and reduce serious youth

offending by 15 percent, said Minister Goldsmith.

“I look forward to the insights the advisory group will bring and trust they will provide evidence-backed suggestions and recommendations to support victims and stop offenders.”

Commenting on general crime rates, Minister Goldsmith stated that the latest data is “shameful”.

“The latest New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey data is shameful, with New Zealanders experiencing 1.88 million incidents of crime between November 2022 and October 2023,” he said.

“There were 185,000 New Zealanders who experienced 449,000 incidents of violent crime, including physical and sexual assault, and robbery.

“Sadly, the survey found more New Zealanders felt unsafe than the year prior, even if they weren’t a victim of a crime.

The government has set two targets in the hope of making a dent in the figures: 20,000 fewer victims of violent crime by 2029, alongside serious repeat youth offending to drop by 15 percent.

Measures include a sentencing reform package to ensure criminals face serious consequences for crime and the needs of victims are prioritised.

“We’re also backing police to go after criminal gangs, restoring Three Strikes legislation, getting more officers on the beat, establishing military-style academies and a new Youth Serious Offender category, and speeding up court processes,” he said.

Australia’s peak retail bodies tackle retail crime head-on

In response to the rise in retail crime across the ditch, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and the National Retail Association (NRA) have joined forces to call for major changes to improve the safety of retail staff.

The changes include stronger laws and deterrents for offenders, improved relationships between the retail sector and police, improved information sharing, increased focus on the human impact of retail crime, and increased adoption of technology.

The push coincides with the 2024 Retail Crime Symposium held in late July, which gathered leading experts with a common purpose to tackle retail crime, worker assaults and the infiltration of organised crime into stores and online environments.

ARA CEO Paul Zahra said that retail crime is one of the most pressing issues facing the retail sector today.

“Retail crime has devastating impacts on businesses and their teams. It’s an issue that is multifaceted – with increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks, organised crime rings targeting retail stores, and violent confrontations that are taking an emotional toll on frontline workers,” he said.

“Good progress has been made to provide legislative protections for frontline workers, but the coverage is not yet universal across Australia. We need to continue pushing for these laws because this type of aggressive behaviour isn’t tolerated in any other workplace, and shouldn’t have to be tolerated by retail workers,” said Mr Zahra.

The symposium highlighted a number of key areas of concern for

the retail sector and opportunities for further collaboration.

“We need a joint approach to address the challenges impacting our sector, including stronger relationships between retailers and police, innovative solutions to capture more data to help track retail crime trends, and the responsible adoption of technology to help deter criminals and hold offenders to account,” said Mr Zahra.

NRA Interim CEO and Legal Director Lindsay Carroll says now is the time for governments, law enforcement and retailers to come together to collectively combat an issue that is costing the economy, consumers and business owners.

“The 2024 Retail Crime Symposium gives us the opportunity to present a united stance against the issues that are most important for our sector right now, including the need to address the behaviour of aggressive individuals and demonstrate there are

consequences for their actions,” Ms Carroll said.

The ARA and NRA have been advocating for stronger penalties for people who assault front-line workers. In the past 12 months, new laws have been introduced in South Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, with legislation drafted in Tasmania and announced in Victoria.

“Research shows that stricter laws do have a positive impact for retailers and communities, by creating safer working and shopping environments. However, police need more resources to effectively act on aggressive individuals, and retailers need to increase their reporting of these incidents to police,” said Ms Carroll.

“We hope that the symposium creates a pathway for action, ensuring that data and reporting mechanisms accurately reflect the heightened rates of aggressive behaviour.”

Opinion: Understanding counter-terrorism needs serious scholarship

He Whenua Taurikura needs to be staffed by serious security studies scholars genuinely interested in countering future threats, writes Dr John Battersby of Massey University’s Centre for Defence and Security Studies.

Senior Contributor Dr John Battersby is a Senior Fellow at Massey University’s Centre for Defence and Security Studies and Managing Editor of the National Security Journal.

It’s well overdue. Serious security studies scholars have been silent for too long.

He Whenua Taurikura (HWT) was established following recommendation 14 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch mosques on 15 March 2019. That recommendation anticipated a new intelligence and security agency with an appropriation “to fund independent New Zealandspecific research on the causes of, and measures to prevent, violent extremism and terrorism.”

No new intelligence and security agency has yet been created, its value proposition questioned, and its initiation opposed, by those agencies

whose patch it would be encroaching on.

Despite the previous Government accepting ‘in principle’ all of the Royal Commission’s recommendations, a work-plan to revise and implement them had stalled before it lost office. Under the fiscal priorities of the current Government, the work plan is unlikely to restart.

In attempting some semblance of fulfilling recommendation 14, HWT, a Centre of Research Excellence, was established in August 2022. In a process devoid of accountability, members of the panel chosen to appoint its new director were themselves appointed as co-directors. Its significant budget has just been cut.

HWT’s website claims to contribute to the safety of New Zealand by “coordinating research into countering and preventing terrorism and violent extremism, while promoting social cohesion.”

HWT’s lengthy list of research associates is wafer thin on those previously interested or experienced in researching terrorism. Besides, the link between social cohesion and the countering or preventing of terrorism and violent extremism is debatable.

Any informed glance at the type of violence that could be defined as terrorism in New Zealand in the last 50 years has generally germinated among individuals absenting themselves from social norms, objecting to the cohesion of society rather than being deterred by it.

It has more often emerged from the left, rather than the right of New Zealand’s tiny cadres of extremists. Although, at times, an ideological identification has not been possible. This is a conclusion drawn from serious research undertaken before 15 March 2019, well before HWT’s claim to coordinate such endeavours. It comes from analysing past examples of New Zealand’s peculiar nonsequential, disconnected, intermittent and predominantly individually perpetrated political violence. It comes from looking at state responses, the adequacy of legislation and from

observing trends and implications of ‘counter’ and ‘prevention’ attempts in other countries.

Deriving wisdom from the direct and relevant experience of other countries, which may be applicable to New Zealand, is a key benefit of this approach. This is what independent research should look like. It should not push its own political agendas.

However, HWT appears to have conceived countering and preventing terrorism as a career into the untamed wilds of identity studies, grievance politics and activism.

It recently called for contributors to a special issue of Crime Media Culture entitled ‘Unravelling Violence, Gendered Extremism: Interdisciplinary and Global Perspectives and Challenges’. Not only does Crime Media Culture have no security credentials, but the content of this special issue is unlikely to have any practical value to New Zealand’s understanding of its own terrorism or violent extremism risks. Or how, or even if, they can be countered.

In its March 2024 newsletter, HWT celebrated co-hosting the launch of The Shaming State, a book that focuses on the United States and on the “neglect of social solidarities on communities in neoliberal societies in the wake of political and natural disasters”.

Another academic is reported to be in Europe discussing our Government’s

abandonment of the recommendation to amend hate speech laws. But criminalising speech is complex and problematic, demanding careful consideration even if it can be done.

Perhaps all of these topics have a value somewhere, but was this what the Royal Commission of Inquiry intended?

Is this independent New Zealandspecific research on the causes of, and measures to prevent, violent extremism and terrorism? Did the Royal Commission intend to encourage academics to research on the United States and present critique of New Zealand Government decisions in Europe? How is any of this aiding the countering or preventing of terrorism and violent extremism in New Zealand?

The latest budget has attempted to alleviate the burden of our mounting national debt, but the pain continues regardless for those ordinary New Zealanders trying to put food on the table. Many have lost their jobs. The civil service is shrinking. It is a time when those entrusted with public money to perform their duties should be directing it to the purposes to which it was intended.

He Whenua Taurikura needs to be staffed by serious security studies scholars prepared to engage with security professionals to genuinely look for the wisdom we need to counter the possibility of future threats.

Mark Mitchell: Backing the frontline

Crime is trending down, but there’s plenty more work to be done, writes Hon Mark Mitchell, Minister for Police, Minister for Corrections, and Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery.

Hon Mark Mitchell MP is Minister of Police, Minister of Corrections, and Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery. He is a former Defence Minister and previously a New Zealand Police officer and private security contractor.

The Coalition Government has a clear plan for restoring law and order. It’s our goal to ensure all Kiwis feel safe whether it’s at home, at work or out in the community.

This government is laser focused on putting public safety back at the heart of our Justice system. The actions we’re taking are geared towards that. For us, making New Zealanders feel safer, and reducing the number of victims is how we will measure our success.

We are starting to see positive results of crime trending down, and it shows we are heading in the right direction, but there is a lot of work to be done.

Our frontline officers work, hard often in difficult and dangerous situations. We cannot ignore the fact that escalating crime in recent years has made their job more challenging.

We’re working at pace, alongside Police to get on top of crime by giving them more tools and powers they need to do their job well, and safely. This work is well underway, with a series of legislative changes in process.

Our Law-and-Order agenda includes Three Strikes legislation, banning gang patches, limits on sentencing discounts by judges, firearms prohibition orders, giving Police the power to issue nonconsorting orders and dispersal notices to gang members, as well as

establishing military style academies for our most serious violent Youth Offenders.

These changes are designed to remove the danger and risk to our communities and shift these offenders to an environment where we can try to rehabilitate them.

Youth crime continues to be a priority for the government. Police are doing good work identifying and arresting youth offenders. But it’s not a problem Police can solve alone. Across Government we are working together on solutions to keep young people out of trouble.

Beyond legislation, I have been very clear on my expectations around increased visibility of beat officers in our CBDs. Police have responded quickly, with an increase in foot patrols nationwide. This is especially true for Auckland, where between April 2023 to March 2024 we have seen a 63 percent increase compared to the previous year.

Budget 2024 reflects the Government’s focus on our critical frontline services, with funding to Police to deliver 500 more frontline officers over the next two years.

As Corrections Minister, I have visited many prisons up and down the country. I’ve seen first-hand the challenging work environment our frontline staff work in, often with some of the country’s most dangerous offenders. Staff safety is critical, and I am committed to ensuring they are backed with the resources they need to do their jobs well.

Through a significant lift in funding, we are investing into the frontline to support Corrections to run a safe, efficient, and effective prison system.

It will ensure Corrections has enough prison capacity to respond to growing prisoner numbers, recruit and train more frontline staff, increase the safety of corrections officers, and deliver rehabilitation to reduce reoffending.

The prison system works to keep our communities safe. And it’s equally important that the system has meaningful support services available to prisoners to get them on a path, away from crime.

With 45 percent of the prison population on remand, we need to do as much as we can to help them turn their lives around, and in turn, reduce reoffending rates. That is why as part of Budget 2024, we are investing to ensure those on remand have access to rehabilitation programmes while they await sentencing.

We would like to see the prison population come down over the long term. But first things first, we need to protect victims, and decrease levels of crime and we will continue to work at pace on this.

Gallagher boosts NZ training and sales capability with new hires

Gallagher Security has announced the appointment of Tim Orr as South Island Sales Manager based in Christchurch, and training team recruits James Robinson and Toni Fisher in Hamilton.

Having held a variety of roles ranging from Network Engineer to Data Delivery Manager, Tim Orr served as Solutions Architect at One New Zealand before joining the Gallagher team on 25 June.

In his role as Gallagher Security’s South Island Sales Manager, Orr plans to apply his technical knowledge through a customer-centric lens to help end users maximise their Gallagher systems.

“Gallagher’s technology is constantly evolving, and one of my goals is to ensure these sites are getting the most out of their investments by maintaining close relationships and bringing them along on our innovation journey,” he said.

“My main goal is to build excellent relationships with our Channel Partners and End Users to allow me to understand the business problems they need to solve.”

“Tim has a passion and aptitude for technology, but more importantly he’s guided by a clear set of principles that makes him an overall great guy,” commented Brad Small, Gallagher Security’s Regional Manager for New Zealand Sales. “I’m excited to see what Tim accomplishes in the coming months and thrilled to have him representing the Gallagher brand.”

Gallagher also announced late in July the expansion of its training team with the addition of James Robinson as Senior Instructional Designer and Toni Fisher as Instructional Designer, based in Hamilton.

James has a background in leading instructional learning teams in the public sector. With more than 12 years’ experience, he brings a unique blend of expertise with digital learning mediums as well as classroom facilitation.

“My ultimate goal is to make our training programs more engaging, interactive, and relevant for all learners, regardless of their experience level, empowering them with the tools they need,” said James.

Toni possesses a strong background in visual design and a passion for conveying complex information in an engaging way. “I aim to bridge the gap between theory and practice, empowering our Channel Partners and End Users to better understand our hardware and software,” says Toni.

“We have ambitious goals to deliver the best learning experiences,” said Scott Bell, Training Solutions Lead.

“We’ve strengthened our training platforms with the recent releases of Virtual Classroom and Augmented Reality, providing immersive and interactive learning, and our training content is set to follow suit. James and Toni’s dedication to learner-centric design will be instrumental in helping us achieve those goals.”

Crime Spiral: Lessons for New Zealand from Sweden’s Gang Violence problems

Sweden has witnessed an uptick in gang violence, but the Scandinavian country’s experience also provides us with some key lessons, writes Jamie Williams, ICARAS Consultants’ Security Risk Management Lead.

Jamie Williams is Security Risk Management Lead at ICARAS Security Consultants.

New Zealand has recently faced an evolving gang landscape, partly influenced by Australia’s 501 deportation rules. A toughening of 501 legislation and policy in December 2014 has resulted in over 3,000 deportees being sent to New Zealand, many of whom have minimal ties to the country but bring sophisticated criminal techniques and international connections.

Alarmingly, nearly 50% of these deportees have re-offended, contributing to over 21,404 offences, including violent crimes and drug offences.

Across the globe, Sweden has witnessed a troubling rise in gang violence over the past decade. With a population of 10.49 million, Sweden has seen an increase in firearm homicides, grenade attacks, and gangrelated activities, which have shocked a society previously known for its safety and low crime rates.

This surge has been partly attributed to challenges in integrating a large number of asylum seekers, economic disparities, and legal system limitations.

This article explores the lessons New Zealand can learn from Sweden’s experience with gang violence and integration challenges. By analysing the factors contributing to Sweden’s current situation and the measures taken to address them, New Zealand

can adopt proactive strategies to manage and prevent similar issues, particularly in light of the complexities introduced by the influx of 501 deportees.

Section 1: Overview of Sweden’s Gang Problem

In recent years, Sweden has experienced a significant increase in gang-related violence, a stark contrast to its oncepeaceful reputation. Statistics reveal a worrying trend: in 2022, the country recorded 391 shootings, resulting in over 60 deaths; in 2023, there were 363 shootings with 53 fatalities, making Sweden one of the worst-affected countries in the European Union in terms of firearm homicides per capita. This surge in violence has been marked by not only shootings but also bombings and grenade attacks, incidents once rare in Swedish society. Particularly alarming is the involvement of youth in these activities, with reports indicating that children as young as 13 are being drawn into gang life. This involvement has escalated to tragic outcomes, including instances of teenagers being both perpetrators and victims of severe violence.

Contributing Factors

Several interrelated factors have contributed to the rise in gang violence in Sweden. A significant challenge has been the integration of a large number of asylum seekers and immigrants, particularly following the 2015 European migrant crisis. Between

2015 and 2016, Sweden received over 160,000 asylum applications, with the majority of asylum seekers coming from countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Many of these individuals have settled in segregated neighbourhoods with limited access to education and employment opportunities, creating environments where young people are vulnerable to gang recruitment.

Socioeconomic disparities have exacerbated feelings of marginalisation and exclusion, further fuelling the problem. The Swedish legal system has also faced scrutiny, particularly for its lenient treatment of young offenders, which some argue has failed to deter criminal activities effectively.

Additionally, Sweden faces challenges in preventing the smuggling of weapons and illegal goods through its extensive Baltic coastline, highlighting the need for robust maritime security measures. These factors, combined with an underfunded and understaffed police force, have created a complex and challenging landscape for managing and reducing gang-related violence.

Section 2: Key Lessons from Sweden

Integration Challenges

One of the primary lessons from Sweden’s experience with rising gang violence is the critical importance of effectively integrating immigrants into society.

The influx of refugees and asylum seekers, particularly following the 2015 European migrant crisis, led to significant challenges in providing adequate housing, education, and employment opportunities. Many immigrants ended up in economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods with limited access to quality education and job opportunities, exacerbating feelings of marginalisation and exclusion.

These areas became fertile ground for gang recruitment as young people, struggling with a lack of prospects and social inclusion, sought a sense of belonging and status. Sweden’s experience underscores the necessity of investing in comprehensive integration programs that include language training, educational support, and pathways to employment to prevent the

social isolation that can lead to gang involvement.

Youth Engagement

The role of youth in Sweden’s gang issues has highlighted the need for proactive engagement strategies.

Many individuals involved in gang activities are young, with some as young as 13 years old being drawn into criminal enterprises. The allure of quick wealth, coupled with a lack of positive role models and alternative pathways, has made gangs an attractive option for many young people.

To combat this, Sweden’s experience suggests the importance of robust youth engagement programs that offer mentorship, educational support, and recreational activities. Community centres, sports clubs, and after-school programs can provide safe spaces and constructive outlets for young people, steering them away from the lure of gang life.

Additionally, involving former gang members in outreach programs can be an effective strategy to dissuade youth from joining gangs by sharing real-life consequences and promoting alternative lifestyles.

Reflecting on the complexities of gang recruitment, it is crucial to acknowledge that punitive measures alone cannot solve this problem. As one insightful comment noted, “You cannot punish away this problem because, for every kid you lock up, there are three new [children] coming.”

This sentiment is underscored by a tragic incident in April 2024, where a 39-year-old Polish man was fatally shot in Stockholm following a confrontation with a group of youths. The man, accompanied by his 12-year-old son, was en route to a swimming pool when the confrontation escalated, resulting in his death. The shooting, witnessed by his son, drew a strong reaction from Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who described it as a “kind of inhumane, an animalistic attitude.”

This incident illustrates the urgent need for preventive measures focused on youth, emphasising that addressing the root causes of gang involvement— such as social and economic disadvantages—is essential.

Programs that provide positive role models, mentorship, and support can help deter young people from engaging in gang activities and prevent such tragedies from occurring. Investing in youth engagement is not just about deterring gang activity; it is about fostering a generation equipped with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to pursue positive life paths.

Law Enforcement and Legal Framework

Sweden’s challenges with gang violence also reveal critical insights into the role of law enforcement and the legal framework in addressing such issues.

The country’s relatively lenient legal treatment of young offenders has been criticised for failing to provide adequate deterrence. Many young gang members, even those involved in serious crimes, receive light sentences or are placed in juvenile care facilities, which some argue does not adequately address the severity of their actions. Additionally, Sweden’s police forces have been historically underfunded and understaffed, limiting their ability to combat organised crime and gang violence effectively.

This situation has led to calls for a reassessment of sentencing guidelines, particularly for youth involved in violent crimes, and an increase in resources for law enforcement agencies. Strengthening the legal framework to ensure that serious offences are met with appropriate consequences, alongside increasing the capacity of police forces, are crucial steps in addressing and preventing gang violence.

Section 3: Applying the Lessons to New Zealand

Proactive Integration Policies

To effectively manage the challenges posed by the influx of 501 deportees and prevent the growth of gang activity, New Zealand must adopt proactive and nuanced integration policies.

A key lesson from Sweden’s experience is the negative impact of concentrating immigrants

and deportees in economically disadvantaged areas, which can exacerbate feelings of marginalisation and increase vulnerability to gang recruitment.

To avoid these pitfalls, New Zealand should prioritise the equitable distribution of immigrants and deportees across various communities, ensuring access to quality housing, education, and employment opportunities. This approach can help integrate individuals into diverse communities, reducing the likelihood of social isolation and fostering inclusive social networks.

Strengthening Youth Programs

Investing in youth programs is crucial for deterring young people from joining gangs and fostering a sense of belonging within the community.

New Zealand can benefit from Sweden’s experience by expanding youth engagement initiatives that offer mentorship, educational support, and recreational activities. Establishing after-school programs and community centres that provide safe spaces for youth to engage in sports, arts, and educational pursuits can offer constructive alternatives to gang involvement.

Mentorship programs that connect young people with positive role models, including reformed former gang members, can be particularly impactful. These mentors can offer guidance, share their experiences, and help youth navigate challenges, encouraging them to make positive life choices.

Additionally, integrating gang prevention education into the school curriculum can raise awareness about the dangers of gang life and equip young people with the skills to resist peer pressure and make informed decisions.

Law and Order Enhancements

To strengthen the fight against gangrelated crime, New Zealand Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has established national and frontline gang-focused units. This initiative includes the creation of a National Gang Unit to enhance operational capabilities and support district-based staff in planning and coordinating enforcement efforts against gangs. The unit will build on the successes of Operation Cobalt and other initiatives targeting gang activities. Commissioner Coster emphasised that gang members are responsible

for a disproportionate amount of crime, including serious assault, robberies, drug and firearms offences, and homicides. The National Gang Unit will work with police districts nationwide to disrupt and prevent gang-related crime, disorder, and intimidation.

In addition to the National Gang Unit, new Gang Disruption Units will be established as dedicated district teams focused on identifying, targeting, and apprehending priority offenders. These units will maintain a focused view of the gang environment, ensuring a coordinated and comprehensive approach to gang policing.

This strategy aligns with new legislation providing police with enhanced tools to address gang-related harm, reinforcing community safety.

Enhancing Maritime Security

New Zealand’s approach to maritime security is crucial for preventing the illegal entry of drugs and weapons, which can exacerbate gang-related issues. Like Sweden, which has faced challenges with contraband entering through its Baltic coastline, New Zealand’s extensive maritime borders require vigilant monitoring.

Sweden’s experience highlights the risks associated with vast and relatively unguarded coastlines, where weapons and illegal goods can be smuggled with relative ease.

The New Zealand Maritime Security Strategy, guided by understanding, engagement, prevention, and response principles, emphasises a multi-agency approach to protecting maritime borders. This includes regular assessments of emerging threats, coordinated surveillance, and investment in analytical capabilities.

By leveraging advanced technology, such as enhanced scanning equipment and improved surveillance systems, New Zealand can effectively monitor and secure its extensive coastline, reducing the potential for contraband that fuels gang violence. Strengthening international cooperation and intelligence sharing with neighbouring countries and global partners is also crucial in combating transnational crime networks that exploit maritime vulnerabilities.

These efforts are part of a broader commitment to maintaining a secure and resilient environment, protecting the nation’s economic interests and the well-being of its communities. By

applying these lessons from Sweden, New Zealand can better safeguard against the infiltration of illegal goods and the associated risks to public safety.

Section 4: The Role of Community and Government

Community Engagement

Community engagement is crucial in preventing gang formation and supporting vulnerable populations. When communities actively participate in creating a safe and inclusive environment, they can help mitigate the factors that lead individuals, particularly youth, towards gang involvement.

Local organisations, community leaders, and residents can collaborate to establish programs that offer positive alternatives to gang life, such as sports, arts, and educational activities. Mentorship programs, where community members provide guidance and support to at-risk youth, can foster a sense of belonging and purpose, helping them to resist the lure of gangs.

An essential aspect of community engagement involves addressing the needs of youth coming from state care systems.

Both Sweden and New Zealand have seen a significant number of gang members who experienced neglect and abuse in state care. These individuals often turn to gangs for a sense of family and security, which they lack in institutional settings.

It is vital to provide targeted support for these young people, including mentorship, mental health services, and programs that help them transition to independent living. By addressing the trauma and social isolation that many of these youths face, communities can prevent the cycle of gang involvement from continuing.

Government Responsibility

The government has a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s social fabric and must implement comprehensive, long-term strategies to address gangrelated issues. This involves not only law enforcement and immediate interventions but also broader social policies that tackle the root causes of

gang involvement, such as poverty, lack of education, and social exclusion.

In New Zealand, significant steps have been taken in gun control, particularly following the Christchurch mosque shootings in 2019. The Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Act banned military-style semi-automatic weapons and introduced a buyback scheme.

Further measures, such as establishing a firearms registry and stricter licensing controls, have been implemented to enhance public safety. However, ongoing reforms, including the proposed rewrite of the Arms Act, highlight the need for continued vigilance in balancing public safety with the rights of lawful gun owners.

The government must also focus on preventing the illegal entry of firearms and other contraband, which can exacerbate gang violence. Drawing lessons from Sweden, where weapons have been smuggled through the Baltic coastline, New Zealand needs to strengthen its maritime security measures.

The New Zealand Maritime Security Strategy emphasises a multiagency approach to safeguarding maritime borders, involving regular threat assessments and investment in advanced surveillance technologies. This strategy must be continuously updated to address emerging threats

and ensure robust border security.

A crucial part of the government’s role is developing and implementing long-term strategies beyond immediate law enforcement actions. This includes addressing systemic issues such as social inequity, educational disparities, and economic opportunities, particularly for marginalised communities.

Focusing on youth is vital, especially those transitioning out of state care.

Many gang members have backgrounds of neglect and abuse in state care, and without proper support, these individuals are at a higher risk of gang involvement. The government should prioritise comprehensive programs that provide mental health support, life skills training, and pathways to education and employment for these vulnerable youths.

Conclusion

This article has explored the rise in gang-related issues in Sweden and the lessons New Zealand can learn to mitigate similar challenges. Key points include the need for proactive integration policies to prevent social isolation among immigrants and deportees, the importance of youth engagement to deter young people from joining gangs, and the enhancement of law enforcement and legal frameworks to address gang violence effectively.

Also highlighted is the significance of community

engagement and the role of the government in implementing longterm strategies beyond immediate law enforcement measures.

Policymakers, community leaders, and the public must work together to address the complex challenges of gang prevention. This involves enforcing laws and fostering inclusive communities that provide support and opportunities for all individuals, especially the youth and vulnerable populations. Community programs, educational initiatives, and social services are critical in building resilience against the lure of gang life.

The government must continue to invest in these areas, ensuring that policies are responsive to society’s evolving needs.

Closing Thought

As we reflect on the lessons from Sweden and the ongoing efforts in New Zealand, it is clear that a comprehensive and proactive approach is essential for building a safer, more inclusive society.

As Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” By educating and empowering our communities, we can pave the way for a future where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to thrive, free from the influence of gangs and violence.

The qualification develops and advances critical research, critical thinking and writing, analytical best practice as well as exploring relevant twentieth and twenty-first century intelligence operations. It is aimed at those wishing to develop advanced critical skills in relation to their existing or prospective intelligence sector careers in New Zealand.

Graduates of this year long programme will possess an advanced knowledge of intelligence analysis processes, be grounded in relevant previous operational intelligence experiences and have a critical understanding of the ethical and professional issues involved.

The programme of study consists of two 30-credit courses:

Qualification Requirements

Semester ONE, 294741: Intelligence in the International Security Environment

A critical examination of intelligence theory and practice, focusing on key concepts and methodologies of intelligence collection and analysis, analytical tools, frameworks and concepts applied to investigations and operations in the contemporary international security environment.

Course Controller:

Dr Rhys Ball, Centre for Defence and Security Studies (Auckland)

Semester TWO, 294744: Intelligence Operations

A comprehensive grounding in the operational intelligence environment in the second half of the 20th century, into the 21st century. Participants will consider the development of intelligence practices both in New Zealand and around the world, from the evolution of intelligence contributions from the end of World War Two, to the intelligence challenges of the 2020s. Intelligence operations are critically reviewed, including intelligence success and failure, espionage against friends and allies, and policing and private intelligence formats.

Course Controller:

Dr John Battersby, Senior Fellow, Centre for Defence and Security Studies (Wellington)

To enroll in this qualification, students must have been awarded or qualified for a relevant Bachelor's degree, or be able to demonstrate scholarly work in conjunction with extensive relevant professional experience for Admission with Equivalent Status.

For further information, please contact John: j.m.battersby@massey.ac.nz, or Rhys: r.ball@massey.ac.nz.