In response to the tragic stabbings at Bondi Beach’s Westfield shopping centre, which resulted in six deaths, security guards across Australia’s Westfield malls will now wear body-worn cameras.
Scentre Group, the operator of 42 Westfield shopping centres, has implemented body-worn cameras to enhance the security of shoppers and staff. This follows the introduction of stab-proof vests for security personnel after the Bondi Beach incident.
The cameras will record audio and video when security guards believe their safety, or the safety of others, is at risk. Signage has been placed at entrances to inform the public that they may be filmed in the centres. The operators have also stated that being filmed is a condition of entry.
Criminologist Justin Ready from Griffith University observed the growing trend of private companies using body-worn cameras. However, he noted there is no concrete evidence that these devices prevent crime. He stressed that the effectiveness of the cameras depends on the specific policies and how they are used, and that people need to be aware they are being recorded.
Queensland Council of Civil Liberties president Michael Cope expressed concern about the increase in surveillance, arguing that society is giving up too much privacy for perceived safety. He pointed out that security guards do not have the same legal powers as police officers and that the laws governing such surveillance devices are inadequate.
Public reactions online have largely questioned the usefulness of the cameras in preventing attacks, with many suggesting they will only record incidents rather than stop them. Several people have raised concerns about the training and pay of security staff and the duty of care shopping centres have for their employees.
A coronial inquest into the Bondi Beach stabbing incident is scheduled to take place in New South Wales next month.
Published Date 18-March-2025
