Up Front The NZSA e-Newsletter June 2004

Up Front The NZSA e-Newsletter

Up Front

the NZSA e-Newsletter

June 2004

Vol 3 No#6

Dear Editor

It was probably the highest attendance rate that has ever been achieved and the delegates heard from speakers as far away as the UK and USA on many aspects of security.

The event had a few surprises with presentations to Ian Dick, Bruce Couper and the annual award of the Security Officer of the Year.

The disappointment was that for the second year in a row, the Associate Minister of Justice, the Hon. Rick Barker, could not attend and present his paper. However this is included below.

Our thanks go to all our sponsors of the event. Without them we could not have staged the conference at the level we did.

It was announced that next year's conference will be in Auckland and already preliminary enquiries as to a venue are under way. Your Association is also looking at the feasibility of running a trade show at the same time.

Regards

Barrie Cooper Executive Director

NZSA Website Membership Application Links NEW MEMBERS We would like to welcome all our new members this year. If you know of anyone in the Security Industry who is not a member of NZSA, ask them to call us and we will send them an information pack about the Association. Invite them to the next regional meeting in your area as your guest, and let them know what is happening with upcoming events. TELL OTHERS ABOUT THE e-NEWSLETTER NZSA wish for as many people as possible to receive this e-newsletter. Please tell colleagues and staff and get them to subscribe. There is no cost. Click here to subscribe.

A SPOT☻OF TRIVIA

In mining, a passage wide enough for only one person is called a "manway".

Index

1. Security Officer of the Year Heroic Security Guard recognised - we congratulate Derek Tones!

2. Bruce Couper becomes a Life Member Bruce Couper becomes the third Life Member of the Association.

3. Thank You Sponsors! A big thank you goes to our 2004 Conference sponsors.

4. New Board Appointed Details of the NZSA Board for 2004-2005

5. Message from the Hon. Rick Barker An update to the PI & SG Act review

6. Correction to New Member's details Apologies to A-Trac Ltd!.

7. Regional Updates What is happening in your region

8. NZSA Website Check us out!

9. New Zealand Property Institute Keep informed of programmes organised by the NZPI.

10. Yellow Pages Link Yourself Security Officer of the Year

HEROIC SECURITY GUARD - DEREK TONES - RECOGNISED

A 35-year-old Chubb mobile patrol supervisor who jumped in the Viaduct Basin to rescue a woman struggling in the water in a distressed state, has been named New Zealand Security Association 2004 Security Officer of the Year.

Derek Tones was doing a patrol check on foot at the Hobson West Marina at the Viaduct basin last November when he heard a woman’s whimpering coming from the seaward side of the wharf.

He looked over the handrail and saw the woman. He immediately called on his radio transmitter for police assistance as well as fellow mobile patrol officer Daniel Ironside, while keeping his sight on the woman.

She was becoming increasingly weak, slipping under the water.

Mr Ironside arrived on the scene within a few minutes of Mr Tones’ call equipped with a hand-held high-power spotlight which enabled them to see the woman in the increasingly dark conditions.

Mr Tones gripped a Hobson West lifesaver from the wharfside and peeled off his uniform tying the life ring rope to the wharf handrail. Meanwhile, Mr Ironside kept the spotlight in full view of the woman, helping Mr Tones enter the water, allowing him to quickly grasp the shivering woman.

He struggled to lift the limp woman through the life ring, as it was later known that she had spent some three hours in the freezing waters.

Once he had calmed the woman and had a firm grasp of her and the life ring, he swam back to the wharf with her in tow and attempted to anchor himself by foot around the barnacle-laden wharf pillion. Holding the woman's head above the water’s surface was increasingly difficult as she was by then having trouble supporting her head. Mr Tones remained in this position for 40 minutes.

Police were quick to respond to Chubb dispatch centre’s calls. But due to the fact the woman was far too weak to attempt to climb up a ladder and also that there were limited ladders on the seaward side of the wharf, Mr Tones remained alongside the woman until the Police launch arrived and lifted both him and the frail woman into the launch to be taken to Mechanics Bay where medical assistance was given to the women taken by ambulance to Auckland Hospital.

Mr Tones suffered mild hypothermia from the ordeal.

Derek Tones was born and grew up in Greymouth. After a number of jobs he moved to Nelson where he became a mobile patrolman. In 1997 he moved to Auckland where he became a static guard, but in 1998 he was offered a job as full time patrol officer.

Mr Tones is described by his employers, Chubb New Zealand as “loyal, honest, and reliable. He has performed many good deeds whilst being on patrol”.

New Zealand Security Association chairman Scott Carter says the role security officers play in keeping New Zealanders safe in their communities cannot be over-estimated.

“Every day they risk their own safety to ensure our property and people remain safe. We’re delighted to acknowledge the extraordinary act of bravery and kindness Derek Tones has done to win the title of NZSA Security Officer of the Year. And we put him forward as a role model of the kinds of people who are working more and more closely with the police to provide a safer environment for everyone,” Mr Carter says.

Back to index Bruce Couper Becomes a Life Member

At the Association's Annual General Meeting, on the recommendation of the Board, the meeting unanimously voted for Bruce to become the third Life Member of the Association. The other two are Maurice Mitchell and Ian Dick.

The Chairman, Scott Carter, read out his citation which covered the outstanding contribution Bruce has made to the Association over many years. It was also recognised that he had also made a large contribution to the industry in many areas including ASIS International.

Bruce was presented a plaque at the meeting and a further presentation and gift was presented at the Awards Dinner.

Back to Index Thank You Sponsors!

A big "Thank you!" goes to our 2004 Conference sponsors.

They were: Principal Sponsors: Security Merchants Ltd, Hills Electronic Security & TSSL Event Sponsors: IR Architectural and Armourguard Security Supporting Sponsors: Gallagher Group, IAG, Team Talk, Symantec & Qantas

Back to Index

New Board Appointed

At the Annual General Meeting of the Association held at the conference on 10 June, the Chairman, Scott Carter, recognised the members standing down this year, they being Security Merchants, Action Alarm, Bruce Couper and Ian Dick. Bruce's contribution to the industry was recognised with bestowing a Life Membership - refer article. Ian Dick was also recognised for his long standing contribution to the industry not only as a long term Board member and Past Chairman, but also his contribution to the industry. Ian's contribution was also acknowledged at the Awards Dinner.

The Board for the 2004 - 2005 year is as follows:

Chairman: Scott Carter

Vice Chairman: Bob Campbell

Board Members:

Armourguard Security

Autotec After Market Products NZ Ltd

Bob Campbell Consultancy

Cactus Security Group

Chubb New Zealand Ltd

Gallagher Security (Int) Ltd

ICTS Ltd

Intek Security Products Ltd

Matrix Security Group Ltd

Monitor New Zealand Ltd

Online Security Services Ltd

Rexel New Zealand Electrical Supplies

VIP Security Ltd

Steve Minogue

Back to Index Message from the Hon. Rick Barker

The Minister gives an update to the PI & SG Act review:

Introductory Comments

Thank you for inviting me to speak at this symposium. I see from the programme that you have an informative two days ahead of you with a diverse range of speakers and topics.

I'm sure that you will leave here armed with new ideas and information that will help you in your business. Information is the key to success in many endeavours, and as a law maker, I know that good information is vital to good law and good policy.

I am in the process of reforming the law that regulates the security industry, so I welcome the opportunity to participate in this forum and to hear about the issues of concern to you.

Why is the government reforming the law in this area?

The security industry is regulated by the Private Investigators and

Security Guards Act which was introduced 30 years ago. That Act set up a licensing regime for private investigators and security guards. We all know that in the past 30 years there have been considerable changes within the industry. It is important that the licensing regime reflects current industry practice.

The current licensing regime is not perfect and there are problems which it cannot address. A major problem is its limited coverage of the industry.

For example, it does not cover crowd controllers or body guards even though they perform work with a high risk of physical confrontation and injury. There is some uncertainty as to whether it covers burglar alarm and security device response personnel and confidential document destruction personnel.

Another problem is non-compliance with the licensing requirements. I am advised that there are many people carrying out the work of private investigators and security guards who do not have licenses or certificates of approval even though they would seem to be covered by the Act and its licensing regime.

Why should we be concerned about the lack of coverage of the Act and compliance with us licensing requirements? Because it is in the interest of the public and all of you who work in the industry to ensure that there are strict criteria for entry into the industry as well as standards of competency that must be adhered to and mechanisms for dealing with people who do not satisfy the licensing requirements.

Unlicensed operators currently have a competitive advantage over those who pay licensing fees and there is the potential for their actions to bring the industry into disrepute.

Unlicensed operators also pose significant risks to the public. These risks include physical confrontation and injury, theft, and property damage. I understand that the police routinely receive complaints about the conduct of crowd controllers at licensed premises. There are also risks associated with personnel responding to activated security devices (they are in a position to carry out or assist with criminal activity) and personnel involved in confidential document destruction, who may have access to documents such as law enforcement, court and medical files.

How will the new legislation address these problems?

The Private Investigators and Security Guards Amendment Bill will overhaul the licensing regime and modernise the Act to better reflect current industry practice and to address public safely concerns.

What are the key reforms?

The Bill will reform the Act in the following key areas: coverage, training, offences and penalties and licensing procedures.

I will now talk a bit about the proposed changes in each of these areas.

1. Extended coverage

The Bill will extend the licensing regime to crowd controllers, bodyguards, burglar alarm and security device response personnel and confidential document destruction personnel. They will all be required to hold licenses except for crowd controllers. Crowd controllers will be required to hold a certificate of approval, regardless of whether the Crowd controller's employer is required to hold a license. This measure will address the gaps in coverage 1 identified earlier.

2. Mandatory training

• The Bill proposes a requirement for security guards, crowd controllers and bodyguards to undergo basic training as a condition of licensing. This will raise competency levels within the industry and reduce the risk to public safety.

• Any mandatory training and the period in which it must be completed will be developed following consultation with the Police and industry groups, and it will be covered in the regulations under the Act.

• There will be an exemption from mandatory training requirements for applicants who can demonstrate that they have equivalent experience or other training. The regulations will prescribe what constitutes equivalent experience or training.

• The Licensing Authority will be responsible for ensuring that training providers and those responsible for assessing competencies are appropriately approved and monitored, (I should explain at this point that under the Bill, the Registrar of Private Investigators and Security Guards is renamed the Private Investigators and Security Guards Licensing Authority).

• The Bill will not provide for a standards development levy from licensing fees. Some industry associations supported the idea and others opposed it. I have decided against the introduction of a standards development levy, U is difficult to justify levying businesses and individuals that way receive little benefit from developing standards and the administration of such a fund may be difficult and controversial given the wide range of industry proposals. I am not aware of evidence that there is a significant problem in this area and I believe that the priority for government's involvement in standards development at this time is the development of competency standards for mandatory training.

3. Offences

The Bill will create two new offences. First, a "holding out" offence prohibiting an unlicensed or uncertificated person from wearing a uniform or insignia indicating that they are a security guard, if the intention is to mislead anyone into believing that the wearer is licensed or certificated. I am aware of the concern within the industry when crowd controllers in particular hold themselves out as licensed security guards through their uniform or insignia. This measure will address that problem.

The second new offence will enable the enforcement of the requirement for license and certificate holders (other than private investigators) to wear an identification card during the course of their work.

4. Enforcement

The Police will retain an enforcement role under the Act, concentrating on criminal activity by holders of licenses and certificates and checking that security guards and crowd controllers on premises licensed under the Sale of Liquor Act are appropriately licensed under the Private Investigators and Security Guards Act.

To assist with enforcement of the Act's offence provisions, the Bill will provide the Police with additional enforcement powers similar to those found in the Sale of Liquor Act.

There will also be a limited enforcement role for the Ministry of Justice, which will be able to undertake prosecutions arising out of complaints about unlicensed and uncertificated operators.

5. Improved licensing procedures

The Bill will change the criteria for granting, suspending and cancelling a licence or certificate. It will introduce objective criteria which makes the process easier, more transparent and less expensive to administer. The new criteria clearly set out the grounds on which a person will not be eligible to hold a license or certificate. For example: unless there are exceptional circumstances, a person will not be able to hold a license if he or she is under 18 years of age, or has been convicted of any of the specified offences within the last 5 years, or has had a private investigator's or security guard's license cancelled, or has not complied with the specified training requirements.

Currently, the Registrar is required to apply subjective criteria in that he must be satisfied that an applicant for a license or certificate is a "proper person" to hold the license or certificate.

Licenses and certificates will be renewed 5-yearly, rather than yearly as at present, although licence holders will be required to provide an annual update of their contact derails. This will reduce the relicensing fees considerably. An electronic register will replace the outdated and inefficient paper register, and all existing licence and certificate holders will be required to re-licence in the first year.

The Ministry of Justice will be the agency responsible for providing administrative and secretarial support services to the Licensing Authority.

6. Prohibition on coven photography and sound recording

I advised last year's conference that Cabinet had not yet made decisions about reforming section 52 of the Act, which prevents private investigators from photographing or recording conversations with people without their written consent. Many of you will know that Private Investigators have long been concerned at the effect of this provision which they believe prevents them from doing their job properly.

This matter is in the last stages of being finalised and I am optimistic that drafting will commence on the Bill later this year.

Concluding remarks about the reforms

So that's a brief outline of what we intend to achieve through the new legislation, I am confident that the reforms will exclude people who pose a high risk to the public, from the security industry. I am also confident that they will improve compliance with the licensing requirements and ensure more efficient and effective regulation, while keeping compliance costs as low as possible.

Progress of the new legislation

I know that many of you are keen to see the legislation progress quickly. 1 had hoped to introduce the Bill this year. However, some of the detail around the proposals has taken longer to finalise than expected. The

Government has a very busy legislative programme and this measure will need to be accommodated alongside other priorities.

Having got almost all of my work in Justice done I will put some concerted effort in to finalise this outstanding matter on my list of work to be completed.

We have made progress. I provided a report to be read out at your conference last year (unfortunately I wasn't able to attend) outlining a number of “in principle" decisions made by Cabinet at that time- Since then, more of the detail around the implementation of those proposals has been approved by Cabinet. This time last year I wasn't able to advise you what the new penalty levels would be, which government agency would be responsible for supporting the licensing authority, and whether the Bill would introduce industry standards development levies and mandatory training requirements for crowd controllers.

I talked about good law and good policy in my opening remarks. I want to ensure that this Bill is good law and that we get it right. It is better to get it right from the outset then it is to make corrective amendments later on. The industry consultation has been positive. There will be more of it, particularly around the training regulations, and I am confident that your input into these proposals will result in a greatly improved licensing regime.

Back to Index Correction to New Member details

Apologies to A-Trac Ltd, a new Associate Company member who was incorrectly introduced to you as "Artac" in the last UP FRONT issue.

Back to Index

Regional Updates

Northern Region

(Please note meetings are usually held on the last Tuesday of every second month.)

Mark your diaries now for the next meeting: When: Tuesday 29 June 2004 Where: The Horse and Trap, 3 Enfield Street, Mt Eden Admission: $5.00 RSVP: By e-mail to: steve.minogue@iag.co.nz Agenda: 4.00 Refreshments and Networking in upstairs Lounge 4.30 New Zealand Security Association Bi monthly Report NZSA Chairman, Scott Carter - Security Industry Update.

5.00

Guest Speaker:

Cliff Mears - Assistant Fire Region Commander, Auckland Fire Region

The New Zealand Fire Service Position Paper published in the last May edition of UP FRONT has raised considerable interest in the ongoing debate regarding unwanted false alarm calls to smoke alarms and implications arising from the BIA (Building Industry Authority) Building Code. This presentation will outline some of those issues and provide you with an opportunity to voice your opinion and raise questions on the subject. 5.45 Refreshments, nibbles and networking

For further information and to RSVP, contact Steve Minogue: steve.minogue@iag.co.nz

Central Region

Indicative dates for the remainder of 2004 are as follows: - Wednesday 21 July 2004 (Branch Meeting) - Wednesday 15 September 2004 (Branch Meeting) - Wednesday 17 November 2004 (Branch Meeting - Year End)

Also, we are always on the lookout for meeting sponsors and guest speakers - so please do not hesitate to e-mail Rogan Maxwell with any details or suggestions.

For further information, contact Rogan Maxwell: maxwell@rexel.co.nz

Southern Region

Watch this space for details of further 2004 meetings.

For further information, contact Shaun Knapp: shaunk@actionalarms.co.nz

also:

NZISF (NZ Information Security Forum) Meetings These will be held every second Thursday of the month.

The NZISF cordially invites you and your friends to the next breakfast meeting: When: Thursday 8 July 2004 at 7.30 am Where: The Auckland Club, 34 Shortland Street, CBD, Auckland Admission: NZISF, NZSA and NZCS members and students - $20.00 All others - $25.00. Cash or cheque only please - no credit cards Registration: E-mail your name, first name, business affiliation, and phone number to: lech@auckland.ac.nz. You will receive confirmation via e-mail.

Topic:

To be Confirmed - Watch this space!

Back to Index NZSA Website

WEBSITE: www.security.org.nz If you require the access password to the Members Only section, please don't hesitate to call us and we will give it to you. This is for members only. Please keep this password information strictly confidential to NZSA members.

Your feedback on the website content will be welcomed and if you have any suggestions, please let us know.

Back to Index New Zealand Property Institute

For information on conferences, seminars and workshops facilitated by the New Zealand Property Institute, go to: http://www.property.org.nz/

ENDS

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