Security guards at dozens of major shopping centres in Australia and New Zealand will be equipped with body-cameras amid ongoing attempts to tighten security.
It’s been almost a year since Queenslander Joel Cauchi carried out a deadly stabbing spree in Westfield Bondi Junction.
He killed five women and one man, Yixuan Cheng, Pikria Darchia, Dawn Singleton, Jade Young, Ashlee Good, and Faraz Tahir.
Tahir was a security guard at the shopping centre, the others all visitors.
Cauchi was fatally shot by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott, who entered the shopping centre alone.
Now, Scentre Group, which operates 42 Westfield shopping centres across Australia and New Zealand, has confirmed it is introducing body cameras for guards.
“After the Bondi attack, we introduced additional personal protective equipment, including vests, for all security officers in every centre,” the group said in its latest Responsible Business Report, published today.
“Initiatives have been tested in our destinations including a team safety camera trial that is being rolled out to all 42 Westfield destinations in Australia and New Zealand.”
The group also continues to explore video analytics and “enhanced CCTV and security control room guarantees”.
Signage informing customers of the cameras will be displayed at entry points to Westfield buildings.
A spokesperson said the safety cameras would “enhance the safety and security of our customers, business partners, and team members”.
“Our security officers may turn on the recording function on the team safety cameras to capture audio and video recordings of incidents when they have reasonable concern for their safety or welfare, or that of others,” the spokesperson said.
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In the report, Scentre noted it was also in full cooperation with the NSW government ahead of an inquest into the attack, set to begin April 28 this year.
“Our security approach is created in partnership with law enforcement and government agencies,” the group spokesperson said.
“We invest in our security practices and continuously improve our capability, processes and people’s preparedness to respond to security incidents.”
