Security industry has key frontline public safety role

The 800-page findings from the coronial inquest into Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre attack were handed down this month, almost two years on from the attack on April 13, 2024. Joel Cauchi murdered six people and injured another 10 at the Bondi Junction centre. 

One of those murdered was security guard Faraz Tahir during his first shift at Westfield Bondi Junction. He was bravely attempting to disarm the attacker. Another guard, Muhammad Taha, was stabbed but survived.

There are no specific recommendations in the coroner’s report on the armed attacker incident at Westfield Bondi Junction relating to the private security personnel working “on the floor” that day.

The coroner does, however, note the growing frontline role performed by Australia’s licensed private security workforce, especially in providing information in the event of an armed attacker in a crowded place. The expectation is that these people will stand between us and violent offenders. 

Their role is not to stop the offender, although this does occur. Rather, they are supposed to deter, detect and respond to violent incidents and guide us, the public, away from the hazard. Keeping our communities and businesses safe requires partnership between public and private sectors.

There are approximately 175,000 licensed security personnel. In manpower numbers, guards are more significant than the police or military. Every state and territory has different licensing, training, selection and review criteria. Higher licence eligibility requirements, improved training standards and remuneration through nationally consistent standards and preferably a national licensing system will strengthen our national security mix. 

The coroner’s view that the role of security officers is to observe, report and escalate is correct. But it’s unfortunate the coroner didn’t make recommendation that formal recognition of security officers as the immediate frontline responders (as is the case for first aid and ambulance services) would be a relatively simple step; it would make it an offence to obstruct or hinder a security officer performing their role. 

The coroner focused on the police response role as well as the ambulance service in caring for victims. There was not much devoted to recognition of the role of private security in moving people and saving lives. All security guards are first aid-trained. They provide the eyes and ears before any attack. They have an ability to be first responders after any security incident. By observing non-routine behaviours and unusual objects they provide a deterrent through their presence, maintaining checkpoints, conducting bag screening and so on. They are on the spot and generally have an intimate knowledge of the comings and goings at each site. The public do not normally have that knowledge of a site layout. 

Guards can guide people what to do using the “escape (think about where the threat is and flee the attack), hide (alternatively, find somewhere to hide) and tell (alert authorities)” approach. The coroner has sensibly recommended the state government actively promote the principles of “escape, hide, tell”.

Guards are trained, albeit to varying levels, and can provide a cordon or direct people away from dangers. They understand command and control and communications.

Given the many thousands of security men and women working around the clock every day in every type of business and community facility, it’s critical to recognise their efforts in helping to prevent and respond to security incidents.

So it was disappointing to learn from the coroner’s report that the crowded places forums run by NSW police, whose aim is to educate owners and operators in crowded places on how to prepare for and respond to violent attacker incidents, don’t formally have the security industry at the table to offer a broader perspective. The industry is also not a part of the Business Advisory Group of the Australia and New Zealand Counter Terrorism Committee, therefore not able to provide insights into how to improve their services.

The coroner did not discuss arming guards and there would need to be extensive discussion on the need for arming security personnel. This would represent a significant escalation in their role, which would increasingly overlap with policing. But we do need a national, consistent vetting training and licensing system for guards to identify, prevent and respond to critical incidents and hostile threats.

Consideration should be given to formalising additional powers for suitably trained security officers to enhance their ability to contribute to security capabilities, especially counter-terrorism.

Interestingly, the UK Home Office last month released a white paper on a new model for policing. In discussing operational support, the report highlights the role of the private security sector in “complementary policing” to help bridge gaps in frontline policing, such as managing security in retail environments. Private security teams are often the first to spot emerging threats, hostile reconnaissance, or early indicators of co-ordinated activity. 

Our terrorist threat level is at “probable”, meaning a “greater than 50 per cent chance of an onshore attack or attack planning in the next 12 months”. A coin flip.

That’s worth noting as we head toward the Brisbane Olympics which will require approximately 10,000-15,000 private security personnel.

Federal recognition of the vital role the security industry performs is an important step toward building momentum for change in developing nationally consistent regulatory standards. With the 2032 Olympics fast approaching, the window of opportunity to show leadership and act is closing fast.