Security guards at Westfield shopping centers will soon be equipped with body worn cameras in a major escalation in our fight against violent crime. From the horror attacks at Bondi Junction to the evacuation of Westfield Marion in Adelaide. The move follows a raft of major incidents across the country. Westfield says it hopes the move will improve both staff and shopper safety for more. We're joined by Managing director of the Peine Regional Security Gena Field. Great to have you back on. First off, do you agree with this move? I do.

Security guards at Westfield shopping centers will soon be equipped with body worn cameras in a major escalation in our fight against violent crime. From the horror attacks at Bondi Junction to the evacuation of Westfield Marion in Adelaide. The move follows a raft of major incidents across the country. Westfield says it hopes the move will improve both staff and shopper safety for more. We're joined by Managing director of the Peine Regional Security Gena Field. Great to have you back on. First off, do you agree with this move? I do.

I absolutely applaud it, and it's just this is something that I've been advocating for a very long time in regards to security safety.

I absolutely applaud it, and it's just this is something that I've been advocating for a very long time in regards to security safety.

Is it a deterrent?

Is it a deterrent?

It definitely is, And this is a road that Westfield really needed to take because a lot of people are still quite a year on, are still quite apprehensive about going shopping. So ultimately, what it's doing is it's providing safety and security for us as security operatives, but the shoppers, the shop owners and also police which don't have to rely on public footage. They can go straight to the source now and grab the footage and through the court system so it's streamlining the investigation, which will save cost.

It definitely is, And this is a road that Westfield really needed to take because a lot of people are still quite a year on, are still quite apprehensive about going shopping. So ultimately, what it's doing is it's providing safety and security for us as security operatives, but the shoppers, the shop owners and also police which don't have to rely on public footage. They can go straight to the source now and grab the footage and through the court system so it's streamlining the investigation, which will save cost.

What do you say to shoppers that there's a lot of CCTV around these days and we're all being surveiled at some point, saying that it's an intrusion of privacy.

What do you say to shoppers that there's a lot of CCTV around these days and we're all being surveiled at some point, saying that it's an intrusion of privacy.

It's really interesting because as soon as we roll out new technology, everyone's all about the privacy issues, and I think Westfield really need to communicate and educate the community on the sterilization of what's going to happen with that data and the protection and the storage of that.

It's really interesting because as soon as we roll out new technology, everyone's all about the privacy issues, and I think Westfield really need to communicate and educate the community on the sterilization of what's going to happen with that data and the protection and the storage of that.

Does more need to be done for obviously the security operatives, but also the shoppers to keep them safe.

Does more need to be done for obviously the security operatives, but also the shoppers to keep them safe.

Well, definitely, it's a multi layering, so there's security technology, there's enforcement agencies, but there's also the shoppers as well to educate themselves in regards to their surroundings and don't be afraid to speak up and say something that just doesn't feel right within their gut and feel and read the room type thing. So it's really important. But another thing too, and I'm not for enforcing screening and you know, airport type security on shopping centers, but I really would like to see a push for perhaps apps or hot phones that go straight to the first responders, which are security providers.

Well, definitely, it's a multi layering, so there's security technology, there's enforcement agencies, but there's also the shoppers as well to educate themselves in regards to their surroundings and don't be afraid to speak up and say something that just doesn't feel right within their gut and feel and read the room type thing. So it's really important. But another thing too, and I'm not for enforcing screening and you know, airport type security on shopping centers, but I really would like to see a push for perhaps apps or hot phones that go straight to the first responders, which are security providers.

Okay, that's really interesting too, Gina, thanks so much for coming in.

Okay, that's really interesting too, Gina, thanks so much for coming in.

Appreciate it.

Appreciate it.