Sometimes no technique will work to calm down a Behavioural Emergency OR someone has come on to our campus with intention to harm and has created a Threatening Emergency for us. 

The POC will firstly try and calm / assess a heightened person and de-escalate the situation without involving further heightening of emotions or the authorities. 

Where this is not possible the following actions may take place:

1. POC requests the Support Team (FI, Security) to attend the disturbance. 

2. We do not physically restrain a person.

3. The intention is to keep the person away from the public and continue to de-escalate them. 

4. If this is not possible and they become unreasonable, call the police. 

5. Ask FI or another staff member to wait outside for the police and bring them in. 

6. The POC should liaise with the police. 

7. Our Security Team should be on hand for assistance if the person becomes violent. 

Attacks involving firearms may never occur,  but it is important to be prepared to respond to such an incident. Citipointe is a ‘crowded place’ which is defined as  “locations or environments which are easily accessible by large numbers of people on a predictable basis”. Minimising the offender’s access to potential victims should be the primary objective of any plans or strategies. This is most likely to be achieved through the following activities:

• Initiating immediate response arrangements; 

• Minimising the duration of the incident; 

• Restricting the offender’s movements; 

• Moving people from danger; 

• Preventing people from entering the scene; and 

• Helping police to locate and isolate the active armed offender

Initial Response

The primary objective of any initial response planning should be to minimise the offender’s access to victims. Therefore, our strategies are aimed at evacuating people and isolating the offender.

Escape 

The priority is to remove victims from close proximity to the offender. We will evacuate if it is safe to do so. People should leave behind most belongings and determine the safest escape route before beginning to move. Maintaining situational awareness and making good use of available concealment or cover while moving is also important. 

Hide

If unable to safely evacuate, shelter in place ensuring people take advantage of available concealment or cover from the offender. If safely evacuating the venue is not possible, occupants of crowded places should attempt to hide in a secure area where they can lock the door, blockade the entrance with heavy furniture, cover windows, turn off lights and remain silent. Mobile phones or other personal electronic devices should also be turned to silent. Avoid congregating in the open like the foyer. If the option of hiding is adopted, individuals should continually reassess the situation and their opportunities to safely evacuate or better secure themselves within the premises. 

Tell

The more information people can pass on to the police or owners and operators the better, but NEVER at the expense of an individual’s own safety or the safety of others. If it is safe to do so information should be provided immediately to the police via 000. 

Where a person attends our campus with intent to harm; with or without a weapon, the POC will:

1. Call the Security Team person and call 000 immediately.

2. If the threat is inside the building, initiate evacuation procedures immediately.

3. If the threat is outside the building, initiate lockdown procedures immediately.  

4. If confronted by the threat, remain calm and cooperate with the individual. Try to keep the individual isolated from anyone else. 

5. The POC should liaise with the police.