Petition Non-lethal weapons for security guards at shopping centres

The petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council the need to provide security guards at shopping centres with the legal powers to possess and use extendable batons, OC spray, and handcuffs to disarm and apprehend offenders carrying edged weapons.

In the wake of the Northland Shopping Centre incident, it is now time the Victorian Government introduce these powers for unarmed security guards. This is becoming more common, and guards do not have the tools. It is time to make this change. It should be a legal requirement so incidents can be prevented quickly by security guards; disarming, subduing and restraining offenders in these environments.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to introduce legal and reasonable powers for security guards at shopping centres to use non-lethal weapons such as OC spray, extendable batons and handcuffs.