The annual festive season is fast approaching. From a security perspective, this time of year is traditionally like no other.
However, this year’s festive season feels different as it comes after extensive lockdown periods, widespread frustration and anxiety from COVID. It’s been a tough time and people are starting to unwind and are looking forward to a brighter 2023.
Unfortunately, the festive season also presents opportunities for criminals, including terrorists. This is because crowds are back and people are likely to be far more relaxed than they have been for a long time. The last thing on their minds is terrorism.
As well, the threat landscape will continue to change, largely influenced by events and extremist political movements in other countries as well as State sponsored terrorism against western countries. For example, the Russian war in Ukraine is seeing a spill over of terrorism in other countries.
In Australia, the government recently lowered the National Terrorism Threat Level. This is welcome news. However, the advice came with some important caveats.
Please read our LinkedIn post (30 Nov 2022) on the Government’s announcement and assessment.
Security professionals should consider advising their clients who own or manage significant places where people gather in large numbers to rethink their seasonal security risks, especially if located in CBD and major regional town centres.
Examples where there will be much higher public activity and public gatherings are public malls, shopping centres, street markets, train stations, ferry wharves, sports arenas, public transport, airports, cultural centres, amusement parks, theatres and places of worship.
In Australia, this season extends to at least the end of January. Security arrangements and vigilance should be season-tuned, sustainable and well managed to the end of the season.
It’s time to have a serious review about security for the festive season. Recalibration of security and emergency management thinking and arrangements may be required. Review, refreshing and consolidation of precinct networks for the season should not be missed.
On this theme, please read our blog from a previous year, it has advice relevant to current times.
Our general position…
Be prepared. Assess your physical security vulnerabilities. Scrutinise your security resilience. Train for the unexpected. Practise and objectively assess your crisis, business continuity and emergency response plans. Develop a positive security culture. Gain competent advice.
Stay safe and stay Informed…
Should you have a strategic, operational or compliance interest in the physical protection of people, infrastructure, property or supply chain, please ‘Follow us’ on LinkedIn.
Harris Security Management
Contact
Geoff Harris, Principal Consultant – info@harris.com.au or Phone +61 2 9560 9933
Licensed security consultant – licence number 407641686
HARRIS SECURITY MANAGEMENT
Integrated Security and Emergency Risk Management for Facilities, Crowded Places and Supply Networks.
Trusted independent security consultants since 1983
Master security licence 407642890
Disclaimer:
- The above article is of a general nature only, it is not a comprehensive analysis and not contextualised. The article is intended to stimulate and focus conversation on security and related risk management and in particular full reading of this Inquiry Report and other reports related to this attack.
- The discussion does not provide professional advice from us. Seek expert analysis and advice relevant to your specific context from trusted advisers. You are welcome to contact us.
- This article includes selected extracts of the Report, with some editing and commentary for blog and post purposes.
- The article may raise legal issues to contribute to relevance, but in no way provides expert legal opinion or professional legal advice.
- We do not provide endorsement or assessment on information or research provided by others that may be referenced in this blog or post.
- We do not claim intellectual property rights to reports, information or research sourced externally for this blog or post.
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