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Crowded Places Strategy

Escape. Hide. Tell – Crowded Places Strategy Launch

FMANZ is proud to support NZ Police in publicly launching the Crowded Places Strategy, designed to help operators of busy venues plan, prepare, and respond during an active armed offender attack. The message is clear: have a plan, act early, and use a common language.

Why it matters
Educating your workforce, family and friends with the simple, memorable phrase: ‘Escape, Hide, Tell’ is an effective tool. Most of us will certainly never face such an event, but if you, or anyone you love, ever does, your lives are going to depend on it. Being prepared safeguards not only individuals but also our communities, workplaces, and tourism.

Train your team
As operators of facilities and places where people gather, we all have a direct role to play in embedding this strategy. If you manage a facility or public space, take responsibility by putting ‘Escape. Hide. Tell.’ into practice – check out the NZ Police training guide. Beyond the workplace, start a conversation with whānau and friends, using the NZ Police conversation guide.

Download the training guide here.

Download the conversation guide here.

Media
Check out the launch media coverage:

New Zealand Herald – view here
Stuff – view here

Background

New Zealand National Security setting
New Zealand is affected by global trends and an increasing complex international security environment.  In recent years, New Zealand communities have felt the impact of national security events; terrorist attacks, disinformation and cyber-attacks. At the heart of our national security is a whole-of-society vision: A secure and resilient Aotearoa New Zealand – one that is protected as a free, open and democratic society for future generations.

Threat level: New Zealand’s National Terrorism Threat Level remains POSSIBLE (equivalent to the previous LOW) following the Combined Threat Assessment Group’s (CTAG) annual review. This means a terrorist attack is a realistic possibility. The NZ Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) introduced this updated terminology in 2026 to provide clearer communication about potential risks to the public. Read more about the CTAG’s annual review here.

The crowded places strategy is a deliverable of the NZ Counter Terrorism and Violent Extremism Strategy. It was developed after the Christchurch Mosque shootings and published in 2020.

Crowded places are locations large numbers of people access easily, on a regular and predictable basis. These can change depending on the time, and other changes in circumstance. They can be attractive targets for attacks.

The crowded places strategy helps owners and operators protect the lives of people using a crowded place to work, or as a visitor. The strategy reflects local context and values, linking to Te Whare Tapa Whā – Sir Mason Durie’s model of health and well-being.

If you are managing a potentially crowded place there is additional information to maintain everyone’s safety.

The strategy has four elements:

Building stronger relationships

Organisations will use existing partnerships to make sure they’re aware of the risks at crowded places, and to increase resilience to attacks.  FMANZ gains insights from the Business Advisory Group (BAG), which meets quarterly and is one of two Groups reporting through to the Crowded Places Advisory Group (CPAG). The other group is the Community Advisory Group (CAG).

Enabling better sharing of information and guidance

The terrorism threat level for New Zealand is assessed at least annually by the New Zealand Combined Threat Assessment Group (CTAG) The current threat level is low, meaning a terrorist threat is a realistic possibility. A lower level does not mean there isn’t any risk, and it’s important to note that the national terrorism threat level does not reflect levels of hate speech or violent rhetoric.

Implementing effective protective security

Organisations need to consider how to deter, detect, delay and respond to an attack. These four aspects of protective security are called layered security.  Effective protective security starts with assessing the risks and vulnerabilities of crowded place and finding ways to mitigate those risks. The New Zealand Police website has a range of tools to help with this process, including options for self-assessment, assessing protective security, detecting hostile investigations, security auditing, and how to recognise and respond to threats.

Increasing resilience

Building an effective security culture can increase resilience to attacks, and may include:

  • incorporating protective security measures (deter, detect, respond, delay) into layered security plans
  • weaving the escape, hide, tell approach into site security plans and design for vulnerable sites
  • reminding people about reporting suspicious behaviour and encouraging the use of event reporting tools
  • using security guards to help identify external people who might be trying to observe your people, information, or assets
  • investing in security measures to make sure they can protect your people, information, assets, customers, and members of the public.

Know the signs of violent extremism.

NZSIS guidance can help to identify the signs of violent extremism. A person’s behaviour, activities, associations or relationships may indicate they are developing or promoting extremist ideas.

The guidance also provides advice on where to report suspicious behavior. If you see something say something.

Recent incidents (examples only)

  • 2017 – London. Van driven into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.
  • 2017 – London. Bombing at Ariana Grande concert. A public inquiry found that there were a number of missed opportunities to alter the course of what happened that night” and that “more should have been done” by police and private security guards to prevent the bombing.
  • https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/manchester-arena-inquiry-reports
  • 2017 – Melbourne. Car driven into pedestrian as in Bourke Street.
  • 2019 – Christchurch. Shooting at mosques. New Zealand’s largest terrorist event
  • 2021 – Auckland. Mass stabbing at LynnMall Countdown supermarket.
  • 2024 Sydney. Mass stabbing in the Westfield shopping centre.

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