As an industry that employs over 35,000 security personnel across New Zealand, it is these frontline staff who will be directly impacted from the government’s announced changes. At Red Badge, assaults on frontline staff happen on average six times every month, making it critical for us that these and future recommendations provide additional protections for the security officers who face these challenges every day.

“It’s about doing the best we can to keep our people and those we protect safe. These changes (and the additional changes outlined below) are the first steps to help us achieve that,” said Ben Wooding, CEO of Red Badge Group. “Our frontline teams and our customers are the ones who face these challenges day in and day out. Providing them with the tools and clarity to do their jobs effectively is essential, and we commend the government for taking this first step and implore them to take a step further to keep our security officers safe.”

While we welcome these proposed changes, Red Badge Group believes that there is still work to be done to fully address the complex challenges of retail crime. Red Badge Group is supporting the New Zealand Security Association in calling on the government to consider the following additional steps:

  1. Harsher Penalties for Assaults on Security Officers – We’re urging the government to introduce legislation that provides harsher penalties for members of the public who assault security officers, comparable to those faced by individuals who assault police officers.
  2. Specialised Training and Licenses – We’re advocating for a specialised security officer class with advanced training to ensure only the most appropriately qualified personnel are entrusted with enhanced powers, allowing us to tailor security solutions based on customer preferences for either a proactive or “observe and report” approach.
  3. Facial Recognition Technology – We are also calling on the Privacy Commissioner to support the safe use of facial recognition technology, which has proven effective in quickly identifying offenders and preventing retail crime before it escalates.

These changes mirror successful models already implemented in Australia, where similar legislative updates have protected and empowered security officers and contributed to safer public spaces.