The Red Squad Story.... (by Ross Meurant)

• 1982 first edition, 216 pages
• Published by Harlen Publishing Co, NZ
• Hardcover with dust jacket, black boards
• Condition: Very good, minor shelf wear, tiny tear to d/j, neatly written name on ffep

 

Illustrated.  Two highly-trained teams travelled around NZ during the winter of 1981.   The one was the Springboks, undertaking their first Rugby tour of NZ for 15 years, and facing an itinerary of 16 matches.

The other was the elite police riot squad, the Red Escort Group, specially trainned to accompany the Springboks and ensure that law and order were maintained.

This book is the dramatic account of the Red Squad's experiences, vividly related by Ross Meurant, who as second in command of the group, was in a unique position to observe everything that was happening "at the sharp end".

He reveals to the public a dimension of the tour few people experienced or even appreciated was possible in Godzone.  He tells how Red Group handled the violence and disorder which confronted them throughout the tour; he exposes the influence the communists had on this violence and disorder and he attacks the media's handling of events.

Finally, he gives a revealing account of how his proud unit which carried the brunt of the violent front-line clashes for two months was made a scapegoat after its expertise was no longer needed.