Crowd safety fears if security guards are struck off – AUS

THE licences of nearly 10,000 private security guards are set to be revoked within weeks, jeopardising crowd control at pubs, sporting events and concerts in the new year.

The guards have until January 8 to meet stringent new training requirements or be struck off the Security Industry Register operated by NSW Police.

The move affects 9682 guards who help manage crowds at events such as yesterday’s Homebake 2008 in The Domain, but it also applies to bouncers at pubs and clubs.

NSW now has about 26,500 guards licensed for this work, the head of the police registry, Cameron Smith, said.

In a move that will add further scrutiny to public events, police have sought a crisis meeting with festival promoters on Tuesday to address binge drinking and drug use at Sydney festivals.

A source in the industry said senior police officers would meet promoters from the popular Future Music events, Good Vibrations, V Festival and other dance parties.

It was expected that NSW Police would recommend festivals be shortened from 10 hours to a maximum of eight and that alcohol sales end two hours before an event finishes.

“If it went ahead, it would be a huge problem [for the industry],” the source said. “If those recommendations are enforced, there is really a worry whether some of those festivals would go ahead any more.”

When asked to confirm the meeting, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Catherine Burn said: “Police will continue to meet with organisers and promoters of these events to help ensure public safety remains the priority.”

The impending loss of nearly a third of the state’s registered security guards, though, could complicate efforts to improve behaviour at public events.

“It’s a significant number. It’s probably more than people thought there would be,” Australian Security Industry Association chief executive Bryan de Caires said. He predicted major events would find sufficient numbers of licensed guards but “some smaller operators may find it a bit more challenging”.

A security guard trainer with 20 years’ experience forecast a wider impact. “I would say there’s going to be a serious depletion of security officers by February or March next year,” said Duncan McGufficke, a director at Secta, a security training company in Surry Hills.

“Anything to do with concerts and sporting events, it’ll have some impact on those, definitely in the short term,” he said.

Mr McGufficke endorsed the police decision to crack down on inadequately trained guards.

“What they’re trying to do through the legislation is improve the competency standards of a security officer that is going to be looking after your mum and dad, your siblings, your friends,” he said.

He said guards have had 18 months to compete the accredited training, but many had failed to do so, either through apathy or a decision to leave the industry.

Mr Smith said he believed a substantial number of guards who received revocation notices would rush to comply with the licence requirements.

Tags: Australia, Event Security, Festival Promoters, Furture Music Events, Good Vibrations, Security Guards, Security Industry Register, Sydney Festivals, V Festival

Category: Concert News, Corporate Events, Event Management, Festival News, International Events, Sporting Events