House Of Worship Security:- 5-Step Plan To Avert Catastrophes!

by Eva Spenser Innovation

Scott John Morrison, the Prime Minister of Australia, announced a whopping $55 million funding in places of worship all around Australia.

Morrison, while addressing the Australian-Israel Chamber Of Commerce, Melbourne stated the violent attack in New Zealand did accelerate the initiative to stretch the Govt’s Safer Community Fund. This includes religious educational institutions, churches or other places of religious gathering, worship and chastity.

The granted fund of $1.5 million is to boost up safety upgrades as CCTV, lighting, fencing, alarms, public address system and security set-ups.

“I solemnly believe in religious freedom, and that begins by ensuring the right to gather and worship without fear of violence...

...We have to be careful in making our churches look like a castle as it gives out the impression that we are under siege- which we are not. And I believe it only perpetuates the issue at hand.”- said Morrison.

Ever since then, proactive steps have been taken to resolve whatever security inconveniences exist. With that, schools, churches and other places of worship have been recommended to emphasise more on security aspects and beef up their set-up.

Here’s a look at the 5-STEP SECURITY PLAN:-

1. One should start by assessing the present security of the church or any other place of worship and coming up with a solid action plan. This mainly includes consulting with Albury security providers to place their trained security staff on sentry to screen for checking folks who wish to speak with the man-of-God post-religious holdings.

2. Forming a security community with the congregation members to analyse results and make the right decision to move forward. An active part of that will also include making every visitor security conscious with constant surveillance, facial recognition, list-tallying and seizing anything unusual before entering.

3. Inspecting the existing emergency crisis plan and making amendments to reflect what is presently in order for the surrounding community. The main emphasis to be given on evacuation plans, lockdown procedures, risk assessment and vulnerability surveys in response to both plausible natural or man-made misadventures.

Implementing the use of state-of-the-art-security-technology namely video surveillance, access control intercom notifiers, etc. One should also consult with security companies in Albury to come up with effective traffic control security guards to prevent would-be suicide bombers, gate-crashing with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and vehicle-borne explosive devices (VIEDs).

4. Also considering the feasibility of fire incidents, data breach and stolen items, agreement with quality local security service providers should be made to protect sensitive records/holy inscriptions.

This includes having guards to comprehensively assess all financial transactions, receipts, membership records, permanent addresses, etc. Setting up high-quality CCTV cameras (at every key area) and trained guards to regulate security and unsanction any unauthorised access, also include.

Final Say...

Churches or places-of-worship don’t usually have a lot of manpower. So adding surveillance cams and stationing security guards does amp up the security aspect against unexpected malicious practices.

Another effective course of action would be to communicate with the local law enforcement associates and nearby business delegates to help churches and religious places safe from harm.

It’s been clear from all past experiences that ill-incidents will always happen from time to time. Hence the need of the hour for church and place-of-worship is to review their security set-up and implement proactive protection measures in place to tackle such illicit attacks and external dangers.