You don't have to be a victim!!
The latest attack reported by NSW Police Media. This could have been much worse. Don't let this happen to you or someone you care about.
http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/latest_releases?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmViaXoucG9saWNlLm5zdy5nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjIzNTc1Lmh0bWwmYWxsPTE%3D


1. Always be aware of your surrounding and who is around you especially at night.
2. Your personal space is as far as you can see in all directions.
3. If you have a routine, for example you always walk home along certain street, ensure that you know where the escape routes are, where locations of safety are and if there is anything along the way that could assist you if you are attacked, for example shops and or houses, always occupied where you can find help, weapons such as items always left in certain garden along the way.
4. If you are walking, walk away from the roadway. Always walk toward on coming traffic.
5. If you are walking at night, ensure that you are aware of everything thing or person within at least 100 metres.  Who cares if looking around makes you seem paranoid.
6. If you think that you are being followed take some form of evasive action, for example speed up, cross to the other side of the street, turn around and walk the opposite direction and then  observe what your suspected follower does.
7. If they continue to follow you and you feel comfortable, stop and say "Are you following me", if they say "yes" , well at least you know. If they say "no" and then move on, remain aware and alert.
8. If you are approached by someone and that inner alarm goes off, take evasive action, move to the other side of the street, speed up, change direction.
9. If you walk at night consider purchasing and carrying a Maglite style torch. These powerful torches can be purchased at various places and even the small ones are bright enough to stun a potential attacker when shone into the eyes giving you enough time to escape.  The larger models also double nicely as a baton
10. Undertake a Personal Protection and Risk Management course such as 'Execsafe' or 'Be Your Own Bodyguard'.
11. Complete the Active protection Solutions free Personal Risk Managment Health Check.

Active Protection Solutions

Personal Risk Management & Threat Assessment.

M: 0409 078 322  E: enquiries@activeprotect.com.au  W: http://www.activeprotect.com.au/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/activeprotect

Don't let yourself or someone you care about get caught up in something like this!

This footage from the Daily Telegraph web site is worth looking at for the following reasons:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-news/mass-brawl-erupts-in-front-of-goldfish-kings-cross/story-fn7y9brv-1226375777100

1. It shows what happens in a typical street brawl
2. Notice the lack of impact that the strikes actually have
3. Notice the lack of balance and footwork.
4. Notice that most of the punches are wild haymaker style and don't actually hit.
5. Notice the chaos of the situation.

The people on the receiving end of these strike were lucky, however had one of two of the strikes made contact it would have been a different story. In this situation you must make a decision:

1. Avoid - always a good idea if you can.
2. Escape (run) - also a good idea especially if you are outnumbered, even most important if there are weapons involved.
3. Defend yourself - suggested as a last resort, You have a greater chance of success if you have had physical self defence training.

Imagine you happened to be walking by as this brawl erupted and you were caught in the middle, imagine that you wife or partner was with you. Imagine if this situation occurred when you had children with you. What could you do in this situation.

1. Use your trained awareness skills to spot the situation building up, this will give you the opportunity to take some sort of action to avoid the situation. If you have undertaken an 'Awareness Development' program such as 'Execsafe' or 'Be Your Own Bodyguard' you will have the skills to do this.

2. Use your physical self defence skills to counter any of the punches shown in the video with a straight line jab punch combination. This is also part of the 'Execsafe' and 'Be Your Own Bodyguard' programs

3. Watch this video to see how punches should be delivered: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMNV4RQiRQ4 The video is provide by the Bukido reality based street effective self defence system.

Training will provide you with the ability to respond to violence in a disciplined and control manner. In the first few seconds of combat disciplined reaction to the suddenness of the violence determines who prevails, who is injured, who lives and who dies.

For more information:

Active Protection Solutions

Personal Risk Management & Threat Assessment.

M: 0409 078 322  E: enquiries@activeprotect.com.au  W: http://www.activeprotect.com.au/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/activeprotect

Don't become a secondary victim during an armed holdup.

The linked article related to a Police appeal for public assistance in regard to a number of armed robberies at service stations and convenience stores.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/latest_releases?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmViaXoucG9saWNlLm5zdy5nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjIzNTE5Lmh0bWwmYWxsPTE%3D

These sort of crimes usually occur late at night or in the early hours of the morning.  There are thing you can do to avoid becoming a secondary victim.

If you see what you think is a robbery happening, DO NOT get involved, leave the area as quickly as possible and call Police. They to remember as much about the offenders as possible, write down as many details as you can recall.

* When using service stations especially late at night always take a few seconds to look inside the store before you switch off your engine.
* If you see any thing that is suspicious, drive on and contact Police.
* If you see a vehicle with the engine running and suspicious looking people inside, drive off.
* Whilst filling up, remain aware, look around, if you see something suspicious stop what you are doing, get in your car and leave.  You can return later and pay for any petrol you may have taken.
* When you go to pay, lock your car.
* When you enter the shop, look around, especially look for people that seem to be hanging around looking suspicious or nervous.

General advice: Always fill your car up when it gets down to around 1/4 full, that way you won't get caught breaking down or having to fill up late at night.

The same suggestion apply when using convenience stores or fast food outlets late at night, always be aware of who is in the store and if anything suspicious is occurring.  Listen to that inner voice, it may be right.

If you are using supermarkets with large car parks at night especially if the car park is poorly lit:
* Park as close to the front door as you can.
* Have a look around before you switch off the engine, if there is anyone or anything suspicious in the area leave.
* As you enter the store scan along the registers, if there is a problem that is one of the likely places it will occur.
* Scan the people in the shop, if they appear nervous or are acting strangely that may be a clue that something is happening.
* When you have finished paying for your purchase, place you change or credit cards in your wallet or bag before leaving the store. Do not walking out into the car park distracted by counting change or putting things in wallets or bags.
* When returning to your car, scan the area, if you see something suspicious return to the store and report it to the manager or staff.
* As soon as you get back into your car, lock the door.

General advice:
* Ensure that before getting into your car or placing bags into the boot look inside, make sure no one is hiding inside your car. Women have been attacked by men who have broken into their car and hidden in the back until they returned
* Before opening the boot, press down to ensure it is locked and that no one has gained entry into the boot. This has happened in the past and people have been attacked as they open the boot.
* Program you remote control so that on the first press it only open the driver's door.
* As you open the front door stand near the rear door, that way you will have a clear view of the back of the car as the interior light comes on.

This information and much more forms part of the 'Execsafe' and 'Be your Own Bodyguard' programs from Active Protection Solutions

Active Protection Solutions provide cost effective courses and programs designed to educate and to help protect executives, managers, business owners and their families. The programs can be adapted to suit community and social groups, schools, small business owners, law enforcement and house holders from every walk of life.

Contact us:
Phone: 0409 078322
Web: www.activeprotect.com.au

Twitter: http://twitter.com/activeprotect

Could Your Business Survive?

Could your business survive if you suffered major depression or a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of a traumatic incident such as being assaulted, injured, robbed or worse?

How would your business and home life be affected if a family member suffered as a result of a similar incident?

Could your business, company, department or section survive without the motivation, commitment, energy, drive, passion and creativity of you or any of its key personnel. The trauma associated with a violent attack, assault, mugging, robbery, injury or worse can take motivational forces away in an instant. In addition your family may be exposed to trauma, financial hardship and other related stresses.

Studies show that victims of trauma are significantly more likely to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), major depression, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social phobia, and agoraphobia. The loss of control during and after a traumatic incident can rob an executive, manager, business owner and professional of their self-confidence, drive, ambition, ability and zest for life, negatively affecting their business, profession and family. http://activehr.com.au/traumatic-incident-studies.html

Most businesses take out various forms of insurance to protect their property, income and liability but what sort of protection are you able obtain to safe guard your own welfare and well being and that of your family?

Money after the event may be able ensure some financial stability, until the insurance company stops paying that is, but it cannot reduce the likelihood of a victim of trauma developing  PTSD, major depression, anxiety or panic disorders, social phobia or agoraphobia.

So what can you do to protect the viability of your business and the financial security of your family?

1. Assess your risk and the risk of those you care about. (Complete the Risk Assessment form)

2. Manage your risk and the risk of those you care about. (Contact Active Protection Solutions)

3. Be proactive, ensure that you can look after yourself and those you care about should the need arise.

4. Develop Deliberate Actions Plans. (See below)

5. Develop and practice an Immediate Action Plan. (See Below) 

5. Know your rights.

Active Protection Solutions can develop cost effect Personal Risk Management and Threat Assessment programs to ensure that you minimise the risk to you, your family and your business.  

Deliberate Action Plans

A Deliberate Action Plan is about pre-planning.

Step 1*

Conduct an assessment of your daily routines:
* Think about where you or members of your family could be vulnerable
* Do you keep you home secure.
* Is your vehicle secure when your are driving
* Do you have to walk through isolated or darkened areas; if you do you should know what is along the way:
* Are there places where people are always present that you can find assistance or your children can run to?
* Where are the local shops or other places where it is likely people will be present?
* Where do the various side streets go?
* Are there things along the route that you or your family member could pick up and use to defend themselves?

For adults especially, think about what you can do to avoid having to walking through or  park in isolated areas or avoid travelling on public transport late at night. Take some sort of action such as moving your car before darkness or making alternate travel arrangements.

Step 2

Check what you do to see if you appear to be an easy victim. Attackers like easy victims.
* IPods, books and magazines are distracting.
* Being totally engrossed in a phone call etc can make you appear to be an easy victim – plenty of people get run over in traffic due to this as well.

Step 3

Spend some time developing the 'Predator/Prey' mindset.  This involves you thinking like an attacker, look at people in the street or anywhere and ask yourself, "how would I attack them?", "Are they and easy victim?", "What would I do?" and then learn from their mistakes

 Step 4

* Think about what you would do if someone tries to attack you.
* Think about what you would say* Think about where you would run to.
* Think about what you could do, it doesn’t take years of martial art training to knee someone in the groin.

Step 5

Use your ‘Heightened’ awareness skills to ensure you detect potential threats early enough to avoid them. (See below)

Step 6

If you think you or any member of your family has the potential to become a victim (yes that is everyone) consider some sort of Personal Risk Assessment and Prevention Program such as 'ExecSafe' or 'Be Your Own Bodyguard'

Immediate Action Plan

An example of an Immediate Action Plan using the ESCAPE model

Early detection – this works if you awareness is set on ‘Heightened’
Step Back – always step back from a person confronting you, try to remain calm and outside grabbing, punching or stabbing range.
Communicate – Talk to the person, slow the confrontation down as you plan your next move, have your hands up palm facing the attacker, talk as calmly as you can.
Assess the situation – look for escape route or plan your next move.
Prepare – get ready to run or defend yourself - kick, punch, scratch or gouge.
Engage or Escape – If you can run do so, if you can’t then defend yourself. Only engage as a last resort, escape is a far better option.

Heightened Awareness

On the four level awareness development program 'Heightened' is the second level.  The first level is 'Safe & Sound' which should be only used when you are safely tucked up at home, door locked with no potential threats.  When you step out the door you should go to level 2 – Heightened.

This is not difficult, is just means being aware of everything and everyone that is in your personal space. Personal space varies, but as a rule of thumb is it the area as far as your eye can see in any given direction.

Heightened awareness development is a component of the ‘Execsafe’ and ‘Be Your Own Bodyguard’ programs.

For more information: Contact Active Protection Solutions. We can develop cost effect Personal Risk Management and Threat Assessment programs to ensure that you minimise the risk to you, your family and your business. 

Web: http://www.activeprotect.com.au
Emails: enquiries@activeprotect.com.au
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ActiveProtect

From NSW Police Media - Two Teenage girls indecently assaulted.

Two in one day!!!

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/latest_releases?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmViaXoucG9saWNlLm5zdy5nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjIzNDExLmh0bWwmYWxsPTE%3D

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/media_release_archive?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmViaXoucG9saWNlLm5zdy5nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjIzNDA3Lmh0bWwmYWxsPTE%3D

How can you minimise the risk?
Understand this:
Attackers like easy victims.
A person who is unaware of their surrounding is an easy victim.
A person who appears distracted is an easy victim.
Just because you are smaller or younger than the attacker does not in itself make you an easy victim.

Follow these suggestions to help you avoid becoming a victim:

Try wherever possible to avoid walking in isolated areas alone, this includes reserves, car parks and streets.

If you must walk through isolated areas especially on a regular basis make sure you have some Deliberate Action Plans (see below).

Ensure that your awareness level is set on ‘Heightened Awareness’ (see below)

Know your route and continually check around you.

Don’t walk with IPod or other devices in your ears, this takes away a vital sense.

Don’t walk along reading a book or magazine, this shows potential attackers that you are unaware of what’s going on around you, it makes you a much easier victim.

Don’t walk along totally engrossed in a phone call.

If you are confronted run to safety not just away from danger.

If you are confronted follow the ESCAPE Immediate Action Plan

Early detection – this works if you awareness is set on ‘Heightened’
Step Back – always step back from a person confronting you, try to remain outside grabbing range.
Communicate – Talk to the person, slow the confrontation down as you plan your next move, have your hands up palm facing the attacker, talk as calmly as you can.
Assess the situation – look for escape route or plan your next move.
Prepare – get ready to run or defend yourself - kick, punch, scratch or gouge.
Engage or Escape – If you can run do so, if you can’t then defend yourself. Only engage as a last resort, escape is a far better option.

Deliberate Action Plans
A Deliberate Action Plan is about pre-planning.

Step 1
For students and adults alike, if you walk or travel the same way to school or work each day are there ways for you to avoid walking through isolated areas; if not you must know what is along the way:
* Are there places where people are always present that you can run to?
* Where are the local shops?
* Where do the various side streets go?
* Are there things along your route you could pick up and use to defend yourself?

For adults think about what you can do to avoid having to walking through, parking or being in isolated areas or travelling on public transport late at night. Take some sort of action such as moving your car before darkness.

Step 2.
Check what you are doing to see if you appear to be an easy victim.
* IPod, Books, being engrossed in a phone call etc make you an easy victim – plenty of people get run over in traffic due to this as well
* Spend a few days playing the ‘Predator/Prey’ game. This involves you thinking like the attacker, looking at people and working out; ‘how would I attack them’, ‘What would I do’, ‘are they an easy target’ and then importantly learning from their mistakes, don’t do the same thing.

Step 3
Think about what you would do if someone tries to attack you.
* Know where you would run to.
* Think about what you could do, it doesn’t take years of martial art training to knee someone in the groin.
Step 4
Use your ‘Heightened’ awareness skills to ensure you detect potential threats early enough to avoid them
Step 5
If you think you are a potential victim (yes that is everyone) consider some sort of reality based martial art or self-defence classes or course.
Heightened Awareness
The Heightened level of awareness is the second level.  The first level is Safe & Sound which should be only used when you are safely tucked up at home, door locked with no potential threats.  When you step out the door you should go to level 2 – Heightened.
This is not difficult is just means being aware of everything and everyone in your personal space. Personal space varies, but as a rule of thumb is it the area as far as your eye can see in any given direction.
The example of someone walking across a reserve means that you would be looking ahead, to the sides and now and then behind you.  This is not walking like you are in a combat zone but making sure that no one can get close enough to harm you by surprise.

When interviewed by Police victims often say “he came out of nowhere” or “he just appeared”, that is not true, in reality the victim simply did not see the attacker approaching.

Contact Active Protection Solutions. We can develop cost effect Personal Risk Management and Threat Assessment programs to ensure that you minimise the risk to you, your family and your business.  

For more information:

Web: http://www.activeprotect.com.au
Emails: enquiries@activeprotect.com.au

Dont let this happen to you!

Don't let this happen to you!!

A woman was knocked out and sexually assaulted when she stopped her car to help what she believed was another motorist have car troubles; full story here

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/woman-who-stopped-car-to-help-motorist-knocked-out-and-sexually-assaulted-20120523-1z3np.html

Best Advice: Don't Stop!!

If you are going to stop because you think the person looks harmless, consider the following
What expertise, experience or training to you have on assessing the threat level?

If you are still intent on stoping please take the following advice:

1. Think carefully (again) before stopping to help, in the case above the offender was pretending to have car trouble.

2. If you do stop, pull up behind the broken down car and far enough away from the car to allow you to pull out and drive off if you need to.

3. Do not get out of your car; wait for the person to come to your car. If they don’t, sound your horn, they may not have seen you, if they still don’t come to your car drive on.

4. Keep your door locked, open your window only enough to allow the person to talk to you but not enough for them to reach in.

5. Do not turn your car off; remain in drive with the hand brake off ready to leave if you have to.

6. Especially at night or if you suspect something is not right (listen to your gut instinct) dial 000 on your mobile  but do not press call at this point in time.

7. Ask them if you can help by making a call for them, do not give them your phone.

8. If the person attempts to gain entry into your car to strike at you press call on the 000, even if you can’t speak 000 can trace your call.

9. As soon as possible drive off.

10. If you have a pen and paper and the time note the number and description of the car and any details of the person.

11. Report immediately to Police.

12. If you think that this couldn't happen to you think again, if you stop it could happen to so consider undertaking a course such as the Active Protection Solutions 'Execsafe' or 'Be Your Own Bodyguard'.

http://www.activeprotect.com.au/