ACT to give real power to security guards and take back our streets

“New Zealanders deserve to feel safe at their local shops and transport hubs, and businesses deserve real tools to stand up for themselves and their communities,” says ACT Leader David Seymour, announcing ACT's plan to tackle crime in shared spaces.

“Business owners want protection from trained, uniformed professionals. But Police can’t respond quickly to every call. Security professionals have the potential to fill the gap. New Zealand has twice as many licenced security officers as police officers, but they currently have no more authority than any other citizen.

“ACT will give real power – with clear limits – to properly trained security professionals. We’ll introduce a new licence that security professionals can obtain, with training, to gain the authority needed to keep shared spaces and businesses safe.

"We have given some guards elevated powers already with ad hoc legislation, such as Parliamentary Security. ACT will allow retailers, business associations, shopping strips, and transport operators to access a higher calibre of protection.”

Under ACT's plan, licenced Accredited Security Operators would be able to:

• Require a person's name and address on private premises and detain them until Police arrive if they refuse and won't leave.

• Issue conduct-based exclusion notices, enforceable for up to three years across multiple premises – like those of a business association – held on a register under the Privacy Act.

• Remove people who threaten safety, cause damage, or breach a venue's conditions of entry.

• ⁠Use reasonable and proportionate force as a last resort, ceasing the moment the person complies or Police arrive.

• Carry out consent-based safety searches, including on the premises, where refusing a search means no entry.

"Every licence holder will have to go through specialised advanced training and education. This is not something that any Tom, Dick, or Harry could just pick up. Stringent vetting will ensure only the right people with the right capability will be approved.

"These powers will apply on private premises, but when combined with citizens’ arrest powers currently going through Parliament, will give licenced professionals real capability to keep the wider community safe.

"ACT’s policy will unlock communities’ potential to protect themselves, without relying solely on the taxpayer or a stretched Police force.”

ACT’s spokesperson for retail crime, Dr Parmjeet Parmar, says:

“Retail crime is still hurting businesses. When people don’t feel safe visiting their local shops, they stay home and shop online. That drains foot traffic and jobs out of town centres.

“Retail NZ’s Crime Report estimates that crime costs the sector $2.6 billion a year. Behind that number are shop owners and workers who have been threatened or harmed, and communities that feel unsafe.

“ACT’s policy means businesses can take real action, sharing the services of highly-effective security professionals. It reflects the reality that, until the Police arrive, communities need real authority to stand up for themselves against thieves and thugs."

Editor's note:

ACT's full policy for security guards, 'Keeping public spaces safe', can be found here.