Being tough is something that is discussed and apparently desired a great deal in the martial arts as well as life in general. The real question though is what is being tough? Some of the toughest people I know have never been involved in a fight in their entire lives. What I’m talking about here is Mental Toughness. Mental Toughness can be defined as possessing a natural or developed psychological edge that allows you to;

• Cope with the stresses and demands that everyday life places us under.
• Be more consistent in being determined, focused, confident and resilient and in control under pressure

Sounds easy right? Well yes and no. The concepts of developing Mental Toughness are not difficult to grasp or put into practice. What is difficult is training our minds to believe that we can survive almost any situation and come out the other side both mentally and physically intact. There are 4 keys to developing Mental Toughness that if practiced consistently can substantially improve your life, feelings of self-worth and assist you in realizing all of your goals, ambitions and dreams.

Focus

Developing focus is not an easy thing to do. It requires a great deal of time, effort and practice in order to assimilate it into our psyche. Learning to focus involves learning how to not become adversely affected by the actions or perceptions of others. It also involves learning how to ignore our own internal preoccupations and distractions. We are constantly engaged in an internal dialogue with ourselves. Some of the time this dialogue is positive, but much of the time we are awash in our own insecurities, self-doubt, fears and worries. Part of the problem is that even under the best of circumstances we go through much of our lives feeling weak, insignificant, unworthy and fearful. Our brains are a vast organic computer completing billions of calculations every second of our lives. Like any computer the brain can only process the data that is inputted into the mainframe. Think back to your childhood, school, your social life and work. How many times have we heard “that’s impossible”, “it’ll never work”, “that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” Sound familiar? For most of us we’ve heard these negative self-depreciating statements for years, and across all environments. Guess what; when you hear something enough times you start to believe it and act on it.

This is Neurolinguistic Programming in action. This is a big word that basically means that what we input into our brains is what we are going to feel, think and act upon. Let me give you a perfect example. I work in a maximum security prison on an Emergency Response Team. We work with some of the most dangerous and violent members of our society and are outnumbered by an average of 10/1. I work amongst the inmates in an open unit, and they have access to me and my partner a great deal of the time. Did I mention that my partner is a 110 pound woman? I’m not being sexist here. I have the greatest respect and admiration for my partner, and I know when something bad happens, she’ll always have my back. Pretty much everyone I work with is what I would consider a “normal” person if such a thing exists. Not one of us is superman, yet we go to work everyday and willingly place ourselves amongst the wolves of society. These are the predators that would not hesitate for a second to harm one of us if they feel they can do so with minimal cost to themselves. So what keeps us safe? It’s not guns, because we don’t carry weapons of any kind. It’s also not fear, because I can guarantee a person who rapes, robs and murders for a living is not afraid of being sent to segregation (the hole) for violent or aggressive behavior. So what is it then? Training and focus.

When I respond to a “code” (an emergency call) my mind is running through the steps I need to take to deal with the situation in the quickest and most expeditious manner possible. There is no room for self-doubt or hesitation because that’s what gets people hurt or killed. If I responded thinking “I can’t take him down, he’s too big and strong”, or “I’m scared; that guy stabbed two people to death” then I’d probably be injured or ineffective in bringing the situation to a quick and safe conclusion. It’s not my 30+ years of martial arts training that keeps me safe (although it’s trained my body to react almost instantaneously to threats), and it’s not my size (I’m 180 pounds soaking wet). I believe and know that no matter what is waiting for me on the other side of the door I’m going through I can and will deal with it and go on with my life. My focus is on the job at hand and what I need to do to control the situation. There is no time for my own personal insecurities to intrude because it’s a distraction I can’t afford. In my world you only get one mistake.

Self Belief

Self belief is an unshakable belief in our ability to succeed. In part it is the unique qualities that make us who we are. We’re going to talk a lot about Neurolinguistic Programming, because it’s a big part of training our minds to become Mentally Tough. If I told you one thousand times a day that you are dumb, ugly and worthless would it matter? It might if you don’t believe in your own skills and abilities. Now on the other hand; if you tell yourself one thousand times a day that you are smart, capable and a beautiful person you will begin to feel and act this way. You see perception is 90% of reality. I can’t just believe that I’m rich and make it happen, but if I believe strongly enough in myself my confidence and willingness to overcome obstacles will go along way to achieving this goal. Think of the most successful person you know. Are they any smarter, luckier or more deserving of success than you? Likely they’re not; what they’ve got is the ability to pick themselves up off the floor every time they fail and keep moving forward until they reach their goal. A very wise person once told me “Sometimes you’ve got to fake it until you make it.”

Composure

Composure is the ability to retain psychological control following unexpected events and problems. It is the ability to recognize that some anxiety is inevitable, and having confidence in your ability to cope with it and triumph. Developing composure is a learned skill. It comes with experience and the knowledge that you have the skills, training and knowledge to deal with whatever life throws at you.

Motivation

Motivation is part of what allows us to recover from setbacks and screw ups. It is the internal desire and drive to succeed. Everyone has a motive for everything they do. Money, power, sex, it doesn’t matter what the motive is what is important is how we achieve it. It’s vitally important to understand what motivates you. If you want to achieve your goals you’ve got to have a very clear understanding of why it’s a goal in the first place. Many times what we think is our goal is not what truly motivates us. Often we become embroiled in what others tell us our motivations should be. I know people who work 7 days a week, 16 hours a day to have the big house, big car and three weeks in Mexico every year. These are the same people who are miserable because they never see their wives and children, suffer health related concerns from stress and fatigue. They operate under the assumption that these “things” are what’s important in life. I’m not here to tell you they’re not. If money and possessions are important to you and what motivates you to succeed; then more power to you. Pursue them with your heart, mind and soul. What I am saying is be honest with yourself. Don’t confuse desire with motivation. Our motives are always intrinsic and cannot be affected or predicted by others.

Developing Mental Toughness

So, how do we develop Mental Toughness? It starts with having the right attitude and state of mind. We need to be confident that no matter what setbacks and roadblocks are thrown up in our path, that we have adequately prepared ourselves and will achieve our goals. We also have to possess the courage to “lay it on the line” and to live our lives with 100% focus and determination. We need to begin to program the computer in our head to succeed with positive thinking and affirmations. I’m not talking about the pseudo-psychological bullshit that you see printed on motivational posters either. I’m referring to a lot of serious self examination and focusing on what you really want and think is important. We need to start expecting only the best from ourselves and affirm what we are going to do to realize our potential and be successful. Visualization is a big part of the equation. Athletes have used visualization for years to perfect their technique and improve their performance. We’ve all got a script that plays out in our heads every day. The script may change dependent upon the circumstances and the people surrounding us but it exists none the less. Start seeing yourself as a strong person, one who performs at peak function regardless of what you are engaging in. Visualize yourself being strong, confident and fully focused and you will begin to act accordingly.

Developing a routine that focuses on the desired emotional and mental state of mind is important to success. If we are constantly trying the latest fad or using a shotgun approach to preparing ourselves to succeed then we won’t. Now here’s the hard part; practice. We all want the fast and easy way out. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but there is no easy way to success. You need to practice the skills you acquire and execute them with full focus and attention if you truly want to achieve your goals. You’ve got to develop a “bulldog” mentality and once committed to a course of action remain persistent and never give up. You’ve also got accept the fact that “shit happens” and learn to let go of mistakes if things don’t go the way you’ve planned. The trick to training yourself to be Mentally Tough is the ability to adjust, compensate and possess the ability to go to plan B or C or Z if things don’t go your way. Keep reframing things to help you focus on the task at hand. Be persistent and never allow failure or frustration to stand in your way. Take control over your negative thoughts, self-talk and the “I can’t” attitude. We all run into situations and circumstances that make us intimidated, frustrated and lose focus. Start re-framing these negative thoughts into positive Mentally Tough thoughts and actions. Mark Twain probably stated it best when he said. “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.” Indulge me and try a social experiment. Buy a pack of sticky notes and write self affirming Mentally Tough statements on them, such as “I can do anything I put my mind to” and “I can and will be successful, because I’m worthy and have the skills and talents to succeed.” The specifics of the affirmation should be directed to what personally motivates you and will lead you towards achieving your goals. Take these notes and stick them everywhere. On your fridge, your mirror, your desk etc. Every time you see one of them, read it aloud for a period of two weeks and see if your attitude and focus improves. Yoda had the right idea when he said “There is no think, only do.” Good luck and train hard and you to can develop the Warrior Mind.

Kerry Sauve

Several days ago there was an arrest made in our City. What makes this arrest so different from the dozens that occur every day is the fact that the individuals arrested were picked up in a Human Trafficking ring. Now “Human Trafficking” often referred to as “White Slavery” is nothing new. It has existed in one form or another for hundreds of years. Trafficking in human beings involves obtaining and maintaining the services or labor of another through fraud, force, or coercion; although for our purposes I’d like to focus on the sex trade in general.

As a Peace Officer, father and youth worker with over 25 years experience working with “High Risk” teens and juvenile prostitutes, I’d like to make you more aware of the realities of “The Life” and how we can identify those at risk for exploitation, and abuse. I’d also like to talk about how pimps identify, select and recruit young women into lives of pain, degradation and horror. We’ll explore some of the myths and misconceptions around this very real problem and what can be done to keep our children from becoming targets for predators.

Although most people are aware of prostitution in a vague sort of way, they seem surprised when I tell them that trafficking in humans is a global phenomenon, as well as one of the world’s fastest growing criminal activities. Human trafficking generates billions of dollars in revenue worldwide and is considered to be on the same scale as drugs and guns as a criminal enterprise. Most individuals are not aware that most of the escorts and prostitutes working in our cities have been forced into sexual slavery and are controlled by small time pimps and sophisticated organized crime syndicates.

I’m not going to split hairs here prostitution and trafficking are two different animals, but they both victimize women and involve sexual slavery and abuse so if I’m making them sound like they are the same thing; it’s because basically they are. To give you an example of how much money is generated in an average city, I’ve taken the liberty of scrolling through the “erotic services” section of one of the two big boards online. On an average day, there is $285,600 in potential sales for each of these boards alone. How did I come up with this number? Well; a 1 hour session with an escort ranges from $280-$300. There were 37 young women offering their services; you do the math. Remember this is only one board and does not take into account, street prostitution, common bawdy houses, massage parlors, trick pads, escort agencies, pornographic studio’s etc. Pimps routinely take $300-$1500 per day from each of their prostitutes. Are you starting to get the picture? Let’s dispel one of the big myths surrounding all prostitution right now.

Myth #1 “A prostitute/escort only has a few sexual encounters during a shift. They can choose who they will/will not service.”  The facts are that prostitutes/escorts don’t have the luxury of being too picky about who they service. Often they will have sex with between 15-30 men per day, sometimes without condoms because their pimp can get more money. They often commit acts that are humiliating, degrading and dangerous in order to meet their quotas and are sometimes robbed and raped. They are also exposed to STI’s, unwanted pregnancies, PTSD and at increased risk for suicide and drug and alcohol abuse. Escorts and prostitutes are often required to be available 24/7 in order to meet their quotas.

This gives you a quick look at how easy it is to access young (sometimes under aged) sex trade workers in any city. To put this into perspective; in 2006 it is estimated that up to 900,000 women were sold into sexual slavery worldwide with over 25,000 coming to North America alone. This number does not include Canadian citizens who were exploited and trafficked within our own borders. Here is a second myth exposed;

Myth #2 “Victims of human trafficking must be foreign nationals or illegal aliens.” The truth is that many victims of human trafficking come from within our own borders. Both Canadian nationals and foreign nationals are equally protected under Canadian law. Particularly in cases involving child sex trafficking.

So many times when I speak to people about the realities of “The Life” and just how insidious these types of predators can be, they often have no real concept of what is really involved. Often they have a “Pretty Woman” vision of prostitution. They are unaware of the complex dynamics involved and how abuse, torture and psychological warfare are used to control their victims. (I lump pimps and traffickers in together, as they both prey upon the vulnerable and weak, and use similar methods to acquire and control their victims. Besides crap is still crap no matter how you dress it up.)

Both prostitution and trafficking utilize psychological manipulation and violence to control and profit from their victims. Girls as young as 13-14 are routinely lured into prostitution through a combination of lies, force and coercion. They are then systematically dehumanized and abused until any will to resist is gone. This exposes perhaps one of the most common myths about “The Life”;

Myth #3 “They knew what they were getting into.” This myth would be funny if it wasn’t so pathetic. It’s an excuse not to have to look too closely at the ugly truth. Pimps and traffickers target those who are vulnerable; runaway’s, victims of neglect or abuse, poor socio-economic conditions, etc. They are skilled at picking out those that are lost, alone or unaware and using a combination of psychology and force to break them down until there is very little will to resist. Generally when I tell people about young women I’ve known; the ones who were gang raped as a method of “Breaking In” a new girl, or the beautiful 17 year old girl so psychologically and spiritually damaged that she referred to herself as “Meat” they begin to see this for the fallacy it is. The fact is that no one would willingly subject themselves to this kind of pain, degradation and abuse. Also it doesn’t matter if they consented to become involved in the first place or not. If coercion, force or fraud are involved at any point, or the victim is a minor then consent is irrelevant, nor is payment or the lack thereof.

Myth #4 “They have the choice to leave at any time.” In technical terms this is what I refer to as complete and utter crapola. In most cases those involved in the sex trade have limited access to the funds, privacy, and opportunities necessary to leave. In the case of sex trafficking, victims they may have the additional pressure of not knowing the language, being in the country illegally and fearing prosecution and feelings of shame and fear for their family’s safety, or having their family find out about their activities. Pimps and traffickers have been known to film girls during their “Breaking In” and threaten to send the video to the girl’s community/family if they disobey.

OK, so we’ve established that there’s a great deal of misconception around this whole topic and I’ve given you my opinion on a few of them. Books have been written on the topic that will do a far better job than I can of explaining the complex social dynamics that are involved in the sex for sale industry. More importantly I think though is what we can do about it, and how we can educate and protect our children from ever becoming involved in the first place.

Some Facts About The Sex Trade In Canada

• Prostitution and human trafficking are controlled by organized crime.
• The sex trade is a business period.

• Prostitution and human sex trafficking is often the same thing. Women are a commodity that can be bought, sold, or traded.
• Women involved in the sex trades often contribute to secondary criminal enterprises through the sales of illegal drugs while providing sexual services.
• Cities from Victoria to Halifax are part of “The Circuit”. This is a means for pimps to keep their victims isolated, forces them to become financially and emotionally reliant on the pimp, and provides fresh girls to keep up market demand. It also allows pimps to keep the pressure off of them by attempting to confuse law enforcement personnel.
• Contrary to popular belief, it is not always the poor and disenfranchised that are targeted. In Canada young women between the ages of 12-25 are often targeted for recruitment by male peers who may have also been recruited by organized criminal networks specifically for this purpose.
• Social networking sites are being increasingly utilized as a means for recruitment and to make the sex trade accessible and culturally attractive to the target audience.
• Control and retention of prostitution/escorts is achieved through the use of force. This would include girls who are abducted, assaulted, drugged, forcibly confined, and sexually assaulted. More subtle means of control are also used to ensure that girls do what they are told and keep making money. Coercion, threats (self/family/exposure), controlling associations, communication, residence, privacy are all techniques employed by pimps to keep girls scared and earning.
• Human trafficking and prostitution are sometimes linked to/operated through semi-legitimate businesses. (Massage parlors, pizza places, nail salons, etc).
• Street gangs sometimes include younger male members due to their access to young women who may be vulnerable for recruitment into prostitution or pornography. It also provides another connection between gangs and organized crime. (Guns, Drugs, Women).
• Sex trade workers in Canada hand over most or all of their earnings to their pimp in exchange for the necessities of life (food, clothing, and shelter).
• Prostitution is a profitable business. You’ve seen the numbers so you know the earning potential and why pimps and organized crime take the risk. A pimp who has just 5 girls working for him making between $300-1500 daily could earn him $1,638,000/year. That’s right and all tax free. Now do the math. If you’re a criminal organization with 40 girls working, your earning potential goes up to $13,104,000/year.
• Canadian women are at risk for sex trafficking too. Every year young women are lured into the sex trade with promises of modeling jobs abroad. Just because they have a website does not mean they are legitimate.

There are numerous risk factors that would predispose a young person to being vulnerable for recruitment into prostitution or pornography. However for young people there seems to be two fairly consistent methods being employed by pimps and gangs to locate and recruit young, impressionable women into a life of servitude and abuse.

Recruitment via Vulnerability

Unfortunately many young women have a tragic history of abuse and neglect in their lives. Pimps and sex traffickers prey upon this vulnerability and will often provide an illusion of caring and concern in order to develop trust and rapport with the intended victim. The goal is to separate the victim from any help or support, develop a rapport and reliance on the pimp and gradually steer the relationship towards the subject of sex for money. Pimps apply a variety of tactics to get young women involved in the sex trade. Some are subtle; (telling the girl that as a couple they have earned a substantial drug debt, but that the debt will be forgiven if the girl sleeps with the dealer). Some not so subtle (shame, rape, beating, addiction) as a means to gain control and compliance. Properly executed this scam effectively cuts the victim off from help and support and increases their vulnerability to further abuse and neglect. It becomes a never ending cycle.

Recruitment via Addiction/Acceptance

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but all young women are at risk on one level or another and many will experiment with “High Risk” behaviors with no negative outcomes. However it is important to note that lack of life experience and exposure to older more experienced males can place them in vulnerable situations that they may be ill equipped to deal with. Many pimps are smooth, intelligent, and extremely manipulative and will exploit a young person’s rebellious nature. Young women are often encouraged into increasingly risky behaviors (drugs, sex with multiple partners ET) and eventually “Broken In” by clients or associates of the pimp.

What’s the solution?

Well that’s where it gets tough, doesn’t it? There is no single solution to the problem. It is after all the world’s oldest profession. When you look at it on a global scale it becomes too big and scary to contemplate. However when we act locally then we affect the problem globally. Sounds like more Dr. Phil quasi-political/psychological crap right? Well it’s not; there are a great number of things we can do in our own community to help solve the problem.

• First and foremost people have got to acknowledge that the problem exists and that everyone’s daughter is a potential source of income to one of these predators.
• We need to educate ourselves, our educators, law enforcement and most importantly our children how these types of individuals operate and expose them for what they are…predators.
• We need to educate our daughters to be strong, independent women from a young age and show them what this looks like.
• We also need to expose the myths and misconceptions that surround the sex trade and look at it for what it is…a business that profits from the sexual abuse and exploitation of women and children.
• We also need the social will and infrastructure to deal with the problem. It’s not cheap rebuilding shattered lives and if we want to realistically deal with the problem it’s going to require a lot of money, time and effort and not just with the sex trade workers. Society as a whole will need to wake up and see what is so carefully hidden in plain site. The abuse, fear and neglect. How come when this happens in a country during a war (Kosovo) it gets international attention? When it happens to children in our cities every day however we turn a blind eye.
• Lastly we need to put some laws in place with teeth for both the pimps and those that facilitate the continuance of the cycle of abuse. I would humbly suggest 200 years as a warning for a first offence of pimping or sex trafficking. OK, OK on a first offence you’d only serve 2/3 of the sentence, so he’d be out in 180 years. We need to start seizing some of the millions that are being earned through sexual abuse and degradation and re-distributing it directly to organizations that work with victims and sex trade workers to force the problem to pay for the solution.

Kerry Sauve

Traveling should be something that is anxiously anticipated and enjoyed. Unfortunately there are also a lot of dangers and hazards that await the unfortunate, unwary and unprepared. This document will help you educate yourself on how to travel safely and without undue fear.

Terrorism, kidnappings, hostage takings, murder, human trafficking all has one thing in common. The answer is tourism. Each of these acts has at one time or another in our recent past been visited upon tourists traveling abroad. Not a very pleasant picture is it? So how can you travel and enjoy experiencing different cultures and reduce your risk of becoming a potential victim? It's not as difficult as it sounds. Personal Safety is the result of knowledge, assessment, planning, preparation and implementation. Follow the principles on these pages and you'll see how easy staying safe can be.

Pre-Travel

Your safety and security starts even before you leave for the airport. There are several vitally important pre-travel measures that you need to attend to prior to rushing off to enjoy the sun, sand and nightlife.

• Copy all of your important documents, passport, credit cards/bank cards, medical insurance, birth certificate etc both front and back. Ensure someone you can rely on (family/trusted friend) receives this before you leave. These are the people who would be contacted in an emergency. Always make sure that they have a copy of your itinerary.
• Do your research. Find out if there are any potential problems in the countries and areas you will travel to. You can research the area’s you plan to visit at; http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/menu-eng.asp.
• Contact the Consular Affairs Bureau in Ottawa. They provide an enormous amount or resources when traveling abroad. Visit the website at; Contact the Consular Affairs Bureau at; http://www.voyage.gc.ca
• If you are going to be traveling for an extended duration or are going to be traveling in or through a country or region covered by official travel warnings; consider contacting Foreign Affairs Canada at; http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/  and register as a Canadian Abroad.
• Jewelry, valuables, luggage should all be photographed before you leave the country.
• Contact the Consular Affairs Bureau in Ottawa and ask if there is a Canadian Diplomatic Office in the Country you are visiting. The Resident Diplomatic Office can provide a wide variety of services, advice and assistance while traveling abroad. http://www.voyage.gc.ca
• Take a Personal Safety and Self Defense course. Your training should focus on avoidance/escaping a dangerous situation. It should also focus on Reality Based Self Defense. This will allow you to quickly incapacitate an attacker and escape the area. Always run if you can and fight only if you have to.

Accommodations

Take the time to do your research in this area. Hotel safety and security can be very good. It can also be very bad to the point of being dangerous. The following tips are a good starting point when you are researching your accommodations.

• Try to find a hotel with has installed modern electronic guest room locks. The majority of these locks automatically change the lock combination with every new guest so there is little chance of someone having a duplicate key to your room. If you lose or misplace your key, ask to have your room re-keyed immediately.
• Ensure that any guest rooms/adjoining suites are equipped with a dead bolt lock and a peephole.
• Buy a “Bolt Buddy” or “Door Wedge” to keep your room secure when you are inside.
• Is there an adequate fire detection/suppression system? Each room should have a smoke detector with sprinklers systems installed in the hallways.
• Each room telephone should allow outside dialing.
• Guest phones located in hallways and lobbies should not allow direct room dialing. Anyone using the phone should have to call the operator and request a room by guest name, not room number.
• Always secure locks on windows and adjoining doors.
• Try to find hotels with well-lit interior hallways, parking structures and grounds.
• Ideally your hotel should have limited access to its structure. Limiting outside access removes a great deal of opportunity for criminals.
• The parking garage should not have elevators taking passengers to guest floors. It should only go to the lobby.
• Try to stay at hotels with their own security contingent.
• Is the hotel located in a high crime rate area, especially when traveling overseas? Check with the Canadian Consulate Resident Security Officer in that country and they can alert you of areas to stay away from.
• Request a room located between the 4 and 6^th floor Avoid rooms above the sixth floor-the maximum height that fire-department ladders can reach.
• Try to avoid taking a room on the ground floor that has doors and windows that open to the outside. Hotels with interior hallways tend to be generally safer. For security in motels, avoid ground floor rooms off the parking lot. If you are unable to get a room on a higher level, take one facing the interior courtyard.
• Rooms that are as close to the elevators as possible are safest but tend to be noisier.

Safety & Security

Regardless of your destination it is always a good policy to maintain good Personal Safety practices both inside your hotel and while out and about. Good Personal Safety practices are exemplified by the Personal Safety Triangle. This consists of Situational Awareness, Target Hardening and Emergency Response and Mitigation.

Situational Awareness: This is a state of heightened awareness, but should not be confused with hyper-vigilance. It means using all of your senses and intuition to examine the world around you and make tactical decisions based upon the data received. Part of Situational Awareness is learning to pay attention to the subtle environmental and non-verbal signals that are occurring around us all of the time.

Target Hardening: Target Hardening is a series of steps or actions that place concentric rings of security around you. It involves realistically looking at what potential threats may affect you, and planning strategies to reduce the risk of a specific threat occurring.

Emergency Response and Mitigation: These are the actions that will be taken to implement all of the planning and decisions that you made in the previous two steps. It is vitally important that the solution is appropriate for the threat, (i.e. barricading a hotel door may be a great way to deter burglars; however it’s also a great way to get stuck if there’s a fire).

Be aware of cultural differences and respect them regardless of your feelings towards them. Try to dress as a local, especially for women. Many of the fashions popular in Western culture (Baby-t shirts with the belly showing, tight or revealing clothing) may place you at risk. In many cultures a woman displaying herself in this manner may be perceived as a prostitute or as someone who is sexually available. If you are in a Muslim country, wear the head scarf. Your right to dress the way you see fit will be a small comfort if you are assaulted as the result of your fashion choices.

After checking in;

• Examine the locks and be sure they are functioning properly.
• Make sure that the phone in your room works and can reach an outside line.
• Read the emergency evacuation route on the back of your door and familiarize yourself with the route. Could you find your way out in the dark? There should always be two fire exits in case one is blocked.
• Carry a portable flashlight for emergencies. Small tactical flashlights are also excellent improvised self defense tools.
• When you enter your hotel room, make sure the door closes securely and that the deadbolt works. Keep the deadbolt and safety bar on at all time. Use your Bolt Buddy or a Door Wedge to ensure that the door is secure.
• Place your room key in the same place every time, preferably close to the bed.
• If you have to leave the room in a hurry due to an emergency, you won't have time to be searching for your key. Also, you'll need the key to get back into the room.
• Always keep your room door locked even when you are in it.
• Verify any calls from maintenance, security, house keeping for requests to enter your room. Take the employee name and verify the request with reception before allowing them into your room.
• Ensure that the Hotel’s information security policy is good. If you called the Hotel and asked to speak to yourself but said that you couldn’t remember the room number would they say “She’s in room 564”, or “I’ll put you through”. Hotels should never give out guest information to anyone over the phone.
• Women should insist on being accompanied to their hotel room.  Their room should also be checked to ensure that it is empty.
• Be aware of the other passengers on the elevator.
• Try to be the last to board the elevator and push your floor button last.
• Stand next to the controls. If you have to fight you can push random buttons until the door opens.
•  Keep your back to the sidewall.
• If someone suspicious boards an elevator, exit as soon as possible.
• Leave your TV on when you leave the room. It will make it appear occupied.
• Ask maid to make your room up during breakfast. Place “Do not disturb" sign on door. If you want maid service, call to housekeeping and tell them to make up the room but leave the sign on the door. The sign is valuable when you aren't in the room because it gives the impression you are still inside.
• Always use the security vault in hotels. The in-room safe is adequate sometimes. The ones least recommended are those that take standard keys (usually overseas). Preferred are those that have an electronic combination lock. The front desk deposit boxes are usually safer but more inconvenient.
• Don't display you guest room key in public or even inside the hotel or at the swimming pool.
• Use the “Do Not Disturb” sign on your room when you are out. It makes the room appear occupied.
• Take a minimum of cash, and only enough traveler’s checks for that outing.
• Invest in a good money belt for your valuables and cash. Conversely women can sew a small pocket into their bra or underwear to carry valuables.
• Carry “bait money” for potential thieves. This is where a fake wallet is great. Leave a few dollars and those plastic credit card inserts that they send with it for a thief to steal.
• Never surrender your passport.
• Watch what you are wearing. Jewelry and high priced clothing are clues to potential criminals. Don’t set yourself up.
• If you valet park your car at the hotel, and valet driver puts a card on your dash, make sure it does not have your room number, always keep it private.
• Always walk in numbers at night, especially in hotel parking lots
• Don’t leave anything of value in your car.
• Park as close to an exit as possible.
• When approaching a car, always have keys in hand.
• Be aware of vulnerable areas such as the hotel’s gym. Does it have an attendant? Consider that most hotel gyms are in the basement and they only have one entrance. Being alone in this type of place can make you extremely vulnerable as a target. Hotel laundry rooms would also fall into this category.
• Women should keep purses close to their bodies not loose around or dandling off a shoulder. Keep it in front of you with a hand on top of it. Do not feel awkward to ask for an escort to your car. It is recommended to use the valet service at night.
• Should you run into problems with local law enforcement and are arrested. Contact the local Canadian Diplomatic Office. They will contact friends or family, assist you in making arrangements for a lawyer. If you are convicted, they can assist you in making an application for a transfer to a Canadian prison under the “Transfer of Offenders Treaty”.
• Consular emergency services are available 24 hours a day. In an emergency you can make a collect call to Foreign Affairs in Ottawa; the number is (613) 996-8885.

 Kerry Sauve

There is a high profile sexual assault case going on in our Province right now. It involves the kidnapping and sexual assault of a teen girl by a man posing as a police officer. The young person was pulled over by an individual who appeared to be wearing an RCMP uniform, with grill lights on his car. She was informed that her vehicles tags were expired and was instructed to get into the back of the car. Believing he was a police officer she complied. Once in the car, she was taken to a secondary location and repeatedly sexually assaulted. Much later she was released by her abductor. There is also the case of the teen in California who was gang raped while attending a high school dance. They are two very different cases of predatory violence with some similar themes. It is important to note that in both cases the victim was lured or brought to a secondary location. Statistically your odds of surviving decrease rapidly by going to a second location. In this case neither young woman knew she was being led/taken to a secondary location.

Let me begin by stating THEY DID NOTHING WRONG. The very fact they survived their ordeal means these young women did everything right. This month I wanted to talk to you about predators and some strategies for identifying and avoiding/escaping them. I refer to predators generically as wolves. However there are different types of wolves; each with their own modus operandi. As a peace officer I have the opportunity to work with all types of predators and observe them in action. It’s a unique opportunity to learn why/how these types of individuals choose certain types of victims over others and our options for avoidance, escape or defense. Let’s just say there is a great deal of controversy in the field as to how this goal can be best accomplished. I’d like to provide you with my perspective.

Predator Dynamics

It’s important to understand that there is one common element to all predatory attacks, and that is they all require a victim; aka you. If you remove yourself from the equation as a potential victim, then the crime cannot occur. This is over simplified and is not always possible, the point being possessing strong Personal Safety skills does a great deal to reduce your risk of becoming targeted as a potential victim in the first place.

It’s also important to note that predators see you as a commodity, a means to an end (sex, money, property, drugs, status, and power) and nothing more. Working on an Emergency Response Team, I’ve witnessed and responded to hundreds of assaults, attacks and ambushes. Witnessing and dealing with these incidents as made a few things quite clear.

• Predators don’t fight fair. They use ambush, deception, surprise; shock and sudden violence too quickly overpower their victims and get what they need. They also use a variety of social engineering techniques to size up or gain access to potential victims.
• Not all predators are the same. There are some generalities that we can make about predators, but to say all predators are the same is dangerous and incorrect. There is a huge difference between how a group of gang members coordinate an assault on a rival and how a predatory rapist or child molester stalks, selects and acquires their victims. It’s vitally important to tailor your training and education and Personal Safety Plan to include the predator types that are relevant to you.
• Predators use terrain, tactics and surprise to their advantage. It only makes sense. A predator is looking for a resource (you) and to procure it in a means that places him/her at the least amount of risk.
• Predators are adept at recognizing those that are less confident, alone and unaware and taking advantage of their situation. Like their wild counterparts, predators always try to select the weak, unsure, unaware or those with no self-confidence. For the predator this greatly lowers their risk of retaliation, being caught or escape of the intended prey and increases their chances of success.  
• In most cases the predator will have the advantage. Sorry; but it’s true. You can train and prepare for how to reduce your risk of being put on their radar in the first place and how to survive if you are targeted. You can’t however always predict who, what, where, when, and why a specific target will be chosen. Action is always quicker than reaction, so prepare yourself for the reality that if you are attacked it will likely be from the direction/angle you least expect and places your attacker at the greatest advantage. You may need to defend yourself hurt, stunned or badly positioned. Your attacker will already be in a highly adrenalized state and you will be at condition normal. Never assume that you will quickly or easily deal with an angry adrenalized predator. It’s a dangerous assumption and one that can cost you your life.
• Predators sometimes hunt in packs. Always be aware of the possibility that there may be more than one individual involved. Group dynamics are complex and fluid and can change rapidly.

Predators

As I stated earlier, not all predators are created equal. The con is the predator that most of us would likely encounter at some point in time during our lives. This is the individual that has learned that it is easy to get what they want through bullying, threats and intimidation. Sociologists may disagree, but I feel most criminals fall into this category. They see taking what they want from others as their right and are not above using violence to get it if they have to. A crack addict with a knife is just as potentially lethal as an apex predator like a serial killer. If you take nothing else away from this article take this; Never make assumptions. Cons generally get to spend some time incarcerated and learn to fine tune their predations while in jail. Jails are an interesting place. Put a bunch of people who victimize others into a confined environment and what do they do? The answer is they continue to victimize others. Predators are not above preying on other weaker criminals.

Apex predators are top of the food chain. These are a different animal all together. These predators are different because they’re motivation is different. They are still looking at you as a means to an end, but they are motivated by an internal drive or compulsion (fantasy) to commit the act. Serial killers, serial rapists, sociopaths would fall into this category. Often when I read reports of what these people have done it is difficult to link the act to the individual. Many of them appear normal, are reasonably intelligent and charming. Not the slavering monsters their crimes would indicate. Once again, Never make assumptions. Appearing non-threatening was likely what got some of these killers close enough to their victims to strike. Do your research there are some excellent publications that will cover the predatory criminal mindset in detail. You can’t protect yourself from something you fear and don’t understand.

Dealing with Predators

The best way to deal with a predator is never being viewed as potential prey in the first place. Easier said than done right? Yes and No. There are risks and resiliencies in all of our lives that increase or decrease the chances that we will be targeted by a predator. There are some excellent Personal Safety and Self Defense programs that can vastly increase your chances of avoiding, escaping or surviving an encounter with a predator and as a potential victim of crime in general. Everyone should receive training and education in basic Personal Safety and Self Defense. As I tell my children; it’s better to have something and not need it than to need something and not have it. Saying you’ll never be in this situation is not the same as the reality that someday you might.

You must do some personal research. Pick up a copy of Gavin DeBecker’s “The Gift of Fear”. This incredible book discusses the importance of “Listening to your Gut” when it comes to meeting and interacting with people. It should be on everyone’s must read list. I have always been impressed with Mr. DeBecker’s work as it is practical, realistic and makes sense. It’s a great starting point in your education about predators and crime in general.

Understand that predatory attacks do not occur in a vacuum. They are dynamic and the situations and motives are as varied as the predator. There are some general guidelines that will help you begin to understand the continuum of events that occurs prior to and after the attack. What I’ve observed is that in many predatory attacks there is a pattern that repeats itself time and time again. If you understand this and are able to disrupt the cycle, then you are removed from the pool of potential victims.

·        The Approach. In order to be successful in securing a victim, contact must be made. Unlike what the media has led us to believe violence and predation look like, real predatory violence is different. The way to deal with the approach is to switch gears. When dealing with predators it’s a good general rule to always be ready to “throw the switch” because the quick blitzkrieg type of attack is the predator’s stock in trade. I have always found that when confronted with a potential predator maintaining a relaxed/I’m not a good target demeanor is the best policy. It’s easier for them to find another target than to deal with the painful result of a miscalculation in their choice of prey. Maintain Situational Awareness and consider your options. Always have a plan B and an escape route in case it all goes sideways.

·        Predator Interview. This is how the predator initiates contact with the potential victim. Contact can take a myriad of forms and not all of them are obvious. We know that up to 85% of communications is non-verbal. Predators will use these non-verbal messages when conducting their cost/benefit analysis of the situation to determine who is and who is not a viable target. Self confident, aware, assertive people are far less likely to be targeted as potential victims by predators due to the personal risk involved in making the wrong choice of victim. Shutting down the interview is as simple as not playing the game. Don’t be afraid to be perceived as rude. Be direct and assertive (loud). Drawing attention to yourself is a good thing, predators generally don’t want witnesses. Eye contact and posture are excellent indicators of self-confidence, use them to communicate non-verbally that you are a bad choice as a victim. Keep your hands out of your pockets and ready in case you need to defend yourself.

·        I’m a big believer in the; run if you can, de-escalate if you can’t, and fight if you have to philosophy. In order to harm you a predator must always have one thing; Contact. Keep this in mind, if they can’t touch you, they can’t hurt you. Always know where you are, where you are going, where you can find safety, or where you can safely run if you need to escape and evade. Directly and assertively redirect any attempt to initiate contact with you at times or places that are inappropriate or at which you are potentially vulnerable. This doesn’t just mean physical contact, be aware of other media such as the Internet where you could also be placed at risk. This all comes down to planning. You must think about how you will handle these situations before you are scared, adrenalized and possibly injured.

·        Attack. When a predator attacks it will generally be brutal, swift and efficient. You must be prepared for the reality of how quickly and painfully violence occurs. You must also realistically train for how you are going to deal with it. If your training and education do not realistically address these realities you are being placed in a dangerously overconfident state of mind. Never make assumptions about how you will be attacked. I can tell you from personal experience, in all my years working with violent offenders; I’ve never seen a predatory attack occur in a manner that would be deemed fair or equitable to the victim. It’s usually from behind, when they can’t defend themselves or when it’s 5 on 1. Account for these factors when you are planning and training.

Taking yourself out of the potential victim pool is about becoming more self-confident, mentally tough, better educated and prepared. As I mentioned earlier, predators are looking for victims they perceive as easy, weak or controllable. As they look at you they are conducting their own risk/reward assessment and are making choices based on your reactions to their interview, past experiences and their level of arousal.  If you are perceived to be too big a risk/threat, then they will likely bypass you as a potential victim. Self-confidence and mental toughness are skills that can be acquired through education, training, and practice.

The other side of the coin is learning the Urban Survival and Self Defense skills that will allow you to survive if you can’t avoid or escape a predator. It’s vitally important to understand the difference between Self Defense and the Martial Arts. Both have enormous value, but they are not the same things. Once again you must do your research. It is your life and your responsibility.

Training should be realistic, simple and make sense. There is no sense in spending time learning skills designed for the ring or sport and expect them to transfer to a real situation. They won’t. Let me give you an example. You know how to ride a bicycle right? Does that mean you know how to ride a high powered drag motorcycle, or a dirt bike on a track? The reality is that most “Self Defense” does not account for someone who is trying to repeatedly stab you with a knife or has already knocked you onto your belly on the floor with a strike from behind. 

Training must incorporate the Adrenal Stress Response that both the predator and prey will be experiencing. Training should take into account the fact that the predator could be under the influence of drugs and alcohol and immune to a good deal of pain and damage. This severely impacts how you would need to neutralize them as a threat and what techniques are likely to accomplish the goal with as little damage to yourself as possible. You need to be realistic here. A wrist lock/nerve strike isn’t going to do anything to an angry, irrational man who is high on methamphetamine. Don’t believe me? Well, I work with a great group of guys on an ERT Team; we have a lot of years/variety of experience in the combat arts. We train regularly, we are in good shape, and we are experienced and motivated. Here’s the thing, with all of those things behind us, I’ve seen psychotics getting up off the floor with 500 lbs of peace officer on their back, arms and legs. The point is; be prepared. If you find yourself dealing with this type of individual, you’d better be ready to do them some serious damage or better yet run, because if they get their hands on you it could be very, very bad.

Lastly you must implement what you’ve learned and maintain your training. The best laid plan in the world is completely useless if you don’t use it. Proper training will go a long way to keeping you safe but you’ve got to practice to make it work. Continue to educate yourself on how predators and other types of criminals operate and why they are successful so much of the time. Learn everything you can about social engineering and how it’s used to gain access to potential victims. Learn from people who have real experience working with these types of individuals, because their insights could save your life. Keep in mind what I said earlier about assumptions. Not all predators are the same, nor are they looking for the same victim type. Everything is fluid and you must be able to roll with the punches. Always have a plan “B".

Kerry Sauve

In our city there has been a string of robberies over the past several weeks. The bad guys have been holding up pharmacies for drugs (Oxycontin) and money. The employees at these stores are scared; and worried that eventually they will be confronted with violence or taken hostage when a robbery goes bad. I think it’s time to discuss what to do if we ever find ourselves picking up a few things in the pharmacy and this occurs. Let’s examine the dynamics of hostage situations.

During hostage situations, the emotions of both parties (the hostage and hostage taker) will run the gamut between despair and euphoria. Understanding the fragile emotional dynamics that take place in these situations can increase your chances of survival. There are four stages in every hostage taking regardless of length or outcome, alarm, crisis, accommodation and resolution. Each affects the way in which hostage takers and hostages interact. Knowing which stage you are in can make the difference between life and death. 

Alarm

The alarm stage is the most traumatic and potentially dangerous time in any hostage situation. It is generally short lived (about an hour in length) and the potential for violence is high. Everyone’s emotions are running high and the hostages and hostage takers are likely in the grip of the adrenaline response. This point in the crisis is often chaotic. Hostage takers are hyper-vigilant and may react aggressively towards any perceived threat.

This is a critical time for hostages. It is during this stage of the crisis that captors are most likely to harass, abuse or kill hostages in order to consolidate their position and demonstrate their control of the situation. At this stage of the crisis hostages should try to remain calm and not antagonize their captors.

Crisis

This stage in the situation often marks the beginning of the hostage takers attempts to consolidate their positions. It is also generally the starting point for the negotiators that will be brought in to attempt to resolve the situation peacefully. It is a high energy time emotionally and sometimes physically. Hostages may be separated and moved to different locations. Hostage takers may be fearful of assault by police/military tactical teams.

This is the point in the crisis (often popularized in the media) that hostage takers will often make demands and/or give impassioned speeches. For hostages this is the most critical stage of the event and will set the tone for all future interactions with their captors. Like it or not hostage/captor interactions at this juncture can either enhance or reduce the hostage’s chances for survival. Hostages should take the opportunity to rest and eat if food is offered. They should assume a position of calm compliance and in no way challenge their captor’s authority or control of the situation.

Accommodation

Generally this is the longest stage in a hostage crisis. It can be marked with the sense that time is dragging on, punctuated with moments of sheer terror. It is during the accommodation phase that Stockholm syndrome becomes manifest. Hostages begin to feel forgotten, or that the hostage takers would leave if the police would just pack up and go home.

During this stage, negotiators are hard at work trying to bring the crisis to a peaceful resolution. Meanwhile tactical units plan and deploy in the event they need to assault the building. Emotionally and psychologically this is the most difficult time for hostages. The loss of freedom of movement and communication coupled with the fear and stress of the situation can take a huge emotional toll on hostages. They should try to conserve as much energy as possible and do everything they can to follow their captor’s instructions.

Resolution

In the end both hostages and their captors may be emotionally and physically exhausted as the hours or days/months go by and begin to take their toll. This is the second most dangerous time in any hostage situation. Hostage takers realize that they’ve lost most of their bargaining chips and may become desperate. How things play out from this point on is largely determined by the ability of the negotiator to bring the crisis to a peaceable conclusion.

How to survive if you become a hostage

• Don’t be a hero. Resign yourself to the situation and wait patiently. Under no circumstances should you attempt to physically control an armed hostage taker. Life is not a movie. Underestimating the physical skills of the hostage taker (especially if armed) could be a fatal mistake. You are not always the only person there. Your actions can impact others.

• Follow Instruction. Regardless of who you were before this all began you now have zero authority or control of the situation. Listen to what you are told to do and then comply. Don’t give your captors a reason to need to harm one of their hostages as a means to demonstrate their control of the situation. Remember the hostage takers are under a great deal of stress and may not be thinking rationally.

• Speak when spoken to. This is a case of S2 (sit down, shut up). Any attempt to initiate conversation may be interpreted as testing the hostage takers control of the situation. Unless it is an emergency, it is best to say nothing at all. It will avoid drawing attention to you.

• Don’t offer suggestions. Attempting to be helpful will generally only antagonize your captors and make things worse for everyone. Leave the negotiations to the professionals and let the police do their jobs.

• Stay Calm. I know it would be incredibly difficult to do under the stress of being held hostage but it must be done. There is absolutely nothing to be gained by panic. Hostages should rest and eat if possible. You have no idea how long the situation will take to resolve itself and the emotional ups and downs can be debilitating.

• Evaluate whether you can safely escape. The opportunity for escape must be carefully weighed against the chances of success vs. the chance of being caught or that harm may be done to the remaining hostages in retaliation. As I said earlier, life is not a movie and you’ll only get one chance to do it right.

• Ask for help when you need it. After the crisis stage it may be appropriate to request aid such as medication if you require it. Your life is a bargaining chip to the hostage takers and there is no percentage in them allowing you to become ill or die.

• Never argue hostage takers. Arguing with your captors will only make you stand out in their minds and focus their attention on you. If you are perceived as a threat you could be harmed as a message to the other hostages.

• Avoid drawing attention to yourself. Try to blend in and be as unobtrusive as possible. You absolutely do not want to stand out in your captor’s memory.

• Treat your captors with respect. This along with not challenging their authority or attempting to embarrass them will go a long way towards ensuring that hostages are not mistreated. Don’t downplay the seriousness of the situation.

• Never attempt to trick your captors. Attempting to manipulate the situation for your advantage is a dangerous game. If you are found to be lying, the hostage takers may make an example of one of the hostages to demonstrate their control.

• Be patient. Hostage situations are often long, drawn out events. Police are hard at work trying to bring the situation to a peaceful resolution. The longer the situation goes on, the higher your chances are for survival.

• Be a good witness. Pay attention (Situational Awareness) to the hostage takers. Who is in charge? How many of them are there? What kind of weapons do they have? What is the disposition of the hostages? Have they been harmed? If you are released before the other hostages these and many more questions will be important for the police tactical units and hostage negotiators to know.

Kerry Sauve