Army reviews security

Press, 14 August 1982, Page 6

Army reviews security

PA Wellington The Army has launched a security. review at its Fort Dorset Camp in Wellington after thieves stole pyrotechnics, including mock antipersonnel mines, from a camp magazine.

The magazine was burgled some time between July 28 and Wednesday, although the police said yesterday that the magazine' 1 was checked more regularly than this suggested. Stolen were 27 plastic simulated anti-personnel mines, 27 detonators in a wooden box, four parachute flares, and six smoke grenades in green metal cannisters.

An Army spokesman, Major Michael Wicksteed, said last evening that the

Army was very conscious of the potential danger to the genera] public of the arms and ammunition it used, and security was being constantly reviewed. The Fort Dorset magazine could be seen from the camp guardhouse, was lit, and was controlled by roving pickets. Detective Senior-Sergeant Bill Bishop of the Wellington C. 1.8., said that the stolen items were potentially dangerous in a confined space if misused, and were potentially dangerous in the wrong hands.

He said that there was a strong possibility that the culprits were children, but the police were keeping an open mind. The thieves got into the magazine by forcing a vent and cutting a padlock from the door.