Need to hear it again?

Download Crowd Control Radio Advert [706KB .mp3 file]

Advert Text:

You're a soldier in the New Zealand Army. You're part of a section providing security to an aid distribution post. A crowd is forming and some of the crowd is armed. People are agitated and the situation is extremely tense.

You need to asses the situation quickly and make a decision.

Do you:
A) attempt to separate the crowd and disarm them;
B) request immediate backup;
C) facilitate a meeting between the leaders of the two groups; or
D) secure the area?

Have you got what it takes to make decisions like these?

Stay tuned to find out more...

---

Advert Answer:

New Zealand Army personnel may be required to establish stability both in NZ and abroad. Our army personnel are trained and equipped to manage stressful situations and pursue a peaceful solution. Our experiences during recent operations in the pacific has highlighted how effective our people are when performing these tasks. Our people make tough decisions that not only stabilise the immediate situation, but in most cases assist fragile countries to make the difficult step forward to peace.

Answer A - The decision to separate and disarm the crowd must be balanced with the resources available. If the crowd is large and agitated, there is some risk that some of your troops could be isolated and potentially harmed. The training that NZ army personnel receive is world class and we regularly practice techniques and procedures that can divide crowds. Your training will allow you to disarm the crowd safely whilst maintaining situational awareness at all times. If you have sufficient resources and well practiced in your drills, separating and disarming a agitated crowd could be the most effective solution. Additionally you could request support from other patrols to assist in the management of the situation.

Answer B - The decision to request support will depend on your assessment of the crowds size and agitation. NZ army personnel conduct regular decision making training that encourages our commanders to make tough decisions in difficult circumstances. You know that in this case some members of the crowd are armed and you should request assistance from other patrols. You will need to isolate these armed members and ensure that both your patrol and others in the crowd are safe.

Answer C - The decision to facilitate a meeting could be a key process for long term peace. Identification of those issues that contribute to instability and addressing some of the grievances are essential for conflict resolution. NZ Army personnel have deployed across the globe and assisted in peace making for many years. We train our personnel to understand the components of conflict and encourage them to study the history of countries prior to deploying into theatre. Our NZ Army personnel are regarded as some of the best negotiators in the world and are respected for this skill by other nations. Once you have secured the area and everyone is safe, you would initiate a meeting with key leaders to resolve the situation.

Answer D - The decision to secure the area is key to establishing a safe environment for both the crowd members and your patrol. You would start by identifying those members in the crowd that were armed then attempt to isolate them from the remainder of the crowd. Dependant on the type of weapons in the crowd, you would also need support from other patrols or possibly the reserve force. NZ Army personnel train for this type of situation and are regarded as world class. Our recent experiences in the pacific have highlighted our ability to operate in this kind of situation and produce excellent results.