Special Report - Safety in Numbers

This special report highlights the importance of the security guarding sector as a vital piece of the national security puzzle that has not been drawn into Australia's counter-terrorism planning. The report was launched 19 October 2018 by Senator Reynolds the Assistant Minister for Home Affairs.

Anthony Bergin, Don Williams and Christopher Dixon report there are more than 120,000 licensed security guards in Australia.  This means industry is more than double the personnel of Australia's combined police agencies and permanent Australian Defence Force.

It is well known and acknowledged that private security personnel provide the "eyes, ears and hands" before any terrorist attack and an ability to be the first responders after any security -related incident.

The report outlines the problems. Holding back the guarding sector from being an active participant in national counter-terrorist plans.  It also contains a number of recommendations to enable the private security industry to become an effective part of our counter-terrorist capability.

The report can be viewed through - https://www.aspi.org.au/report/safety-numbers