More than 400 security guards investigated for fraudulent security license
Victoria Canada July 8 2019
Hundreds of security guards have been suspended from working at venues, including a popular AFL stadium, over allegations they fraudulently obtained their licences.
About 400 guards have been suspended and include some crowd controllers working at AFL-owned Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.
Risk consulting and security company AIG Security is reported to have subcontracted a number of the guards whose client base includes the listed venue as well as theatre venues Palais Theatre and Forum.
The guards are believed to have used fraudulent documentation to obtain their security licences, The Age reported.
Daily Mail Australia contacted Marvel Stadium, Palais Theatre, Forum and AIG Security for comment.
Some guards are understood to have been on international student visas and lacking further references for accreditation.
To obtain the licence, the wannabe guards must pass a recognised security course and provide a reference who has known them for at least a year.
They are alleged to have paid hundreds of dollars to a man to act as a referee and help falsify documents.
Victoria Police are understood to be working to locate the man – sources say he has fled the country.
A security insider said using foreign workers who didn’t have a good grasp on English only complicated things once they were sent out in the field.
‘And a lot of the foreign blokes don’t have any English [language skills], which makes it hard for them to deal with crowds.’
The state’s police have since sent suspension letters to guards they believe have fraudulently obtained their licences.
In one letter, seen by The Age, the worker is told their licence has been suspended effective immediately.
‘The Private Security Individual Operator Licence application submitted contains false/forged and/or fraudulently obtained documentation,’ the letter reads.
United Voice Union state secretary Ben Redford said too many corners were being cut in the industry.
‘It’s time this industry was put under a microscope.
‘We also want to see the government beef up the powers and resources of the regulator to weed out these dodgy operators.’
The revelation comes as spectators continue to hurl heated criticism at Marvel Stadium and its implementation of ‘behavioural awareness officers’.
Stadium security currently conduct three aisle checks per quarter to ensure fans behave properly – the frequency of aisle walks is understood to be in the process of changing.
Only on June 15, photo of two behavioural officers patrolling Marvel Stadium drew outrage from AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan who claimed the presence could be intimidating for some spectators.
‘My personal view is they’re not right and they should go,’ he told reporters last week.
‘That’s part of the discussions we can have with our venues.’
Following the outcry, Marvel Stadium chief executive said the guards had received extra training in diffusing hostile situations in the crowd.
