Defence searches Commonwealth Games venues

15/03/201830/03/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5290 Views 0 Comments Commonwealth Games

Australian Defence Force personnel have commenced search activities in support of security preparations for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

CAPTION: Australian Army Explosive Detection Dog Karma and his handler Sapper Kaegan Summers from the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment search a Commonwealth Games athlete’s village laundry for suspicious items. Photo by Sergeant W Guthrie.

ADF is assisting the Queensland Police Service by searching a number of key locations during the lead up to, and throughout, the games.

Queensland Police Service officers, Acting Senior Sergeant Mike Cahill (right) and Sergeant Brendon Carr discusses security plans with Australian Army officer Captain Maddison Cullen during a search of the 2018 Commonwealth Games athlete’s village. Photo by Sergeant W Guthrie. — Queensland Police officers Acting Senior Sergeant Mike Cahill (right) and Sergeant Brendon Carr discuss security plans with Army officer Captain Maddison Cullen during a search of the 2018 Commonwealth Games athlete’s village. Photo by Sergeant W Guthrie.

Commander of the ADF’s support to the games Major General Paul McLachlan said the ADF was providing specialised search capabilities that would partner with and enhance State police security arrangements.

“Australian Army engineers will be searching official venues, the games village, and vehicles at designated checkpoints, while Navy clearance divers will conduct sub-surface searches of key locations on Gold Coast waterways,” Major General McLachlan said.

“ADF support to the Queensland Police Service is an important component of the Australian government’s overall security arrangements for the Commonwealth Games.”

Head of Queensland Police Service Commonwealth Games Group Assistant Commissioner Peter Crawford said the ADF was an important partner to plan and deliver the security and to ensure the public’s safety for the games.

“Queensland Police, in partnership with the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Corporation, has been working with key security partners, local councils and communities to prepare for the event,” Assistant Commissioner Crawford said.

“Queensland Police’s first priority is to keep our community safe and working with partners like Defence, to ensure the games are safe, secure and enjoyable for everyone who attends.

“The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will be the largest event staged in Australia in a decade, with more than 6600 athletes and team officials from 70 nations and territories competing over 11 days.”