16 Sep Complacency in Security: The Hidden Risk of a False Sense of Safety
In the Australian security landscape, complacency can be just as dangerous as a physical threat.
When organisations assume “it won’t happen here”, they risk developing a false sense of security—believing their environment is safe simply because nothing has gone wrong yet.
This mindset can lead to:
- Overreliance on past experience instead of current risk data.
Example: Relying solely on past experience to estimate attendance can lead to failing to adequately plan for crowd size. This could lead to congestion, attendees feeling trapped, safety concerns and increased tension and frustration. This happened with the “Love is in the Air” drone show at Sydney’s Vivid happened 2024 – the turnout was way above expectations and spectators described the scene as “human sardines”. ( See ABC News Report from June 2024 ) - Minimal staff training for incident response.
Example: a venue might skip emergency drills, trusting its quiet track record. But when an incident occurs, the lack of preparation can result in serious operational and reputational fallout.
- Delayed investment – or under-investment – in both security personnel and security technology. It is common for budgetary pressure to jeopardise quality solutions. This can lead to security failure – a situation where true cost of security will be faced.
To counter complacency:
- Use current data to inform risk assessments.
- Use risk assessments to inform budgets.
- Regularly review and update security protocols.
- Encourage pro-active vigilance across all staff levels.
Security is not just about reacting – it’s about staying ahead of potential threats. It requires proactive planning that anticipates movement, manages flow and ensures every person can enjoy the event / venue safely. It also requires security personnel that are skilled professionals, who are not just a physical presence but who understand crowd behaviour, emergency response and risk mitigation.
Complacency and short-cuts are your enemy.
Four critical actions for establishing security operations for a crowded event or venue are:
- Pre-event risk assessessment to identify choke points and high traffic zones.
- Trained crowd control personnel with experience in high density environments.
- Coordination with emergency services and event organisers.
- Real-time monitoring and communication tools to adapt to changing conditions.
Contact Exact Security today and find out how we can help secure your venue or event.