StreetSense

Preventing Sexual Assault

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 08:45:04 -0400

There are some alarming statistics surrounding the crime of sexual assault that we all seem to be conveniently ignoring.
- A sexual assault occurs every 1.3 minutes in North America.
- One in three women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.
- 85% of sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim.
- Only 8%-10% of sexual assaults are ever reported to the authorities.

We need to wake up because the âit wonât happen to meâ argument isnât working. In fact it is being proven catastrophically wrong at a rate of 683,000 times annually. If it is not happening to our wives, daughters and loved ones, then who are all of these statistics that keep on growing year in and out. I wonât even get started on the laws surrounding these issues and victims rights, because trust me as a husband and father that my rambling diatribe would either get me arrested or elected and Iâm not sure which would be worse. Instead I would like to share some practical Personal Safety information with you in an effort to reduce these terrible odds, one wife/mother/daughter/loved one at a time.

Sun Tzu said âIf you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.â These words apply to your personal safety as well as armies, in order to understand and defeat a predator you must first understand how they think, operate and select their victims.

The psychology of violence and criminal behavior has long been debated and postulated about. For our purposes we only really care about how predators choose their victims and the techniques they employ to perpetrate their crimes. For a predator to be able to harm you several things have to happen;

- Something has put you on his radar. Some things are controllable; such as whether you choose to sleep with your windows open at night or whether you lock your garage door when you go out. Other things are not such as your looks, age and sex. Keep in mind that the majority of sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim.

- He perceives you as potential prey. Predators utilize a lot of Social Engineering and grooming techniques to determine if a potential victim is someone he can manipulate and control. We call this the interview. It works much the same way any good salesman works and is designed to gather as much information as possible, test for compliance and control. The easy way to deal with this is to short circuit the interview process. Know that these types of techniques are always trying to sell you something. What is important is not so much the message, but the context.

- He has access to you. Sexual assault does not just happen in back alleys, jogging paths and remote locations. Sexual assault can happen anywhere there is an opportunity. A great deal of our lives can be controlled through our behavior and actions. Ensuring that you maintain good personal security practices with respect to our person, premises and information reduces potential access for a predator.

- He has opportunity. In order to harm you a predator must have the opportunity to do so. Both opportunity and access are generally within our sphere of control. Once again it is the context of a situation that must be examined. Understanding this allows you to prevent yourself from becoming a target of opportunity.

I approach teaching Personal Safety and Self Defence from a reverse engineering perspective and have learned a great deal from working with predators for the past seventeen years as an Intelligence Officer in a maximum security prison. I teach women how to recognize assess and reduce risk in all areas of their lives and avoid being placed in a potentially vulnerable position in the first place.

I view these types of criminals as you would any large carnivore. You know they are dangerous so treat them with caution when they canât be avoided.
Predators are like wolves and actively hunt for potential victims. What is clear and common with all predators is that they are looking for easy victims that they perceive as non-threatening and controllable. How do you make yourself less attractive as a potential target? First and foremost make yourself less visible and potentially vulnerable to predators. There are some very simple changes women can make in their lives to reduce their risk of becoming the victim of sexual assault.

- Educate yourself. Take the time to take courses on basic self defence and personal safety. Attend an in-service at your local hardware store to learn how to properly secure your home and belongings. Read as much information as you can find on âSocial Engineeringâ and other methods used by people to control others.

- Ensure that your home is secure and that any security deficits are corrected. (i.e. window bars, dead bolts, security screws, alarm system)
Maintain good security practices. (Keep the shades drawn at night or if you live in a ground floor or basement suite. Doors and windows are always locked. Always keep a charged cell phone close at hand).

- Maintain information security. (Donât list your first and last name in the phone book or on mailboxes if you are a single woman. Use your initials instead. Donât provide any personal information online or over the phone without first verifying who will have access to it and how it will be used). Believe it or not Social Networking sites are one of the easiest ways for predators to gain access to you. It may surprise you to know that it is relatively easy to access your Facebook page without your password or being your friend. Donât assume the security features on these sites will protect your identity. In about five minutes I can find every bit of information that youâve provided your Internet Service Provider, including your name, address and credit card number.

- Maintain Situational Awareness. Staying alert and confident goes along way to keeping you safe. It means paying attention to your environment, the verbal and non-verbal cues being given off by others and to the context of our interactions.

- Have a plan. 90% of all security is planning, preparation and practice; the other 10% is action and implementation. Why is so much time and effort put into planning? Because if it is done properly it will substantially reduce your level of risk (up to 75%). Planning for your security doesnât have to be overly onerous or restrictive to your lifestyle. A good Personal Security Plan is one that you will use everyday. If it is too complex and restrictive, then you wonât use it.

- Listen to your instincts. If you get that funny feeling when you are in a certain situation or with someone you viscerally donât like, listen to what it is telling you. I call it the âCreep Meterâ. Believe it or not you are an expert at reading human behavior. Your system is hardwired to pick up the subtle verbal and non-verbal behavioral cues all social primates display. Remember that sometimes wolves will disguise themselves as sheep, but underneath they still act like a wolf. Itâs all about the context of the situation and interaction.

- Act fast. If you think you are in potential danger quickly move towards safety. Donât wait or second guess yourself. The longer you wait the less options that you have available. If you have to defend yourself, end the conflict as soon as you can. Fight dirty and like your life depends on it, speed and aggression are usually the best way to go in situations such as this. This is where a well structured self defence strategy is invaluable.

While I know that it is unlikely that we will ever completely eradicate this crime, we can still take steps to reduce the number of victims and ensure that our wives, daughters and loved ones can live their lives knowing they have done everything possible to keep themselves safe.

Kerry Sauve

Preadators

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:44:19 -0400

There is a high profile sexual assault case going on 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. Itâs 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. Letâs just say there is a great deal of controversy in the field as to how this goal can be best accomplished. Iâd like to provide you with my perspective. Predator Dynamics Itâs 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. Itâs 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, Iâve witnessed and responded to hundreds of assaults, attacks and ambushes. Witnessing and dealing with these incidents as made a few things quite clear. Predators donât 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. Itâs 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 itâs 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 canât 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. Itâs 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 theyâre 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 canât protect yourself from something you fear and donât 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; itâs better to have something and not need it than to need something and not have it. Saying youâll 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 DeBeckerâs âThe Gift of Fearâ. This incredible book discusses the importance of âListening to your Gutâ when it comes to meeting and interacting with people. It should be on everyoneâs must read list. I have always been impressed with Mr. DeBeckerâs work as it is practical, realistic and makes sense. Itâs 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 Iâve 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. Â· 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 itâs a good general rule to always be ready to âthrow the switchâ because the quick blitzkrieg type of attack is the predatorâs stock in trade. I have always found that when confronted with a potential predator maintaining a relaxed/Iâm not a good target demeanor is the best policy. Itâs 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. Â· 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. Donât be afraid to be perceived as rude. Be direct and assertive (loud). Drawing attention to yourself is a good thing, predators generally donât 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. Â· Iâm a big believer in the; run if you can, de-escalate if you canât, 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 canât touch you, they canât 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 doesnât 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. Â· 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; Iâve never seen a predatory attack occur in a manner that would be deemed fair or equitable to the victim. Itâs usually from behind, when they canât defend themselves or when itâs 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 canât avoid or escape a predator. Itâs 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 wonât. 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 âSelf Defenseâ 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 isnât going to do anything to an angry, irrational man who is high on methamphetamine. Donât 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. Hereâs the thing, with all of those things behind us, Iâve 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, youâd 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 youâve learned and maintain your training. The best laid plan in the world is completely useless if you donât use it. Proper training will go a long way to keeping you safe but youâve 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 itâs 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 âB. Kerry Sauve

Internet Safety

Sat, 03 Apr 2010 14:14:39 -0400

I want to talk about Internet Safety. Most of us go through our lives using the Internet for work, pleasure, and interpersonal connection. We surf, crawl, chat, utilize Social Networking and enjoy almost instantaneous access to information and multi-media. We donât generally think about the fact that the Internet is perhaps one of the last largely ungoverned places left on the planet. I defy anyone to say that the Internet is a âSafeâ place. Nothing this large and complex can exist without its inherent risks and dangers. Command and Control and Intelligence are what the Internet was designed for; not to surf eBay or post provocative pictures in chat rooms. When you think about the amount of information we give away every time we log on to a site or post our latest pictures and video on our Social Networking site of choice itâs a bit scary. Itâs scary in the fact that; you have no direct control over your information once you put it online

The Internet is a goldmine of intelligence, but if you can find information on almost any subject almost instantaneously; then others can access personal and often confidential information about you. Firewalls, routers and passwords are great security features and we use them to keep unwanted intrusion into the personal information on our computers. All of these high tech security features mean nothing when we freely put our information in places where anyone can access it at will without the need to breach all of these security protocols. So whatâs the solution? Never accessing the net is generally not an option. Living âoff the gridâ is not only impractical; itâs also immaterial in that somewhere; somehow there is information about you in someoneâs database. A picture tagged on someoneâs wall; a mention of your name in a paper or published newsletter. Any reference, mention or sniff of you will be searchable. Donât believe me; feel free to Google yourself. The very fact that you know what Iâm talking about has just proved my point. So even if youâve never been online, you could still become victimized by your information being there.

A lot of how I approach teaching people how to increase their online safety is based on our Personal Safety Triangle concept. The first point on the triangle is; 1. Situational Awareness. Just like the real world there are places online that are inherently more risky or dangerous to visit. Part of Situational Awareness when it comes to internet safety is Education. Take the time to do some research and learn how computers and the Internet work. Also learn about Spyware, Malware, Phishing, Phreaking, Hacking, Cracking and other tools used to gain access to you or your information. Knowledge is not power, it is the ability to apply knowledge that makes a person powerful. Keep this in mind when it comes to your online safety.

2. Target Hardening is the second point on the triangle, and is accomplished by the use of Threat Analysis to determine where you could be vulnerable, how access would be initiated and what information they would want access to. It is a series of step by step tactical decisions that examines all potential safety/security risks/deficits and takes pro-active measures to resolve them. It is important to understand that both security and the methods to bypass it are always evolving. What works today, may not tomorrow. Target Hardening is a dynamic and fluid process must take these ever changing variables into account.

3. Emergency Response & Mitigation is the last point of the triangle. In terms of your safety and security online this is the action and implementation of everything youâve learned and done previously. There are many levels of response for threats. Some are automated; such as when youâre antivirus software detects and quarantines a suspected file. Others are as simple as blocking and unwanted individual on Social Networking or chat sites or as complex as involving international law enforcement. It is important that your response be commensurate with the threat. It is equally important that one is not hyper-vigilant or too lax in how they perceive and respond to potential threats online.

Internet Safety Tips

* In families with children; keep computers in common living areas where adult monitoring and supervision can occur.
* Use filtering and monitoring software to block unwanted sites or content. *There are a lot of easy ways to bypass these functions.
* Parents should check the âChat logsâ that accompany online chat sessions as well as have access to all passwords/accounts for any young people in the house.
* Educate your children on Internet safety protocols and responsibility.
* Educate yourself on issues ranging from Internet safety and security and how criminals utilize the internet to stalk, lure or recruit potential victims.
* Utilize a router to increase the security of your home network. If you use a wireless router ensure that the security features are locked so that your network is less vulnerable.
* Utilize the firewall that comes with your operating system or on your anti-virus software. It is another layer of protection between your information and the Internet.
* Antivirus/Spyware protection should be kept updated and always on. Scan your system periodically for threats.
* Be aware of the limitations of security features on Social Networking sites. There is no such thing as a completely secure server. If security was that tight it would not be practical to connect and network.
* Keep in mind when tagging photos, videos or other media that they become material for search engines. Always keep in mind that you have no control over who views this material or how its Metadata will be used once it is placed online.
* Be wary when banking or giving personal information such as credit card numbers, PIN numbers etc online. There are many ways for identity theft to occur; it is a multi-billion dollar criminal enterprise. *Never give your SIN or other personal identification numbers as a requirement to join a site or group.
* Be aware when utilizing online dating services or classifieds. There is limited security screening involved to become a member of these sites. Paying to join by credit card is not the same thing as a security check. These can only be accomplished through law enforcement. Iâm sure even Ted Bundy had a credit card or two.
* Run a periodic check of your credit history. Equifax and Trans Union are a couple of the larger companies. The small fee that you pay is worth the peace of mind that no one is accessing your credit.
* When on Social Networking sites or chat rooms, immediately block or report anyone that attempts to engage you in conversation or conduct that makes you uncomfortable or frightened. There are laws in place to deter this type of behavior. Report serious threats or incidents to the police or cyber tip lines.
Be extremely careful when responding to âofficialâ email. There are a lot of Phishing and Internet scams out there. If it sounds too good to be true then it is.

Kerry Sauve

Travel Safety

Wed, 05 May 2010 09:41:59 -0400

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 areaâs you plan to visit at; http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/menue-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 âBolt Buddyâ or âDoor Wedgeâ 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 6th 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 itâs also a great way to get stuck if thereâs 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 Hotelâs information security policy is good. If you called the Hotel and asked to speak to yourself but said that you couldnât remember the room number would they say âSheâs in room 564â, or âIâll put you throughâ. 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 âDo 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 âDo Not Disturbâ sign on your room when you are out. It makes the room appear occupied. Take a minimum of cash, and only enough travelerâs 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 âbait moneyâ 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. Donât 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 Donât 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 hotelâs 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 âTransfer of Offenders Treatyâ. 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

Gangs 101

Wed, 05 May 2010 10:30:01 -0400

The word Gang causes a great deal of controversy and fear every time it is uttered. There is a great deal of myth and misconception about just what is a gang, how they recruit/operate and the danger they pose to our society, our families and children. Working with gang members for a great number of years, Iâve watched as they have become more sophisticated and violent as time has passed. What was once given short shrift or ignored as an anomaly is now recognized as an incredibly complex problem, not only for law enforcement but for our society as a whole. This article is a good starting point for parents and youth who want to see the truth about what gangs are, and are not.

When we hear the term âGangâ it conjures images of drugs, bullet ridden bodies, money and fear. The reality is; gangs are not new. In fact there is documented evidence of gang related activity going back as far as 1400-1500 AD. What is changing is the increased communications and cooperation on joint criminal ventures between gangs that would traditionally be at war or in competition for the same drug territory. Expertise and even technology are shared in an attempt to evade law enforcement and increase the bottom line. If itâs beginning to make gangs sound more than just a little like a business, itâs because they are. The only difference is that their products are crime, fear and death.

When you take a close look at how many gangs operate, patterns begin to emerge. Gangs want the same thing as any corporation. They want to grow and expand in their territory/target niche. Profit is the bottom line and ruthless business tactics are often employed in the name of gaining a competitive edge. To further the corporate analogy, gangs also use brand recognition and targeted advertising to reach their target demographic. Every gang member Iâve ever known describes himself as a âbusinessmanâ.

We wonât be discussing the different types of gangs in this article. Thatâs a whole separate discussion and best left for another time. Nor will we examine the complex social problems that allow gangs to flourish. These issues are far too large to explore in one article and are best digested in small doses. Instead in this article we will examine some risk factors for young people being targeted for recruitment or victimization by gang members and the some of the myths and misconceptions that abound with this topic in general.

Young people become involved in gangs for a lot of different reasons; a sense of belonging, family/friends involved in gang lifestyle, money, protection, etc. The point is; everyone is potentially vulnerable to or affected by gangs on some level. As parents we need to recognize the potential warning signs of attempted recruitment and acknowledge that while we canât reduce all of the risk factors in our childrenâs lives, but we can give them enough resiliencies to deal with the problems when/if the time comes.

Parents always ask how they will know if their children are becoming involved with gangs. You will notice changes in their behavior and interactions with family, authority and society in general. Some of the changes that parents would notice immediately would include;

* Sudden changes in friends
* Change in appearance
* Disrespect for authority
* Withdraws from family activity
* Desire for excessive privacy
* Staying out all night
* Extravagant spending beyond explainable income
* Having unusually large amounts of cash
* Begins using gang related slang, graffiti, hand signs
* Unexplained cell phones or pagers
* Drugs or weapons found in their rooms/bags

I think itâs important to note that these indicators are not definitive. I know a lot of teens who display several of these identifiers and are no more affiliated to criminal gang activity than I am. What these warning flags should do however is alert parents/teachers and anyone working with youth that there is a potential for recruitment/association if early intervention does not occur. There are other risk factors that cannot be controlled such as;

* Living in a âHigh Riskâ neighborhood
* Socially isolated
* Living in poverty
* Recent immigrant
* Sex (most gang members are male, however female membership is on the rise)
* Early exposure to violence or substance abuse
* Limited opportunities for training or employment
* Limited education

For every risk there are also resiliency factors. Resiliency is the product of a set of influences and circumstances that would pre-dispose youth away from negative lifestyle choices. Strong family ties, involvement in organized activities and strong adult role models and community involvement can go a long way to helping young people keep from becoming involved in gangs and other negative activities. Itâs important for parents to realize that in many ways they are the ones on the front lines in the war on gang/criminal activity.

There are a great number of myths and misconceptions around gang culture. Some of them are loosely based in reality, but utilized by gangs to increase recruitment and perpetuate the fear/respect and âsilence through intimidationâ they need to operate. One of the biggest myths is;

1. Gangs will protect me from my enemies. The facts would indicate otherwise. It is physically impossible for any gang to protect their members 24/7. The United States Secret Service spends billions of dollars and has tens of thousands of agents to protect a very small number of individuals. Gangs, no matter how much money they are making from the sales of drugs and other criminal acts have neither the financial resources, the training, nor will to protect a lowly foot soldier on the street. Replacing them when they are killed or incarcerated is easy. Finding and training a new foot soldier is a much more cost effective business decision than paying lawyers. Secondly your risk of death increases dramatically when compared with actuarial tables of youth not involved in gangs. A police officer well known for his expertise in these matters summed it up beautifully. He said; âThe moment you join a gang, you automatically gain one hundred new enemies you never even knew you had.â Gangs also rule by fear and intimidation of their own members. This means that in addition to the risk of being kidnapped, assaulted or killed by rival gangs; gang members often face the same risks from their own group.

2. Joining a gang will give me respect. This is one of the most common misconceptions in gang culture. When gangs talk about respect what they really mean is fear; âRespect is earned and always there. Fear is generally present only when the object of the fear is nearby. Fear often coincides with hate. It is the power of illusion.â We need to understand and convey to our young people that they are not the same things. Gangs must rule by fear in order to maintain their control over a very competitive drug market and other crime related activity. If their enemies donât respect/fear them, then their drug markets will be taken over and their runners âjackedâ and assaulted. If their members donât respect/fear them, then they could potentially rip off the gang by running independent operations and skimming profits. Letâs face it; one of the best ways to control a violent criminal is to be a bigger and more violent criminal yourself.

3. Gang members are my friends. Over the years Iâve come to know a lot of young people involved in gangs. Many of them had friends and family involved in the gang lifestyle. Unfortunately many of them are also dead, or know a lot of other young people who are. Although there is the perceived loyalty to the gang and its members it is always interesting to note that the loyalty only goes one way. An average gang member who is working as a runner/soldier for any gang is not making a lot of money. Donât let all of the cash you see them being arrested with confuse you. That money is the proceeds of crime and the property of the gangâs hierarchy. Foot soldiers no more get to keep the proceeds of their criminal activities than the salesman at car dealership gets to keep the money for the sale of a new BMW. In fact those arrested are likely on the hook and fined by the gang for the loss of the drugs and money. Gang members are paid a salary like any other employee; they just get the added privilege of needing to wear body armor to work and going to jail and/or being shot at as a condition of their employment. Secondly if gangs are so loyal to their members, how come they never seem to use any of the millions that they are making on drug sales to get incarcerated members the best lawyers possible?

4. I will be at the top someday. Realistically there is next to no possibility of this happening. An average foot soldier would likely have no opportunity to become the leader of a large gang. In order for this to happen it would involve surviving; the street, jail, internal dissent, rival gangs, etc. Then potential leader would actually require some business acumen and organizational talent, because as mentioned previously gangs are in the business of making money period. They are just involved in a huge array of criminal offences and operations to fulfill this goal. The facts are that sometimes gangs are controlled by larger criminal organizations much as a subsidiary company would be controlled by a large corporation. They have the ability to engage in independent action, but the overall organizational vision is determined by the more powerful entity (Organized Crime).

5. I canât get out now that Iâm in. Not all gang members are created equal. Donât get me wrong, gangs are a huge problem and need to be dealt with. We canât treat every gang member like they are the head of a Triad and spend inordinate amounts of money protecting society from them after they have caused untold damage to peopleâs lives. It is counterproductive, costly and mostly ineffective. Most gang members are not members of the leadership or upper management whose knowledge of the groups operations and intelligence would make them a liability to the gang should they attempt to leave. Most gang members are foot soldiers who are involved in the day to day operation of a small part of the organization as a whole and likely not in possession of any knowledge that could seriously damage the gangâs leadership or operations. Many times gang members simply walk away with no repercussions whatsoever.

In other articles we will explore the world of gangs and gang culture and look at topics such as;

* Types of gangs/gangsters from wanna-be to made men, and hate groups to crime syndicates.
* The gang/money connection.
* Graffiti vs. gang graffiti and how to tell the difference.
* Colors and tattoos what do they mean?
* Gang initiations and exiting.
* Rising through the ranks.
* Gangs and the internet.
* Girls in gangs.
* Community mobilization and education.
* Intelligence lead policing.
* Why tougher anti-gang laws are not working.
* What we can do to help lessen the risk and take back our communities.

In the meantime, take the initiative to find out what resources are available in your community and avail yourself of their time and experience in educating yourself on this issue. Believe it or not what you donât know can hurt you. There is a lot of excellent free literature available online to give you an overview of general information on this subject. Talk to you children about the dangers of gangs and know their friends. Know who/where they are hanging out and any potentially dangerous areas to avoid. Educate yourself and your children on Personal Safety and basic Self Defense and teach them how to reduce as much risk in their lives as possible. The best you can do is provide them with as much Resiliency as possible and hope that it can outweigh the risk.

Kerry Sauve

Practical Women's Self Defense

Mon, 31 May 2010 18:18:21 -0400

The statistics for sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and crime in general should be a motivating factor for women everywhere to learn the skills necessary to keep them safe in a dangerous world. Personal Safety and Self Defense are not difficult to learn, implement or master. They do require a bit of time, energy and courage to acquire, but once gained are as invaluable as First Aid and CPR as lifesaving tools. This article is a great starting point for women who are considering taking a Personal Safety and Self Defense course. It discusses what is involved in the design of a well structured course and the types of questions women should be asking prior to signing up. We will also look at some basic strategies and concepts that apply to the science of Self Defense and explore the similarities and differences between Self Defense and Martial Arts. Why should women take a Personal Safety and Self Defense course? If youâve read past articles then you know that the statistics are not encouraging. 33% of women are sexually assaulted in their lifetime. 85% are committed by someone known to the victim. 7% of women are abused by current or former partners. The reality of the matter is that; it is your life and the responsibility for keeping you safe and secure is yours alone. Donât get me wrong, we live in a society of rules and laws and have the police and courts to enforce them, but (and there always seems to be a but) they donât usually become involved until after a crime has been committed. First it is imperative to understand the differences between âPersonal Safetyâ and âSelf Defenseâ. They are not the same thing, but Self Defense is a part of Personal Safety. Personal Safety is a mindset. It involves learning to identify, assess and deal with potential threats in a proactive and preventative manner. The martial arts when used in the correct manner and circumstances and by a trained practitioner can be very effective as a means to protect yourself from harm. As a lifelong practitioner I can personally attest to their efficacy. The problem with learning a traditional martial art as a Self Defense strategy is twofold. It takes a great many years to acquire the skills to make the martial arts work in an actual combat situation and much of what is taught in the dojo has no street applicability. Secondly these hard won skills are frangible. This means that if you are not practicing these skills on a regular basis they will rapidly degrade in power and effectiveness. Another factor is that martial arts classes generally do not adequately prepare the student physically, emotionally and psychologically for the realities of violence on the street. In all my years working on in a jail, I've never seen a fight, ambush or jumping executed in a manner that would be deemed fair or equitable to the intended victim. One of the biggest limiting factors of martial arts classes is the fact that training cannot occur at full speed and power due to the risk of injury to instructor, student and training partners. The training that occurs is also not realistic nor does it reflect the fact that most attacks do not occur as they are set up in class. Operant conditioning theory dictates that you will fight like you train. If you are training to pull strikes and not defend yourself with 100% effort, then you will continue to engage in these practices when an actual attack occurs. Training must occur in as realistic a manner as possible and under Adrenal Stress to teach students how to function during a real assault 90% of Personal Safety is Knowledge, Planning, Preparation, Practice and Training. How does one acquire knowledge? The first step is to âKnow what you donât knowâ. This is not eastern mysticism it merely means to acknowledge the fact that you need some help. When I previously stated that learning these skills is not difficult, that is not the same thing as saying it is easy. It is not an A+B=C equation. Women should look for courses that offer holistic training. Programs must identify all areas of a womanâs life and incorporate a realistic approach to Personal Safety & Security. They must also address what I call the Personal Safety Triangle. This is a combination of three sets of Personal Safety skills; Situational Awareness, Target Hardening and Emergency Response and Mitigation. Iâll discuss the Personal Safety Triangle in detail in another article. These skill sets provide a stable base from which to build a âPersonal Safety Planâ. Used in combination with other risk management strategies such as the C4 Method of Personal Safety they reduce personal risk by addressing multiple areas of vulnerability simultaneously. Hereâs where the effort is required. A lot of this knowledge is available free of charge if you know where to look. The fact that you are reading this article proves the point. You need to take the time to read and understand what it means, and how it all applies to your life. A good instructor is also invaluable in that they will ensure that you receive proper training in all areas of Personal Safety. Acquiring knowledge and using that knowledge to effectively design and implement an effective Personal Safety Plan is a combination of art and science. It takes some time and experience to learn to trust your instincts and identify potential threats to your safety, but the reward is well worth the effort. Personal Safety like Self Defense, First Aid/CPR and driving a car are all frangible skills. What this means is that if they are not practiced and utilized regularly their proficiency and efficiency are greatly reduced. These skills must also be practiced in the manner in which they will be used. Iâve written in detail about the importance of Reality Based Training in other articles and so I wonât recover that ground again here. What should be emphasized instead is the benefits for you to incorporate this incredibly powerful training method into your Personal Safety Plan. The military, police and corrections have long used this method of training for one simple reason; it imprints combat ready skills directly into the neural pathways of the trainee ensuring instant access to these lifesaving skills while under adrenal stress. Only by using your Personal Safety Plan and practicing Self Defense on a consistent basis will it have any effect on reducing your risk of becoming a victim of crime or harm. The other 10% of the Personal Safety equation is learning the Self Defense skills that will allow you to safely escape a potentially violent situation. Although the smallest part of Personal Safety, Self Defense is the hardest part for women to learn. There are several reasons for this. We are hardwired against committing violence against our own species. There is a great deal of research to support this conjecture done by military and law enforcement experts. Despite what we see in the media it is actually pretty difficult for most people to hurt someone else; even to protect themselves. Women are socialized differently. This is not a sexist statement or generalization. To not acknowledge that a womanâs fundamental psychological, emotional, social and physical responses are different from that of a man is uneducated and dangerous. To compound this error in thinking by training women the same way as one would a male student is irresponsible. Many Self Defense courses donât provide âReality Based Trainingâ. Too many Self Defense courses are conducted like a martial arts class. Learning to apply a technique against a Thai Pad or unresisting/untrained partner is a great way to learn the mechanics of a technique and develop power. Unfortunately it also gives women an unrealistic sense of self-confidence that the same technique will actually work in combat. Studentâs must be placed under Adrenal Stress and taught simple, effective and practical Self Defense full speed and full power against an armored/determined attacker in order to understand the physical, emotional and psychological effects an actual attack will have. Vital Point Striking and Kinetic Linking should be essential elements to every course. They are afraid. Many women are afraid to take part in this type of course due to the fears and emotions involved. These are all normal reactions to the unknown and completely rational and well founded. The fact is that an improperly structured, planned or instructed Self Defense course can damage a participant physically, emotionally and psychologically. Especially for women who have a history of abuse or have previously been assaulted. Instructors must be well trained in recognizing and dealing with the signs & symptoms of abuse and Sexual Assault Syndrome in order to avoid damaging their students. Fear is a good/healthy life prolonging reaction to potential threats; it is unfounded fear that should be avoided. Fear of the dark is unfounded; fear of falling down the stairs in the dark is not. So, what are the components that make up a good Self Defense course? They must be simple. Courses must be designed so that anyone attending regardless of experience or age has the ability to learn, demonstrate proficiency and retain what they have learned. Teaching complex techniques or skills that require a degree of technical expertise to employ are useless. In fact they are worse than useless as they provide participants with an exaggerated sense of self-confidence that can place students at risk when they try to apply these techniques in combat. They must be realistic. Course design must reflect the realities of what students will face in an actual attack. The facts are that most Self Defense courses aimed at a female target demographic do not reflect this. Students must be placed in an Adrenal Stress state and taught how to effectively channel the potentially harmful side effects of the âFreezeâ response. Instructors must learn how to play âbad guyâ and teach their students simple, effective and proven techniques that will allow even a small individual to incapacitate their attacker and escape. Attack scenarioâs must likewise be realistic and reflect the ways in which attacks actually occur. Instructors must be sensitive to the emotional and psychological stresses placed on students during courses and be trained and prepared to deal with any problems that arise. Many women who have been previously assaulted attend courses as a part of the healing process. Untrained instructors can damage survivors due to the resultant lack of knowledge and training. They must be holistic and reflect the needs of each individual. Self Defense courses must also cover Personal Safety and how to reduce your risk of becoming a potential victim of crime. The best Self Defense is always to avoid a bad situation in the first place. Self Defense courses should also not be âcookie cutterâ programs. Each student must be treated as an individual and their strengths/weaknesses examined to provide them with the best possible training experience. Instructors must be trained and experienced. Unfortunately being a great martial arts instructor does not qualify anyone to teach Self Defense. As previously mentioned, combat skills are only a small part of what a well designed Personal Safety and Self Defense program should contain. Women should enquire as to the course syllabus and training structure. Ask about the instructorâs background, not only in his/her combat training but also about their experience teaching Personal Safety. A detailed working knowledge of Personal Safety and Personal Security is essential to teaching students how to keep themselves safe. Students should also enquire about the instructorâs real world experience. Are they working from theory, or have they actually used and employed the techniques they teach to keep themselves safe? Have they been trained to deal with Sexual Assault Trauma Syndrome, or how to work with women who have been victims of violence? They must make sense. Programs that purport to teach women how to defend themselves from attack must make sense. Programs must be immediately applicable to the participantâs life and easily incorporated in order to be of any value. They must reflect current trends in law enforcement, and social theory and be based upon sound scientific principles. Far too often courses are merely a hodgepodge of techniques thrown together as a means to generate income with no real thought given to the fact that it just doesnât work in reality. Studentâs must ask a lot of pointed questions and do their homework prior to signing up for a class to be able to accurately identify the best course for them. So, back to the question; why should you take a Self Defense course? Police statistics provide a very eloquent reason. Â· 50% of women when attacked will avoid becoming victimized with no training whatsoever. Â· Your odds increase to 75% of survival with strong verbal boundaries and Personal Safety training. Â· Your odds increase to over 90% by having both strong verbal boundary skills and professional Self Defense/Personal Safety training. Take the time to invest in your safety and security. Personal Safety and Self Defense are like insurance for your car. You donât buy insurance with the thought that you will have an accident. Personal Safety and Self Defense are very similar, you learn to defend yourself with the hope that you never have to. However it is better to have these skills and never need them, than to need them and not have them. Kerry Sauve

What You Don't Know Can Hurt You

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:20:36 -0400

Unfortunately we are increasingly placed at risk from threats that 20 years ago would be considered far fetched or unlikely to occur in North America. The threat to our Personal Safety by the use of explosive devices and other forms of terrorism has never been greater. 9/11 and events such as the bombing of the Oklahoma Federal Building has forever changed the way Western culture views itself in relation to our vulnerability to this sort of attack. Letâs examine some of the facts surrounding this phenomenon and look at what we can do to reduce their risk of being the victim of this type of attack. First we have to admit there is a problem. Our office buildings are soft targets; meaning they are vulnerable in numerous ways to terrorists and criminal activity. They may have CCTV, perimeter barriers, alarms and an onsite security force. Some will have x-ray and metal detectors if they house high risk or high profile clients. Most however do not have a comprehensive security/safety plan, nor are their security forces adequately trained or prepared to recognize, assess and deal with these types of incidents in order to preserve lives, property and infrastructure. I work with many clients who are based out of office towers. When I visit them at their workplace I get to observe just how vulnerable they are firsthand. Multiply this vulnerability by the number of office buildings in your city and you begin to see the scope of the problem. So why donât we take the time to institute an operational security plan and ensure that any onsite security has adequate training to implement the plan in case of an emergency? Well, it comes down to money. You see having a security audit conducted and developing an operational security plan is not cheap. Companies that specialize in this area have a breadth of knowledge and experience to ensure that all aspects of safety/security are addressed. http://www.diligencellp.com/default.htm and http://superiorcp.com/ are two excellent examples. Properly equipping and training security personnel takes time, training, experience and money. Properly instituted security can be minimally intrusive while ensuring that adequate protection is instituted based on a realistic threat assessment. Obviously buildings with high profile or high risk clients (consulates, federal or provincial government agencies) would need a much greater level of security in place. What it comes down to is Risk Management and Mitigation. Now multiply this cost and use of resources by the number of office buildings just in your city and you begin to see the cost of remediation. Some of the common areas of concern that need to be addressed in the security plan are; Fire/Arson Theft (information, technology, infrastructure, data, blueprints, key personnel) Explosive Devices (bomb threats, suicide bomber, mail bombs, truck bombs, etc) Cyber Attacks Criminal Activity Weapons Related Incidents Hostage Situations Biological/Radiological Incidents Attacks on Utilities Infrastructure (power, gas, communications, information/data, emergency response) Buildings have unique characteristics that must be analyzed and accounted for to ensure the safety of the buildings tenants and employees. Some of the factors that should influence security planning are; Proximity to High Value Targets Building Design Types of Tenants/Occupations Potential for Collateral Damage Fire Suppression Limitations/Vulnerability Site and Perimeter Vulnerability Access Control Vulnerability (tenants, visitors, parking, loading docks, elevators, food services, stair wells, etc) Vulnerability by Design HVAC Vulnerability Infrastructure/Operations and Utility Vulnerability Emergency Response Vulnerability Information/Data Vulnerability 9/11 has shown us that North America is a viable target for attack. We need to realistically examine our potential value as targets for various political, financial or ideological reasons. We need to be aware of our potential to becoming a target for crime or terrorism and that our safety and security are our own responsibility. If you work in one of these buildings then see if your company has emergency response procedures in place to keep you safe. If they do, ensure that you know it and understand it and that in the event of a crisis youâd know what to do. If they donât you may want to do a little homework in the areas Iâve listed above. Remember itâs always better to have something and not need it than it is to need something and not have it. Kerry Sauve

Who Are You? Identity Theft and You

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 23:50:46 -0400

We live in the information age. Computers enable us to conduct business, date and socialize. Our communications look like something out of Star Trek and we have almost instant access to information on almost anyone or any subject. As technology has evolved so have criminals who seek to steal and use your identity for their own profit. Identity theft is a multi-billion dollar crime. Thatâs right I said multi-billion. What I didnât say is; low risk, at least for the criminals. If youâve read past articles Iâve written youâll understand that I view crime as a business. Iâve worked for too many years in maximum security facilities to view it as anything else. Most gang members I know refer to themselves as businessmen. Letâs examine this crime and look at some of the steps we can take to reduce our risk of becoming a target for identity theft and what to do if we find ourselves victims. Bill C-27 of the Canadian Criminal Code covers Identity Theft. It was created to deal with criminal activity in the following areas; Illegally Possessing or Trafficking In Government Documents Forgery and Similar Offences Identity Theft Trafficking In Identity Information Identity Fraud Use and Copying of Credit Card Data Mail Related Offences. Unfortunately, sometimes the identity thief doesnât have to work very hard to earn a living. Many times people throw away or freely give information without realizing how it can be used against them. There are some very easy things that you can do everyday to reduce your risk of Identity Theft; Never give out personal information to anyone without first knowing what itâs for, who will have access to it and how it will be safeguarded. Buy a good quality shredder and completely destroy any documents that have personal or financial information associated with them. (credit card receipts, insurance information, credit applications, pay stubs, income tax returns, as well as cheques and financial statements) Destroy all expired and inactive credit cards and bank cards. (Just because the card is expired doesnât necessarily mean the number is invalid) Only carry the identification that you need. (No one needs more than 2 credit cards at a time and you rarely ever need your SIN, passport or birth certificate. Keep these in a safe deposit box or a fire proof safe.) Be very wary when entering contests, draws and giveaways. (Often the forms ask for a lot more personal information than is required. Remember once you put your information out there you have no control over where it goes, who will have access to it, or how it will be used.) Encrypt and password protect sensitive data and personal information. (Donât use passwords that are centered around common themes; your birthdate, anniversary, dogâs name etc. Use random combinations of numbers, letters and symbols in order to increase security.) Donât put more than your basic personal information on your cheques. Be wary of social networking sites and what information you provide online. (Apps and add-ons email and games can disguise malware or viruses and insert malicious code or key logger programs into your system.) Find out how your employer stores your personal data, who has access to it and how it will be used. Part of the problem for you and a huge advantage for the identity thief is the fact that gaining access to one or two key pieces of identification can be used to obtain even more illegitimate, legitimate identification. Do you see the problem here? So, I as the bad guy manage to steal your social insurance number from the old tax returns you threw out because you were too lazy to shred. I take your information and use it to order new sets of documents ((driverâs license, birth certificate, bank accounts, utilities accounts, credit cards, bank cardsâ¦you get the picture.) For Canadians we have six pieces of âkey identificationâ. Social Insurance Number (Never give your SIN number to anyone who does not require it. The local DVD store does not require your SIN for membership.) Drivers License (Your license is more than just proof that youâre reasonably competent to drive. It is also one of the most universally accepted forms of identification, proof of residency and date of birth. Losing your license number in itself isnât really the issue. In this case itâs the document itself. A thief who obtains your drivers license can scan or alter your license in order to attempt to obtain other identification or services or as a means to use your identity as an alias.) Permanent Residents Card Certificate of Canadian Citizenship Canadian Passport (This document is proof of Canadian Citizenship anywhere in the world. If your passport is lost or stolen contact 1-888-567-6868 or visit http://www.pptc.gc.ca) Birth Certificate (One of the few personal identification documents that do not contain an expiry date. Keep it locked in a safe place. Used as a primary piece of identification to apply for credit, services and other identification; i.e. SIN number.) Hereâs the thing, itâs your identity and your responsibility to keep it safe and secure. We often incorrectly assume that information that we put online is secure. By its very nature the internet is insecure. Hacking, cracking, ripping, phishing and a myriad of other online scams and thievery are designed to obtain your information and sell it for a profit or as a front to commit other criminal acts; be careful. You can tell when an online browser is a secure link as there will be an https: prefix or an unbroken key/lock on the screen. So how do you keep your information secure? You monitor it. Check your accounts. Always challenge any purchases or transactions you did not make. Obtain copies of your credit report several times a year. This will give you access to the information the credit bureau has about your credit history, financial information, collection activity as well as âwhoâ has requested your information. Check your mail. If your credit card statements, bank statements, utilities etc donât arrive on time contact the billing agency. If your identity has been compromised the bills may be re-routed to an alternate billing address. Hold on to receipts. Match your ATM and credit card receipts to your bank statement and follow up any discrepancy. Pay attention to expiry dates. If your old credit card has expired and you have not received a replacement, contact your card provider. Identity thieves can steal cards from the mail or have yours sent to an alternate address. Be skeptical. Always be wary of offers and promotions through the mail, telephone and email. Donât give out any personal information. Keep records. Keep a copy of all names account numbers, records and expirations dates of credit cards and photo copies (front and back) of all other âkey informationâ in a secure, locked place. This way youâll have access to the numbers and information in the event that you need to contact your credit card company, government of lost or stolen identity information. Donât write down your passwords. Memorize them, change them often and donât make them predictable. Use random combinations of letters, numbers and symbols instead of birthdates, anniversaries etc. Protect your PIN numbers. So many times I see people blithely entering PIN numbers into the ATM pad or at the gas station I wonder why more criminals donât specialize in this seemingly target rich environment. If your identity has been stolen or you feel you have been the victim of identity theft; Call the police. You will need a police file number for the credit card company, your bank and any subsequent paperwork you will be required to fill out. Contact the credit card company/your bank immediately. Keep records of who you spoke with and what was discussed. Contact the Credit Bureau. Contact Equifax Canada Inc at 1-800-465-7166 or TransUnion of Canada Inc at 1-866-525-0262. They will place flags on your file and help you review it for signs of activity or incorrect or false information. Contact Social Development of Canada. If you believe someone has been using your SIN number or it has been stolen or lost. 1-800-206-7218 or http://www.sdc.gc.ca . In other articles weâll discuss some of the scams and tricks that are used to fraudulently gain access to your identity and information. Weâll examine the use of technology and good old fashioned slight of hand and how they are used by modern criminal organizations to gain access to our information. Kerry Sauve

Workplace Safety

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 13:14:29 -0400

I teach Personal Safety and Self Defense to a wide variety of people. From school children to close protection officers and church groups everyone needs to learn the skills to avoid trouble and protect themselves. Many of the people I teach are surprised when I spend so much time talking about Personal Safety for the workplace. Adults spend on average 1/3 of our lives in our workplace. We work, gossip, date, and sometimes harm the people we work with and for. For many of us the workplace is a place to relax your guard. My occupation precludes this attitude, but just because you donât work in a maximum security facility doesnât necessarily mean youâre safe at work either. Workplace violence and the potential to become a target for crime or violence are very real. Nearly 20% of all instances of violent victimization including; physical assault, sexual assault and robbery occurred in the victims workplace. 71% of the instances of workplace violence were classified as physical assaults. (Men and women were equally likely to report experiencing workplace violence) 85% of sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim. Violent crime rates are 4X higher than the 1960âs. The statistics are not encouraging and we are all responsible for our own Personal Safety. Does that surprise you? Many people will tell me Iâm wrong and that the Police are responsible for their safety. What I remind them, is the fact that the Police are paid to protect society, not the individual. They would lay down their lives in an instant to keep us safe but personal protection is not their function. They are an instrument of the law and are the pointy end of the spear when it comes to dealing with the lawless. But I digress; the point is donât leave your safety in someone elseâs hands, the average Police response time in most major cities is between 4-7 minutes. How many bad things can happen to you in seven minutes? So, what can the average person do the make his/her office a more secure place and increase their Personal Safety? There is an old military axiom that invariable proves true. It is fondly referred to as the law of 7 Pâs. (Proper Previous Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance) Your reasons for planning are simple, to reduce risk through proactive preventative action. Read your companies Policy and Procedures in regards to Personal Safety. If there is no Safety Plan request one be created. It doesnât cost a lot of time or money to keep everyone safe. Lock your desk, computer and office door every time you leave, even if it is only for a few minutes. Ensure that exterior and locked doors stay locked and are not propped open. Practice diligent access control procedures. Donât openly display identification or cardkeys when outside the workplace. Ensure that you are familiar with your workplace safety plan. Take part in any meetings, drills, or training provided. Be aware that you will increasingly vulnerable on your way to and from work. Do you arrive early or leave after dark? Closely examine your office for risks to your Personal Safety. Ask yourself these questions: How accessible is your office to the public. Can anyone off the street walk in or are there buffers such as a security station or a reception area? Where are you seated? Does your back face the door or can you observe people as they enter and exit. What are your options? If you were confronted by an angry or irrational person in your office what could you do? Is your office set up to allow you to escape if necessary? Environmental security is a concept every person working in an office should become familiar with. Situational Awareness is being tactically aware of the world around you. It involves examining the environment and identifying potential risks. I like to use the example of strangers in the workplace. In my workplace visitors, volunteers and contractors have identification coded to tell staff who they are, where they are allowed to go and whether they require staff escorts at all times. Iâve also got interlocking doors, cameras, razor wire, perimeter fences, a security team and an emergency response team to prevent unauthorized access and egress. Most workplaces donât have nor do they need this type of access control. If you see someone in your office that you donât know or feel shouldnât be there; Be friendly and courteous and ask if you can be of assistance. If they have a legitimate reason to be in the building/area they will tell you and will likely be appreciative of the assistance. If they do not have a legitimate reason to be in the building contact security and ask them to leave. Most people do not have sinister intent and will leave when requested. Always be prepared. What will you do if the person refuses to leave, or becomes angry and violent? Always know a safe place where you can run and await help. OK, so youâve done everything right and youâve still ended up with an irate, potentially violent customer/worker in your office. Itâs important to understand that violence is rarely about necessity. It is usually the results of the emotions or a perceived slight or loss of face. In the workplace some of the warning signs that violence is imminent are: 1. Threats towards you or others. 2. Refusal to leave the area. 3. Appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 4. Angry and verbally abusive 5. Body language indicates a threat posture. 6. Hands suddenly reach inside of pockets or clothing. Itâs important to understand that an angry person is a potentially dangerous person. Trying to de-escalate the situation is always your safest bet if you canât leave the situation. Some guidelines for de-escalating angry people are: Donât panic; staying calm and controlling your own emotions and fear are excellent methods of keeping the situation from escalating. You staying calm and in control will help the other person regain control of their temper. Be cooperative. This doesnât mean that you agree with the angry person, just that you are displaying empathy for their concern. This is often the first step to gaining control of the situation. Itâs hard to stay mad at someone who is trying to help you. Use Environmental Security to place yourself in a position of safety or to allow time to escape the situation if the need arises. Always have a way out. Your job is not to be a counselor or a hostage negotiator; unless you are a counselor or hostage negotiator. Donât stay in a potentially dangerous situation if you can leave. The longer you stay in a bad situation, the fewer options you will have. Be respectful. Always treat people with respect and dignity regardless of their behavior. This can go a long way towards avoiding violence or aggression. Donât argue. Arguing with an angry person is not only futile it is counterproductive. It will increase their heart rate and place them in Adrenal Stress and likely escalate the situation towards violence. Use voice tone and body language to de-escalate angry individuals. Lowering your voice often causes others to lower their own voice in order to hear what you are saying. This has the effect of lowering their hear rate and allowing them to regain control of themselves. Non-threatening body language communicates that you mean no harm and are not looking to fight. We call it the âInterview Stanceâ. This is simply involves placing your hands up in front of you (palms out) and one leg back and to a 45 degree angle. This stance is very non-threatening and also presents a smaller target to an attacker and allows you to move quickly in any direction. Having your hands up means you can defend yourself if necessary. Trust your gut. If it feels like itâs all going South in a big hurry, donât second guess yourself. Get out of the situation and call for help. Remember the statistics at the beginning of this article? We all say âIt will never happen here.â If itâs not happening in our workplace then where are all these statistics coming from? Usually everyone I speak with has the same reaction. They all say âIt will never happen here.â Then it is usually followed up with the exculpatory phrase âBut if it was going to happen it would be ----- that would go postal.â Keep that in mind as you ride the elevator to your floor. Kerry Sauve