Protecting crowded places from attack

New Zealanders value the ability to congregate, socialise and connect alongside others. This can involve working in, using or visiting crowded places. The nature of crowded places means they pose extra risks to people, as they can be a target for attacks.

Everyone has a role to play in keeping crowded places safe, whether they are government officials, owners and operators of crowded places, community organisers or members of the public.

The New Zealand Government tasked Police to lead a cross agency group to develop Protecting Our Crowded Places from Attack: New Zealand’s Strategy, which sets out a consistent approach to promote the safety of crowded places.

The strategy also highlights what individuals should do in the unlikely event of getting caught up in an armed offender attack. The three words to remember are: ESCAPE. HIDE. TELL.

 

Escape,Hide,Tell banner

 


ESCAPE.
Move quickly and quietly away from danger, but only if it is safe to do.

HIDE.
Stay out of sight and silence your mobile phone.

TELL.
Call the Police by dialling 111 when it is safe.

 

In an emergency everyone should call 111

If the information is not time-critical, people can report suspicious or unusual behaviour to their local Police by:

To report information of national security concern, call the NZSIS on 0800 747 224  or use their Public Contribution Form

Crowded places strategy

The New Zealand Government has developed Protecting Our Crowded Places from Attack.

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What is New Zealand doing?

New Zealand is a partner of the Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee (ANZCTC) and meets regularly with Australia to coordinate and maintain effective counter-terrorism arrangements. All ... More

Know what to do: Escape. Hide. Tell

We all have a responsibility to keep our crowded places safe.

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How you can help

You can play an important part in keeping yourself and our crowded places safe

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Prepare your crowded place: information for owners and operators

This tool is designed for owners and operators of crowded places to assess how attractive their location could be to a terrorist, and to get advice on what you can do to reduce the risks.

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Frequently asked questions

If an attack was to occur what do I do? ESCAPE.HIDE.TELL. All situations are different. 

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Escape. Hide. Tell resources

Further resources that you may find useful.

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