Security firms are in the spotlight again after being blamed for the latest COVID outbreak in Victoria.

This should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed repeated media investigations into dodgy practices by security firms.   The most consistent issues have been the use of sub-contractors and the lack of training.

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An investigation by the ABC some years ago revealed a litany of dodgy practices.

Why this is important to the event industry?

The biggest growth sector in events over the past decade or so has been in provision of security services.  It doesn’t matter what event you go to – music, theatre, expo, conference, festival, public event – indoors or outdoors – the increase in security is always noticeable.  And what is also noticeable is how much the quality of the security varies – from courteous and efficient to officious and hopeless.   

If events are going to get back to some semblance of normality then the need for physical distancing has to decrease and venue capacity has to increase.  The only way governments are going to allow this is if COVID transmission is knocked out, and that depends on proper physical distancing outside venues and identification and tracking of those inside the venues.

And that depends on two things – 1. Proper contact tracing via a decent app instead of the totally inadequate system of writing a name (any name) and phone number on a piece of paper, and 2.  Administration of the process by properly trained staff (either in-house or via hired security)

NSW are moving to this format a little: “COVID safety marshals” to preside over NSW pubs as restrictions are tightened following Sydney cluster