In response to a recent inquiry regarding the government’s listing of persons considered potential security risks. Being  entered into the TIDE is a prerequisite for being potentially placed on the no-fly listing.

The Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment, or TIDE, is the U.S. Government’s central database on known or suspected international terrorists, and contains highly classified information provided by members of the Intelligence Community such as CIA, DIA, FBI, NSA, as well as many others. There are about 550,000 names in TIDE.

http://tinyurl.com/32ggqc

http://josephsreviews.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/my-body-belongs-to-me/

Do you have a child in your family between the ages of 3 and 9?   If so, it would be beneficial to consider buying a copy of Jill Starishevsky’s My Body Belongs to Me.   Starishevsky is an experienced sexual crimes prosecutor in New York City who saw that children need a way to determine if they’ve been improperly touched; she came up with this children’s book as a solution.   My Body explains to children, in words and rhymes they can understand, what the difference is between their public and private parts.

My Body also encourages children to report improper touching to trusted authorities such as their teachers or parents.   The book further explains to them that sexual assault is not their fault, and that they’re brave to act when it happens.   This is a fine job by Starishevsky and it contains beautiful illustrations (drawings) by Sara Muller.   Adults benefit from a reader’s guide that explains to them how to use the book when talking to their children.   There’s also an appendix with information on associations that can serve as resources for children and families affected by violence and/or sexual assault.

For a price of $14.95, this book serves as a valuable insurance policy that may help to protect a child you know and love, and protect others through a powerful message of prevention.   It should definitely be read and shared.

Recommended!

A review copy was provided by the author.

A review of My Body Belongs to Me by Jill Starishevsky with illustrations by Sara Muller.

MY NEW FRIEND MR. CALITO CAMEL

At this moment, I’m in the throes of uploading more pictures to Photobucket that I took with my trusty camera of the time that was spent assisting Lt. Col. Allen West, who is running for Congress in the 22nd District in the sunny state of Florida in 2010, and Joyce Kaufman, the immensely popular conservative radio talk show hostess broadcasting to all of the USA from Florida, during their stay here in Israel.  Therefore,  and in the meantime,  I’ll have you meet Marc Kahlberg the organizer of “The Experience Israel Training Tour.”   Marc is the “Big Chief” of “MK International Security Consulting”  and in actuality, I take my direct orders from Marc.  It was an honor to have the chance to assist him not only in the capacity of Personal Assistant, but also as “Logistics Coordinator ” for arranging meetings,  and for arranging media interviews for Lt. Col. Allen West.  However, and I must mention, that I applaud Marc for all his incredible work, and the boundless energy he exerts to keep our tiny, yet amazing  land of Israel safe!

In order to bring you up to speed, “The Experience Israel Training Tour” which was designed by Marc takes you behind the scenes to learn of the many different ways in which Israel addresses our security concerns, especially in those locations of Israel where homeland and citizen security is an absolute necessity.  Israel faces many challenges to keep its citizens safe within our own borders, and  also from the constant threats that extend from beyond our borders.  Our  vigilant Security Personnel routinely use complicated state-of-the-art and high-tech means of detecting and stopping security threats; but sometimes it can be as simple as good old-fashioned police-work and common sense security risk-prevention know-how.  “The Experience Israel Training Tour” takes you to locations that the average person (not even us Israelis) are allowed to venture in to. Best part is; that you too can be part of this amazing Tour and have the opportunity to witness first-hand what we do behind the scenes, and to meet those individuals who work so tirelessly to protect us from harm 24-7. Marc has it all meticulously arranged so that you will enjoy the unique privilege  to observe the techniques and the methods that we employ which ensures Israel’s safety from the various and numerous security threats that Israel faces every day.     I can tell you truthfully as someone who went along with the Group not just as an assistant or “madricha” (as we would say in Hebrew) but as a Tour participant as well, I had the most incredible time.  Even someone like myself, who although has a deep interest in counter-terrorism and security procedures, I had the pleasure and the excitement of learning new things that left me quite fascinated.   And besides the serious stuff, I had such a fun time, and I met so many nice and interesting people from all around the world, too!

Should you want to participate in the next “Experience Israel Training Tour” coming up in April 2010;  then drop me a line at LeadingEdgePersonalAssistant@gmail.com and I’ll clue you in on how you can get on-board  and be part of this fantastic learning adventure.  In the meantime; click on the site below and have a look around; and imagine yourself having the most informative thrill of a lifetime!  More importantly, if you are someone who is already involved in the areas of  law enforcement, homeland security, counter-terrorism, and anti-crime then the “Experience Israel Training Tour 2010″ is right up your proverbial alley….

Click on the link directly below to participate in a vicarious and virtual journey to the places visited,  the many interesting activities the Group takes part in, and the individuals who participated in the “Israel Experience Training Tour 2009.”  However, there is nothing to be said for having the chance to do it all for real!

http://isc.smugmug.com/ By the way, amongst all the fabulous pictures, if you find the one of me riding on Mr. Calito Camel then you will quickly catch on that I was having the time of my life!

EXTRA              EXTRA                  EXTRA!

Almost immediately after I went to press I received an e-mail from Marc and attached to his e-mail was a photo that classically represents the “primitive beauty” found here in Israel,  a country typically recognized as modern and of technological, medical, counter-terrorism and homeland security firsts.   This photo also captures the stark contrast of,  for example, the fast-paced, fashionably chic, and ever-expanding round-the-clock activity of Tel Aviv situated on the Mediterranean coastline.   Taken at almost sunset in The Negev Desert in Southern Israel; not far from the city of Arad, this amazing photo of our Group’s Bedouin Camel Driver so beautifully captured the aura 0f time standing still, and therefore reflects a way of life that is steeped in many hundreds of years of tradition.  While Israel has just been awarded the moniker of “Start-up Nation” (in addition to our 60 plus years of being labeled as “The Land of Milk and Honey”) in order to elucidate the fact that more start-up companies emerge from our tiny country than from any other country in the world, at the same time, however, our Bedouin Tribes continue to live according to their ancient cultural roots despite the threat of modernity.  Truthfully, I don’t think us Israelis would have it any other way!

Hope you enjoy this photo as much as I do!  By the way; I always give credit where credit is due.  Photo taken by a very gifted photographer named Jordan Polevoy and you can view his amazing photography work here:  http://jordanpstudio.com/

Our Bedouin Camel Driver Negev Desert, Israel

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 don’t 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 “Safe” 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 it’s a bit scary. It’s 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 what’s the solution? Never accessing the net is generally not an option. Living “off the grid” is not only impractical; it’s also immaterial in that somewhere; somehow there is information about you in someone’s database. A picture tagged on someone’s wall; a mention of your name in a paper or published newsletter. Any reference, mention or sniff of you will be searchable. Don’t believe me; feel free to Google yourself. The very fact that you know what I’m talking about has just proved my point. So even if you’ve 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 you’ve learned and done previously. There are many levels of response for threats. Some are automated; such as when you’re 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 “Chat logs” 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. I’m 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 “official” 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
http://www.streetsensesafety.ca

At StreetSense we have developed a method for teaching Personal Safety and Self Defense called “C4”. This method of teaching people to keep themselves safe and secure works because it addresses potentially dangerous situations on several levels. First however a definition; C4 is a combination of four concepts that combine to help produce a useable Personal Safety Plan.

Each of these components is essential in the creation of a Personal Safety Plan and reducing your risk of becoming a victim of violence or crime. Let’s face the facts in most major cities you have about a 5% chance in any given year of becoming a victim of a property crime, and about a 1 in 850 chance of becoming a victim of violence. These are not very promising odds. Now on the surface 1 in 850 doesn’t sound too bad until you put it into perspective. Let me put this another way; if you had a 1 in 850 chance of bursting into flames every time you used a cell phone, would there would be a lot more roll over minute’s at the end of every month?

· Confidence

· Control

· Contact

· Combat

1. “Confidence is the feeling you have before you understand the situation”. This is one of my favorite quotes and very appropriate for our purposes. What this means is don’t confuse confident with cocky. One will keep you safe; the other can get your killed. Confidence is an often overlooked component to every well designed Personal Safety Plan. Self Confidence is a mindset that is developed through the acquisition of enough skills and experience to trust or act upon ones instincts/experiences during any situation. If you are not confident in yourself and your abilities to recognize, assess, and avoid or deal with any potential threats you encounter, then you should ensure that you educate yourself and receive professional training in any areas that your are deficit.

Self confidence can be developed through Mental Toughness Training. The concept of Mental Toughness is to re-program the mind to a desired set of thought/actions for specific sets of criteria. Is that about as clear as mud? What this means is that our minds are a vast organic computer and we can “program” it to a desired series of thought/actions by the input of the correct programming.

The concept of Neurolingusitic Programming is not new. In a nutshell the concept is that if you say or read something numerous times it becomes ingrained in your subconscious and we begin to think and act on this subliminal thought. Much in the same way as your body would respond to a combat situation after you have trained yourself in Self Defense. Mental Toughness Training involves changing your mindset to a more positive/productive outlook. Like all training it also involves repetition. We always tell our students to take one thousand sticky notes and write self affirming statements all over them like “I will not quit”, “I am powerful”, “I am capable” etc. place them on every available surface and for the next 10 days read them aloud each time you see them. A big part of learning to be “Mentally Tough” is learning to let go of mistakes if things don’t go your way. Move on to plan B when plan A doesn’t work. Expect the best from yourself and use positive affirmations to overcome the “I can’t” attitude.

2. Control is a simple concept when it pertains to Personal Safety and Self Defense. Control yourself and your environment and you will significantly reduce your chances of being the target of crime or happenstance. As with many things in life however, simple does not necessarily mean easy. Always start with the easiest area to affect an immediate and lasting change; “you”.
One of my first martial arts instructors used the old axiom “If you want to learn to control others, then you must first learn to master yourself”. Control means many things; it means control your thoughts, words, actions, decisions and reactions. When we apply this concept to Personal Safety it refers to areas in which you can directly affect a conscious decision to reduce or eliminate risk. It is achieved through knowledge, planning, preparation and practice. Control is not just a physical concept it applies to other areas of your life as well, such as information security. Control of your environment is the second part of the equation. It involves making tactical decisions based on your level of knowledge, training and experience for any given set of circumstances. You can’t control a criminal’s motive, but you can control opportunity and access to you as a potential victim. The only way to have control is to exercise it; and also involves a lot of repetition to achieve the desired results.

3. Contact is essential for any criminal act to occur. Whether it is a violent sexual assault or an online internet scam there will always be contact. There has to be in order for there to be a victim. We can reduce the opportunity for contact through proactive static and dynamic security. Simply put; static security is the fixed layers of security that surround us at all times. Locking doors and windows, security passwords for computers, biometrics, fences, security cameras and alarms, all of these are a part of static security and if used consistently will lower your risk of becoming a target. Dynamic security on the other hand is the thoughts and actions of the individual that keep them safe; i.e. looking both ways before crossing the street, wearing less “bling”, big dog in home, not giving personal information over the Internet, learning basic Self Defense, remembering to lock the door and set the alarm system. Developing better dynamic security involves educating/training yourself in the areas where you may be vulnerable and addressing it in a Personal Safety Plan.

I’ll discuss how to develop a Personal Safety Plan in another article, but my benchmark for their use is the three “R’s” rule (Real, Relevant, Rehearsed) If it fails to meet these criteria you won’t use it and it is therefore useless. For most people a good Personal Safety Plan could fit on a couple of sheets of paper. You really only need to address four areas;

A. Security Audit: This is a systematic inventory of all of the security (both static and dynamic) that is currently in place and what areas are deficit. *This is what you know
B. Vulnerability Assessment: A list of areas of concern or gaps in your Personal Safety Plan or training. These are areas that could potentially place you or your family at risk. Areas identified would be addressed in the Action Plan. *This is what you don’t know
C. Action Plan: A list of training, education and research that has to occur in order to correct any deficits in your Personal Safety Plan. Don’t rush through this process; it takes patience and practice to gain the experience and training you need to reduce risk in your life. The sooner your start, the more quickly you’ll feel confident in your ability to protect yourself. Remember the best Self Defense is never being in a bad situation in the first place.

D. Implementation: When all is said and done your plan is only as good as its implementation. If you don’t follow it consistently, then the best plan in the world is only good for starting fires when you’re camping. You must implement the plan, adapt to any changes and react appropriately to potential threats. If you follow a well written plan you can reduce your risk of becoming the victim of certain types of crimes by up to 90%.

4. Combat is what occurs when all of the above no longer applies. The reality of the world is such that regardless of planning, training or experience at some point in your life you may still find yourself in a situation where you need to defend yourself. How do we prepare ourselves for something we hope to never experience? At StreetSense we’ve always believed the old military axioms “The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in combat”, and “You fight like you train.”

For us this means Reality Based training. We have found that this is the quickest and most effective way to teach people practical, effective Self Defense in the shortest amount of time. Our students trust us to provide them with the training that will potentially save their lives in a violent encounter. That is a pretty big responsibility and we take it seriously. What we’ve discovered through over fifty years combined experience in the combat arts and two decades in maximum security facilities is this fact; “There is a huge difference between Self Defense and Martial Arts.”

If you are searching for Self Defense training, make sure you do your research. Self Defense courses need to address several criteria in order to be effective in teaching students combat ready skills in a short period of time.

* It should teach simple and effective Self Defense and Personal Safety techniques that only rely on “Gross Motor Skills”.
* It should be professional, safe, and make sense.
* It must take the “Adrenaline Response” into account and teach students how to overcome its debilitating effects.
* Instructors must be well educated and trained in the psychological and emotional impact of training on students and that they are not damaging their students during training. They must also ensure that the techniques they are teaching are simple and proven in combat.

* Courses must address the realities of how attacks actually occur. Instructors must be trained to “play” “bad-guy” and allow students to practice their Self Defense full force against a determined attacker. This imprints combat ready skills into the student’s Neuro-pathways and gives almost immediate access to the skills under stress.
Training should also address Personal Safety issues and how to reduce risk without the need for Self Defense. Remember, 90% of Personal Safety is learning how to avoid danger and reduce risk, the other 10% is learning the physical skills that can save your life in a violent encounter.
* Training should also be realistic. We have found Reality Based Padded Attacker Training the most effective tool for quickly imparting combat ready skills to our students. Padded Attacker training has the added advantage of the student receiving immediate feedback from their technique. It will be quickly apparent if it is working or not.Kerry Sauve
http://www.streetsensesafety.ca

“Anger is like picking up a hot coal with the intent of throwing at someone else. You are always the one who gets burned.”    

Buddha

Anger and violence are endemic in our society today. It is estimated that the rate of violent crimes and assaults is four times higher than it was in the 1960’s. What would account for this four fold increase? The counter argument is that murder rates have steadily been dropping over the last 10 years. Don’t kid yourself, this has nothing to do with a decrease in violent crime. It has everything to do with the increased ability of health care professionals to utilize modern technology to save many who would have died only a decade ago.

As somone who works in the correctional system, I see anger and violence at work every day. It is the stock and trade of those members of society who have chosen the path of the predator, however all of us are affected by it at one time or another. We need to understand what anger and violence do to us on the cellular level if we hope to be able to influence them on a personal one. It’s important to understand that in most cases violence is not about necessity. Most of the time people are not engaging in violence to protect themselves or their families, procure food etc. People engage in violence because of the issues and emotions that come to the surface when there is a loss of face or some perceived slight. Sometimes it appears to surface from nowhere, but in most cases there are a lot of indicators and signs that it’s imminent.

Situational Awareness and profiling can reduce a great deal of risk when dealing with angry or potentially violent individuals. It is vitally important to always have a “Plan B”, Always leave a way out of the situation for you and the angry person. You’d better also have the means to defend yourself if everything goes sideways. It’s important to remember that not all angry or potentially violent people are going to de-escalate regardless of your intentions or training. Remember those rising violent crime rates? Train yourself from the beginning to take an appropriate (non-threatening) interview stance. This is simply standing at a 45 degree angle to the other individual with one leg forward and the other back. The hands are up near the face palms outward. It is a non-aggressive posture (85% of communiction is non-verbal) and allows you a great deal of mobility should you need to retreat or defend yourself.

You also must understand the way the human brain is hardwired when it comes to anger and violence. For the purpose of our discussion we’ll say that we have three brains. Our outer Neocortex (Human), the Limbic System (Animal), and the Brainstem (Lizard). Each of these segments are resposible for different parts of our reasoning and functioning. The Neocortex is our grey matter. The part of our brain responsible for reasoning and higher functioning. Our Limbic system is somewhat more primative and may override the Neocortex when it believes that we are in danger. The Neocortex and the Limbic system are hardwired together and can communicate. The Brainstem on the other hand talks to no one. It is the part of our brain responsible for our more base urges, the part that shouts Run/Kill/Fight when we are extremely angry or in the grip of the Adrenaline Response. Trying to reason with the Lizard Brain is futile and potentially dangerous. So how do we deal with angry people? There are some very good and very bad ways to go with. I think it’s important to look at a few of both because at some point in time, we’ve all used the bad ones and convinced ourselves that it was the right way to go.

1. Telling them to chill the %#!@ out is not the way to go. Telling an angry and potentially violent person to calm down is dumb. Their heart rate is accelerated, in many cases they are in Adrenal Stress Response and could experience auditory exclusion (they can’t hear you) . Likely this approach will only further enrage them and can place you in a dangerous position.
2. Apologize when you are wrong. Don’t let pride get in the way of good sense. Sometimes this is all that is needed to drop an angry person’s heart rate to a level where their neocortex has regained control and you can work the problem out without the risk of violence.
3. Cooperate. This doesn’t mean that you agree with them. Show empathy for their feelings and understanding of their perceptions of the event. Don’t disagree with an angry person openly. Your goal here is to bring them back down to a level where you can calmly discuss the issues.
4. Be respectful. Use non-aggressive body language and voice tone to communicate with angry people. Remember that 85% of communication is non-verbal. Acknowledge their concerns; it doesn’t mean that you agree with them. Avoid using judgemental language or voice tone. Nothing gets peoples back up more quickly than judgemental statements.
5. Listen. Being an effective listener can go a long way to de-fusing an angry person. Many times people just want to be heard. They are not looking for you to provide a solution to their problem (unless you are the problem) and simply want some understanding and validation. Don’t interupt or try to correct an angry person, what you consider being rational may just provoke them further. Instead use reflective listening techniques and open ended questions to get more information and help them process the situation.
6. Reframe the context. This is a great method to establish some common ground. It allows both parties to be on the same side of the issue without necessarily agreeing on the outcome.
7. Be assertive. It’s ok to set clear boundaries for expectations and behavior. Always assess/evaluate the situation for signs that things are not going according to plan.

*In a high threat environment assertiveness may be the wrong approach. In this case cooperation would take precedence.

 
8. Disengage. It’s important to know when nothing positive is going to come from a situation and to remove yourself before things go sideways. Always have a way out. Request assistance when needed. Always debrief with someone you trust.
So now you’ve got a few tools you can start to employ when dealing with angry people. If you are anything like me, you’d prefer not to have to deal with the angry individual. Most of us would prefer to handle the situation before the screaming, yelling and threatening start. When you see that someone is going to lose it there are a few things we can do to de-fuse the anger bomb before it is armed.
9. Be proactive. If you know someone is getting angry and worked up. Deal with it early, before it becomes a problematic situation.
10. Stay calm. The more in control of your thoughts and emotions you are, the more likely you will be to de-escalate the individuals anger. Speak slowly and firmly. Being self confident and non-confrontational can go a long way towards keeping situations from getting out of control. Never make threats. It’s ok to let them know that there are consequences for inappropriate behavior. Don’t get caught up in the escalation game. This inevitably leads to violence.

11. Always have an escape route. Here’s where all of those Personal Safety skills come in so handy. Good Situational Awareness, Target Hardening and a solid Personal Safety Plan really stack the odds in your favor. Seek safety. As I’ve said many times in the past. Run towards safety, not away from danger. Prior planning and training makes this goal much easier to accomplish. Don’t assume you can wing it when the incident occurs. It could be a very big miscalculation on your part.

Kerry Sauve
http://www.streetsensesafety.ca

Crime is a word that invokes both fear and acceptance in society. Statistically your chances of becoming a victim of crime in any given year are actually pretty low. I’m sure this is a great comfort to anyone who has been victimized or knows someone who has been. On the surface many crimes seem random and senseless, but when we take a look at the factors that make up a crime we see a pattern emerge. In order for a crime to occur there are three factors that must be present. They are; Motive, Opportunity and a Victim.

Each of these factors plays an important role in how and why crimes occur. Two of these factors are within your control to influence. Motive is what drives the criminal to commit the crime. Motives are as individual as the criminal and beyond your ability to effectively control. Some common themes are drugs, money, sex, violence, power, domination etc. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t attempt to understand some of the social issues surrounding the psychology of crime. It just means that knowing your attacker is a crack addict with an addiction to feed is the last thing you are worrying about when he is stealing your purse at knifepoint.

Opportunity and access are necessary for the criminal to commit an offence. Crime is like a business. To succeed it must have timing, location, read the market correctly and have access to potential customers. Having a good foundation in Personal Safety removes much of the potential for criminals to have access to you. Both timing and location are within your realm of control. Ensure that you always maintain good Situational Awareness. Being able to spot, assess and proactively respond to potentially dangerous situations is much simpler than having to resort to Self Defense or submission when a crime actually occurs.

Victims are the most important piece to the puzzle. Without a victim there is no crime. By removing yourself from the equation or at least substantially reducing your profile as a potential victim you will have the greatest impact on how crime will affect your life. This puts a lot of power and responsibility in your hands. Taking steps to reduce your desirability as a potential victim is not difficult. It does demand some education, effort and practice on your part though. You must educate yourself on what you don’t know. Contrary to popular belief, what you don’t know can hurt you. Take a course in Personal Safety and Self Defense. Learn how to develop and implement a Personal Safety Plan, then practice, practice, practice.

When we teach our courses, participants are always surprised to find out that when we talk about the “Adrenal Stress Response” that there is more to adrenaline than just “Fight of Flight”. This is not incorrect, just incomplete. During times of stress or danger the human body generally has 4 available options when adrenaline kicks in. These are; Fight, Flight, Posture, Submitt.

Each of these responses is common when a person is placed in a stressful or potentially dangerous situation. The fact is that everyone is affected by the “Adrenal Stress Response”. The difference is in how individuals deal with it. Each of us fits into one or more of these response types dependent upon a variety of environmental and personal factors. Adrenaline is an amazing hormone, it lets our bodies become supercharged and incredibly strong. Unfortunately it also has a dark side. Adrenaline also causes the “Freeze” response, dry mouth, rapid breathing, and extreme fatigue. Asymmetric Saturation Training is one method to reduce the effects of the Adrenal Stress Response. This is accomplished by systematically placing students in an adrenal stress state during full contact Padded Attacker scenarios. Repeated exposure to the Adrenal Stress Response imprints Self Defense techniques into the student’s neural pathways and teaches them how to survive a violent attack. This is the same method used by Peace Officers and the Military to train for the realities of combat.

Fight is always the first option listed when this sequence is discussed. It is however probably the least used in these situations. The human body is hardwired against harming others of our species. It is what allows us to live in large communities without random violence and murder. The ability to use violent and sometimes lethal force to protect ourselves from harm is easy to discuss and much harder to actually do. It is important to remember though that there is a portion of the populace that doesn’t share your feelings of kindness and lack of aggression towards your fellow man. In my business we call them “Wolves”. For the terms of our discussion “Wolf” refers to criminals and other predators.

Flight is the next most discussed option and in my opinion the least used or considered. It is also the most prudent and least likely to produce violent results. My philosophy has always been to run if you can and fight if you can’t. I’ve seen countless situations that have deteriorated into violence that you could have seen coming from a block away. Conversely I’ve also seen people stand back and posture when doing so was so obviously not going to go well for them.

Posturing is a very successful strategy for dealing with potential violence. Many species posture to make themselves look larger and more aggressive to potential adversaries. Often posturing works as the response cost for the criminal is just too high. It is too risky to take the chance that the individual posturing is just as tough and bad as they are trying to tell you they are. If you misjudge your career as a criminal will be brief and the resultant miscalculation painful.

Submitting is the fourth way that our bodies can react in a stressful or violent situation. In some cases submission has saved lives. Submission as a response to crime often has negative effects on it’s victims for years after the crime. It is important for survivors of violence to understand that no matter the circumstances that led to their attack the responsibility always lies with the perpetrator.

In my world there are three types of people; Wolves, Sheep and Sheepdogs. Wolves are predators and are not afraid to harm you. It is important to know that wolves don’t play by societies rules, so expecting them to behave as anything other than large, dangerous carnivores is foolhardy. The best way to deal with a wolf is never to run across his path in the first place. Learning practical Self Defense and Personal Safety skills will go a long way to keeping you off of a wolfs radar.

Sheep unfortunately represent the vast majority of society. I use this Tag because Sheep are prey. To the wolves of the world, sheep are there to be eaten. For you that means whatever personal motive that drives them to commit their crimes. Many times Sheep take the “It won’t happen to me, I live in a nice neighborhood” approach. Most times they are shocked when crime does happen in their neighborhood or affects them or someone they know in a very personal way.

Sheepdogs are the last category and that is what every one of us should aspire to be. Sheepdogs are not intimidated by Wolves and will actively protect the Sheep. Wolves don’t want to mess with a Sheepdog due to the high probability of severe risk and damage to them personally. We can become Sheepdogs by educating ourselves on the societal causes of crime and learning the skill sets necessary to protect ourselves and our families from the wolves at the door. And like a good Sheepdog we also need to learn the skills to deal with the Wolf when no other option presents itself.

Kerry Sauve

http://www.streetsensesafety.ca

It’s no secret that burglars can target a residence or business based on the belief that a particular location has more desirable property to steal. With that in mind, the SBPD highly recommends that residents do their best to obscure the boxes or packaging of Holiday gifts. When it’s time to throw packaging out make sure it is either in a trash bag or in the case of larger boxes, cut them flat and turn the label sides in, so would-be burglars can’t tell what the box contained. And once again, keep blinds or curtains closed during nighttime hours, so thieves cant look inside of homes and see gifts and packages.

A few simple measures can prevent a burglary.

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, I’ve 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 educators who want to see the truth about what gangs are, and are not.

When we hear the term “Gang” 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 it’s beginning to make gangs sound more than just a little like a business, it’s 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 I’ve ever known describes himself as a “businessman”.

We won’t be discussing the different types of gangs in this article. That’s a big topic 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 can’t reduce all of the risk factors in our children’s 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 it’s 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 “High Risk” 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. It’s important for parents and educators 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 “silence through intimidation” 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; “The moment you join a gang, you automatically gain one hundred new enemies you never even knew you had.”  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; “Respect 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.”  We need to understand and convey to our young people that fear and respect 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 don’t respect/fear them, then their drug markets will be taken over and their runners “jacked” and assaulted. If their members don’t respect/fear them, then they could potentially rip off the gang by running independent operations and skimming profits. Let’s 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 I’ve 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 doing a lot of time in prison. 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. Don’t 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 gang’s 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 (food) 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 multi-national 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 can’t get out now that I’m in. Not all gang members are created equal. Don’t get me wrong, gangs are a huge problem and need to be dealt with. We can’t 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 people’s lives. It is counterproductive, costly and mostly ineffective. Most gang members are not members of the leadership or upper food-chain; 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 gang’s 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 don’t 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

http://www.streetsensesafety.ca

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

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

Alarm

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

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

Crisis

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

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

Accommodation

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

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

Resolution

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

How to survive if you become a hostage

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

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

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

• Don’t offer suggestions. Attempting to be helpful will generally only antagonize your captors and make things worse for everyone. Leave the negotiations to the professionals and let the police do their jobs.
• Stay Calm. I know it would be incredibly difficult to do under the stress of being held hostage but it must be done. There is absolutely nothing to be gained by panic. Hostages should rest and eat if possible. You have no idea how long the situation will take to resolve itself and the emotional ups and downs can be debilitating.
• Evaluate whether you can safely escape. The opportunity for escape must be carefully weighed against the chances of success vs. the chance of being caught or that harm may be done to the remaining hostages in retaliation. As I said earlier, life is not a movie and you’ll only get one chance to do it right.
• Ask for help when you need it. After the crisis stage it may be appropriate to request aid such as medication if you require it. Your life is a bargaining chip to the hostage takers and there is no percentage in them allowing you to become ill or die.
• Never argue hostage takers. Arguing with your captors will only make you stand out in their minds and focus their attention on you. If you are perceived as a threat you could be harmed as a message to the other hostages.
• Avoid drawing attention to yourself. Try to blend in and be as unobtrusive as possible. You absolutely do not want to stand out in your captor’s memory.
• Treat your captors with respect. This along with not challenging their authority or attempting to embarrass them will go a long way towards ensuring that hostages are not mistreated. Don’t downplay the seriousness of the situation.
• Never attempt to trick your captors. Attempting to manipulate the situation for your advantage is a dangerous game. If you are found to be lying, the hostage takers may make an example of one of the hostages to demonstrate their control.
• Be patient. Hostage situations are often long, drawn out events. Police are hard at work trying to bring the situation to a peaceful resolution. The longer the situation goes on, the higher your chances are for survival.
• Be a good witness. Pay attention (Situational Awareness) to the hostage takers. Who is in charge? How many of them are there? What kind of weapons do they have? What is the disposition of the hostages? Have they been harmed? If you are released before the other hostages these and many more questions will be important for the police tactical units and hostage negotiators to know.

Kerry Sauve

http://www.streetsensesafety.ca

Recently there was a very violent abduction/sexual assault in our city. While this is not surprising in a major city anywhere in North America, it is however sad that we rarely think twice about the impact this type of crime has on the victim and society after the headlines fade. Before I start let me state that anyone who survives any kind of violent encounter made exactly the right decisions. No one can or should second guess the actions/decisions of any survivor of violence.  

There are some alarming statistics surrounding the crime of sexual assault that we all seem to be conveniently ignoring. 

Sun Tzu said “If 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.”  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. (Remember 85% of sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim)

- 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 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 can’t 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 “Social Engineering” 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. Don’t list your first and last name in the phone book or on mailboxes if you are a single woman. Use your initials instead. Don’t 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. Don’t assume the security features on these sites will protect your identity. In about five minutes I can find every bit of information that you’ve 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 doesn’t 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 won’t use it.  

- Listen to your instincts. If you get that funny feeling when you are in a certain situation or with someone you viscerally don’t like, listen to what it is telling you. I call it the “Creep Meter”. 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. It’s all about the context of the situation and interaction.

- Act fast. If you think you are in potential danger quickly move towards safety. Don’t 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  

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jgZzbDlzjc

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

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

Predator Dynamics 

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

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

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

Predators

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

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

Dealing with Predators

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

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

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

• The Approach. In order to be successful in securing a victim, contact must be made. Unlike what the media has led us to believe, real predatory violence is different. The way to deal with the approach is to switch gears. When dealing with predators it’s a good general rule to always be ready to “throw the switch” because the quick blitzkrieg type of attack is the predator’s stock in trade. I have always found that when confronted with a potential predator maintaining a relaxed/I’m not a good target demeanor is the best policy. It’s easier for them to find another target than to deal with the painful result of a miscalculation in their choice of prey. Maintain Situational Awareness and consider your options. Always have a plan B and an escape route in case it all goes sideways.
• Predator Interview. This is how the predator initiates contact with the potential victim. Contact can take a myriad of forms and not all of them are obvious. We know that up to 85% of communications is non-verbal. Predators will use these non-verbal messages when conducting their cost/benefit analysis of the situation to determine who is and who is not a viable target. Self confident, aware, assertive people are far less likely to be targeted as potential victims by predators due to the personal risk involved in making the wrong choice of victim. Shutting down the interview is as simple as not playing the game. Don’t be afraid to be perceived as rude. Be direct and assertive (loud). Drawing attention to yourself is a good thing, predators generally don’t want witnesses. Eye contact and posture are excellent indicators of self-confidence, use them to communicate non-verbally that you are a bad choice as a victim. Keep your hands out of your pockets and ready in case you need to defend yourself.
• I’m a big believer in the; run if you can, de-escalate if you can’t, and fight if you have to philosophy. In order to harm you a predator must always have one thing; Contact. Keep this in mind, if they can’t touch you, they can’t hurt you. Always know where you are, where you are going, where you can find safety, or where you can safely run if you need to escape and evade. Directly and assertively redirect any attempt to initiate contact with you at times or places that are inappropriate or at which you are potentially vulnerable. This doesn’t just mean physical contact, be aware of other media such as the Internet where you could also be placed at risk. This all comes down to planning. You must think about how you will handle these situations before you are scared, adrenalized and possibly injured.
• Attack. When a predator attacks it will generally be brutal, swift and efficient. You must be prepared for the reality of how quickly and painfully violence occurs. You must also realistically train for how you are going to deal with it. If your training and education do not realistically address these realities you are being placed in a dangerously overconfident state of mind. Never make assumptions about how you will be attacked. I can tell you from personal experience, in all my years working with violent offenders; I’ve never seen a predatory attack occur in a manner that would be deemed fair or equitable to the victim. It’s usually from behind, when they can’t defend themselves or when it’s 5 on 1. Account for these factors when you are planning and training.

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

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

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

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

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

Kerry Sauve

http://www.streetsensesafety.ca

Given the recent spate of sexual assaults and the seizure of a large quantity of the Date Rape drug GBH by the RCMP I thought it was time to pen an article about the Date Rape drugs. I spoke with a mother on the phone recently who was interested in a Self Defence course for herself and her daughter. She was concerned as the young lady is now of legal age to go to the clubs and she was asking questions about Personal Safety and the Date Rape drugs. This article will provide women with some basic education and training in this area. Thus armed, they will be able to significantly reduce their risk of being targeted for sexual assault via chemical warfare.

The Date Rape drugs fall into a category of recreational drugs known as “Club Drugs” due to the fact that they are often used, bought and sold at bars, raves and parties. They cover a wide spectrum of substances including the Date Rape drugs. By definition a “Date Rape” drug is any substance that is used in as a tool to place the intended victim in a suggestible or helpless stated through the administration of a mind altering substance. I think it’s important to note that any drug has the potential to be utilized in the commission of a sexual assault. People often forget that “Alcohol” is most commonly employed drug in sexual assaults, not Rohypnol, Ketamine or GHB.

Rohypnol (Roofies, Ruffies, Rib, Rope, Forget Pill, R2, Roche, Lunch Money, Mexican Valium, Mind Erasers, Poor Man’s Qualude, Trip-and-Fall, Whitey’s)

This is one of the “Big Three” drugs we commonly associate with Date Rape. It is an extremely powerful sedative and prescribed as a sleep aid. It is colorless, odorless and tasteless when mixed with food, water or alcohol. Rohypnol also goes by the brand name of flunitrazepam, and is available in North America. Rohypnol takes effect relatively quickly and effects are usually noted within 20-30 minutes of ingestion of the drug. Its effects can last anywhere from 6-8 hours dependent upon the dose and the victims weight and other factors such as alcohol consumption. The effects of Rohypnol are extreme drowsiness, lowered blood pressure, visual disturbances, dizziness, and confusion, loss of muscle control, slurred speech and unconsciousness. Rohypnol produces effects that appear as extreme intoxication after very little to drink. It also often leaves the victim with little or no memory of what occurred while under the drugs influence. The drug now has an additive that causes a precipitate (blue flakes) to form when it is mixed with a liquid. This should make a drink laced with this drug easy to spot.

GHB (Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid X, Scoop, Liquid Ecstasy, Easy Lay, Cherry Meth, Energy Drink, G, Gamma 10, Georgia Home Boy, Goop, Gook, G-Juice, Liquid E, Salt Water, Soap, Somatomax, Vita-G)

GHB or gamma hydroxybutyric is the second of the “Big Three” drugs utilized for sexual assaults. This drug was banned in 1991 but has since made resurgence as a legal muscle enhancer and fat reducer. The drug is easily available and instructions for its use and manufacturing are available on the internet. This drug is available in liquid, powder and tablet. GHB gives drinks a slightly salty taste, so it is often mixed with sweet tasting drinks such as fruit juice to mask the saltiness. GHB can be extremely dangerous especially when mixed with alcohol. It takes effect within 10-15 minutes of ingestion and can produce effects varying from relaxation and euphoria at low doses, to extreme fatigue, unconsciousness, and seizures and vomiting. Overdoses of GHB often require emergency medical treatment to combat coma and the depression of the victim’s respiration.

Ketamine (Special K, Calvin Klein, Vitamin K, Ket, Black Hole, Cat Valium, Green, Jet, K-Hole, Kit Kat, Psychedelic Heroin, Super Acid, Purple)

Ketamine was originally designed and used as a field anesthetic in Vietnam. It was discovered that it had some terrible side effects on humans and is now used as a veterinary drug. Ketamine comes in liquid or powdered form and is commonly snorted, injected or ingested. It is water soluble as well as tasteless, colorless and odorless. The drug generally takes effect within 10-15 minutes of ingestion and are short lived. Victims experience a profound change in the level of consciousness as well as memory impairment and difficulty organizing and understanding the environment. Higher doses cause unconsciousness.

Perhaps more valuable than a lesson on the types of drugs used and the methods in which they are employed it would be more valuable to look at how you can avoid becoming a victim through some very simple Personal Safety practices.

· Never accept a drink that you have not ordered, or seen mixed/opened for yourself.

· Never leave your drink unattended.

· Don’t drink anything that looks or tastes “Off”. If you are unsure don’t drink it.

· Never drink anything that has a precipitate (residue) on the glass or in the drink.

· If you start to feel funny, or more intoxicated than can be accounted for by the amount you’ve consumed, call 911.

· Never accept drinks or drugs from strangers.

· Don’t assume that this can only happen at raves, bars and big house parties. More and more often I am hearing about these drugs being employed at sporting events, High School/Junior High dances, college campuses, workplace parties etc.

· Always go out/party with a group of friends.

· Plan to go home as a group or with someone you trust.

By incorporating some basic knowledge of these substances and how they can be used to facilitate a sexual assault, women can protect themselves through proactive planning and preventative practices. We may never completely eliminate the use of chemical warfare in the commission of sexual assaults, but we can start reducing the statistics one women at a time through knowledge, preparation, training and practice.

Kerry Sauve

http://www.streetsensesafety.ca

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some Facts About The Sex Trade In Canada

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

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

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

Recruitment via Vulnerability

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

Recruitment via Addiction/Acceptance

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

What’s the solution?

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

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

Kerry Sauve

http://www.streetsensesafety.ca

The SBPD has been alerted to a fraud that is currently in progress in the area. Individuals are being sent text messages that state:

“This is an automated message from Teachers CU.
Your ATM card has been suspended. To reactivate call urgent at 1-866-###-####”

The telephone number provided is not connected with TCU and the text is not legitimate. The usual warning applies, if you receive a text or email alert that claims to want personal or financial information, it is probably an attempt to steal your money or identity. If you feel that you need to verify the information, find a legitimate source for the financial institution’s contact information and utilize it. Do not under any circumstances use the contact information provided by the suspect email or text.

I recently spoke with Paul Crook, Reparation co-ordinator, early intervention and prevention in Wigan.

I asked Paul about the reparation projects he and his team are working on in Wigan.

Paul told me about how members of the local community have directly benefitted from these projects, including children with learning disabilities who had a herb garden built for them:

Paul went on to tell me about another project in which young offenders have carried out reparations work for victims of crime:

Ann Marie Maddison is Restorative Justice Supervisor in Oldham Youth Offending Service. I asked her to write about her work…

I work with victims and offenders in relation to restorative justice.

We have quite a few established activities for paying back the community for harm caused.

We work very closely with a number of faith organisations including churches and mosques, community allotments, and with victim support. We’ve also done fundraising for our charity organisations.

One of the most successful projects is on the allotments in the Fitton Hill area of Oldham. Here, young offenders work for the elderly tenants who can’t do the physical work as well as they used to.

You wouldn’t normally associate young people with gardening and growing their own vegetables, but they particularly enjoy seeing the growth of the produce. I know one young lady who did the reparations work, did really well, and has now turned part of her parents’ garden into a vegetable patch.

The young offenders who are sent to the allotments have to work hard. At the end of their punishment some of them ask to go back, which doesn’t always happen on our projects. I think it’s because they are seeing a beginning, middle and end to the reparations project they’ve work on.

Another example was a gentleman who had a lot of difficulty getting out of his home because he used an electric scooter and the only way he could get out was through his back gate and down an overgrown back alleyway.

We noticed this in the local papers, and contacted the gentleman, and asked if we could help. The young offenders went down and cleared up the alleyway so it was nice and smooth and a lot tidier and the gentleman was extremely appreciative.

I think that young offenders learn a lot of skills from reparation work. It gives them a routine and it helps them acquire the discipline needed for employment. They learn skills that they might never have had before.

We did a painting and decorating reparation programme and, following that, a couple of young people went on to college to do painting and decorating as part of the course because they got so much out of it.

Reparation work is a way of paying the community back for the damage its suffered, but it’s also about young offenders saying,

“We’re not really that bad, you know, and we do want to make up for the harm we’ve done.”

I recently spoke on the phone with Simon Cannon from Bolton Youth Intervention Team and I asked him to describe an example of using interventions to have a positive impact on a specific young person:

He described the postive impact a drama course had on the young person:

Simon then went on to describe the ‘Blazing Squad’ intervention which runs alongside the local fire service:

Finally I asked Simon to tell me how the young person is getting on since being involved in the project:

Simon Cannon, Youth Restorative Disposal Worker for Bolton describes the Chrysalis programme and we meet one ex-offender who talks about how he’s changed since taking part.

Sgt Jim Kenworthy from Oldham Youth Offending Service talks about the successes of Challenge and Support projects.