By Aimee Chanthadavong
Places of mass gathering, such as shopping centres, can be attractive targets for all levels of crime.
This was the main agenda that was addressed by a panel discussion on the tactics for safer spaces at yesterday’s Security 2010 Exhibition and Conference at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The panel included Gillies Crichton, Glasgow Airport head of assurance; Steve Jackson, Qantas Airways head of security; and Stacey Kirmos, City of Ipswich security advisor/safe city operations.
Peter Davis, ACPO lead on security industry liaison and facilitator of the discussion said it’s about the thoughts, the planning and the relationships involved that ensure a security system works, regardless of the size of task.
Similarly, Kimos who was involved in introducing a large scale IP CCTV solution for Ipswich City Council, said it comes down to asking the question of why security is necessary.
“It’s about looking at ways in reducing crime and increasing public safety surveillance but none of it will work unless there’s a functional relationship,” he said.
However, integrating a security system such as CCTV cameras only work to an extent, Jackson said.
“We hear a lot about risk assessments but we need to be conscious that we don’t displace the risk, instead we need to deal with the issue.”
“Displacement means moving a place of mass gathering and just displacing elsewhere and that doesn’t solve any solutions.
“But in the end, it comes down to communication and establishing good relationships between private security and the police and needing to have a strategy.”