Source: New Zealand Ministry of Transport
The New Zealand Government has developed Protecting Our Crowded places from Attack: New Zealand’s Strategy (the Strategy) to help owners and operators of crowded places protect the lives of people working in, using and visiting their crowded place. The Strategy, led by New Zealand police has been published today as well as guidelines and tools.
Protecting Crowded places from attack(external link)
While COVID-19 has limited our ability to have large gatherings, traditionally, New Zealanders value the ability to congregate, socialise and connect alongside others. This can involve working in, using or visiting crowded places.
Crowded places are locations that large numbers of people access easily and predictably such as transport hubs and public transport; buildings and offices; tourist attractions; and civic spaces. Crowded places also include open spaces like busy urban streets, parks and pedestrian malls.
The nature of crowded places means they pose extra risks to people, as they can be a target for attacks.
The Strategy outlines that everyone has a role to play in keeping crowded places safe, whether they are government officials, owners and operators of crowded places, community organisers or members of the public. The Strategy provides a range of tools to support better understanding of how to identify if a place is a vulnerable crowded place, how to prepare staff and visitors in case there is an attack and what to do in the event of an attack.
An example is the escape, hide, tell framework to keep people safe in the event of an attack and to enable authorities to be advised when it is safe to do so.
