Victoria Police provide a range of materials to assist the community enhance their level of security and safety. Through the Crime Prevention Unit there are fact sheets, safety tips and publications such as the Business Security Kit.

The recent arrest of a 17 year old youth in Melbourne is further evidence of pending security risks facing our local society. Although full information is not forthcoming from the authorities at present it is reported the male youth was most active on social media about his religious beliefs.

Join members of the Victorian Executive in the USA. You need to register by end of this month to receive early-bird discounts.

The Australian Government has enacted the offence of entering or remaining in a declared area under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (s119.2). This approach is based upon the Australian Government’s concern about Australians who travel to conflict zones and then return to Australia with skills and intentions acquired from fighting or training with terrorist groups.

The Prime Minister Tony Abbott recently commented on a review that confirmed Australia has strong, well-coordinated counterterrorism arrangements but there is more to do as it is becoming harder to combat terrorism.

The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) regularly reports on crime trends to provide a greater understanding of risk. In its latest report the AIC identifies our youth as our greatest risk for offending criminal behaviours.

An effective protective security environment should provide the basis for a safe and secure workplace. It should be aimed at minimising potential risk exposures to physical, personnel and information-related assets. Each workplace needs to have a site-specific strategy as a “one size fits all” approach is inappropriate and actually can increase risk.

In 2013 the Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee published Active Shooter Guidelines for Places of Mass Gathering. These Guidelines are particularly relevant in consideration of recent acts of terrorism including the possibility of “lone wolf” attacks.

In 2011 the Victorian Government’s Inquiry into Violence and Security Arrangement in Victorian Hospitals was published. A substantial part of the report focused on security in hospitals and that a “one size fits all” approach is inappropriate in minimising security-related risks including the risk of violence.