Security guards at Westfield shopping centres across New Zealand and Australia will be issued with body cameras, a year after six people were fatally stabbed at a mall in Bondi.
Joel Cauchi fatally stabbed six people at Westfield Bondi before he was shot and killed by a police officer on April 13, 2024.
Scentre Group, which owned and operated 42 Westfield malls – 37 in Australia and five in Aotearoa – confirmed the bodycam rollout, citing “safety and security”.
“Our security approach is created in partnership with law enforcement and government agencies. We invest in our security practices and continuously improve our capability, processes and people’s preparedness to respond to security incidents,” a spokesperson told 1News.
Last year, Scentre Group issued “additional personal protective equipment, including vests”, for security officers in all of its Westfield malls.
The spokesperson said the team safety cameras would “enhance the safety and security of our customers, business partners, and team members”.
“Our security officers may turn on the recording function on the team safety cameras to capture audio and video recordings of incidents when they have reasonable concern for their safety or welfare, or that of others.”
Audio and video captured by the cameras will be used by Scentre Group when responding to incidents and be shared with authorities, including the police.
Signage alerting patrons to the use of CCTV and safety cameras would be displayed at the entrance of its malls.