New Zealand Police - Special Operations - Americas Cup

Operation Marlin News: Operation Marlin staff are settling in at Westhaven Base. The Operation went 24 hours late last week and staff are rosterd on both land based and water based duties

All crew (constables) have now received their on-water training and taken part in damage control training at the Naval Damage Control School in Devonport.

On the water, staff today took part in a second 'dress rehearsal' with a number of organisations involved in next week's Louis Vuitton Cup. The Naval Inshore Patrol vessel 'Tarapunga' was used as the Police & Harbour Master forward command. Police, were among those whose capabilities were tested during a simulated on-water 'emergency' involving a boat fire with injured people. Today's exercise will be used to highlight any areas of concern, which can be addressed before racing starts next week.

In just over a week of Operation Marlin, staff have been involved in 15 arrests on a variety of charges from burglary, minor in a bar, male assaults female, indecent assault, breach of bail, possession of cannabis, trespass, assault with a weapon, assault, drink driving (2), assault on police (2) and disorderly behavior (3).

Five motors on four of the Operation Marlin RHIBs (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats) have been repaired following fuel tank contamination. The contamination occurred during construction which ultimately resulted in damage to the motors (one motor on each of three RHIBs and both motors on one RHIB).

Police currently have nine RHIBs operational. One RHIB is still undergoing repairs to a damaged motor and another has a suspected fuel tank leak. The on-water capability of Operation Marlin has not been affected as Police have always planned for routine maintenance to be carried out. (ie: Less than 11 RHIBs will be on the water at other than peak operational periods.)

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>