Private Sector Crowded Places Security Advisory Group gets the nod

Formation of the Crowded Places Security Advisory Group (CPSAG) viewed as a positive step in recognising the contribution of the private security sector to counter-terror efforts.

Several months after the release last September of New Zealand Police’s Protecting our Crowded Places from Attack: New Zealand’s Strategy, and following meetings with Police, a Crowded Places Security Special Interest Group (CPSSIG) was established under the New Zealand Security Association (NZSA) in February.

Three advisory groups had earlier been established as part of the Crowded Places Strategy,: (i) a government Crowded Places Advisory Group New Zealand (CPAGNZ); (ii) a private sector Business Advisory Group New Zealand (BAGNZ); and (ii) a Community Advisory Group New Zealand (CAGNZ).

Established to contribute insights and ideas relating to crowded places security and resilience gathered from the particular sector they represent, and to share appropriate information back to their sectors, the private security sector had not been extended an invitation to any of these groups.

A 23rd February meeting hosted by the NZSA and attended by Police and a small group of security industry representatives discussed the potential for industry involvement in the crowded places strategy. While that meeting effectively gave birth to the CPSSIG, Police expressed a view at that point that the security industry not be represented in the BAGNZ due to potential conflict of interest.

Fast forward a few months and Police has since greenlighted the idea of a new advisory group. Now the CPSSIG has become the CPSAG (Crowded Places Security Advisory Group).

Described as a body of experienced security industry specialists, the CPSAG will provide specialist advice and direction in the protection of Crowded Places in line with the Strategy and the Government’s Protective Security Requirements (PSR).

According to the group’s chair, Sir Ken McKenzie, “CPSAG is a skilled, experienced and diverse group of industry specialists from across NZ and well known to and respected within the private and public security sphere.”

“The formation of CPSAG is a positive step forward in bringing greater recognition to the significant contribution the private security sector provides in supporting the public sector agencies in NZ,” he told Line of Defence Magazine.

“We are committed to delivering robust policy and transparent assurances that the private security sector is equipped and recognised a credible security delivery partner in these rapidly changing times.”

Still in its very early days, the CPSAG will likely focus on areas such as intelligence, and threat, vulnerability and risk assessments, potentially expanding to include protective security, counter terrorism, crowd control, physical security, security training, security policy, and research and development.

The Group’s mission is to build stronger private and public partnerships, share information and provide guidance, implement effective protective security and improve response while increasing resilience. It will partner the BAGNZ and CAGNZ and - via NZ Police – the Counter Threat Assessment Group (CTAG).

“We are currently focused on establishing strong relationships within the private and public security sector,” said Sir Ken, “developing specialist competency frameworks to further support and enhance what is already on offer through NZQA with clear paths of learning and development opportunities for those seeking to grow a career in security consulting and a licensing structure that clearly aligns to the competency matrix.”

Sir Ken McKenzie, CPSAG Chair and Head of Security, Health & Safety at Auckland Museum.