Protecting your business or venue from terrorism or extreme violence Unlisted

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What do you think of when I say the words “Crowded Places” ?

Something like this?

Or this?

This?

How ‘bout this?

Any location accessible by large numbers of people, on a predictable basis, can become what we call a “Crowded place”.

Depending on the time of day, week, season or a particular event.

This includes public and private buildings, transport hubs, sports stadiums, parks, markets, pedestrian malls, and dining and social gathering hubs, to name a few.

And the fact is that Crowded Places are the most likely target forfuture terrorist attacks.

So if you are the owner or operator of a Crowded Place, you are responsible for ensuring the safety of your site, and reducing the risks of acts of terrorism or extreme violence.

After all, how can you be sure that everyone is here for the right reasons?

Here are some simple things you can do to help you protect your Crowded Place.

Go to vic.gov.au/crowded-places to understand your responsibilities, potential threats and mitigation measures.

While you are there, check out Australia’s Strategy for Protecting Crowded Places from Terrorism for further advice.

Conduct a site vulnerability assessment and prepare a security plan for your crowded place based on its outcomes.

To help you get started, a link to the national self-assessment tool can be found on the vic.gov.au site.

Victoria Police’s Counter Terrorism Command can also help with this.

Implement the security measures necessary for your site.

Security measures should be proportionate to the level of risk at your site.

This could include installing CCTV, employing security patrols, or lockable doors and gates.

For locations with a higher risk profile, this might look like installing bollards, or utilising natural or constructed barriers.

Security measures should aim to deter, detect, delay and respond to an attack.

Consider extra training for your employees.

You need them trained in security plans, how to identify unusual behaviour and how to respond in the event of an incident or emergency.

Join the Victoria Police SHIELD network.

It’s a secure platform that provides protective security information and guidance for owners and operators of crowded places.

These actions will go a long way to increasing the safety of your crowded place from the risks of terrorism or extreme violence.

For more information, visit vic.gov/crowded-places to access a range of information and advice for protecting crowded places from the risks of terrorism and extreme violence.

Updated 30 October 2025

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Protecting your business or venue from terrorism or extreme violence Unlisted

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