Sydney facing greatest security challenge since 2000 Summer Olympics

Organised by the Catholic Church, WYD brings together young people from around the globe to celebrate and learn about their faith on a more regular basis. According to the event organizers, WYD08 will be the largest event Australia has ever hosted. Initial planning estimated that WYD would attract over 125,000 international visitors - more than the 2000 Olympics. To date, registrations have exceeded 275,000, with the local government now expecting 315,000 registered pilgrims to attend Adding an extra dimension to public security for such a large event, WYD08 will mark the first visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to Australia Unlike the Olympics, events during the WYD festival will have pilgrims moving amongst various sites around Sydney. Highlighting these large crowd movements will The Stations of Cross procession which will have pilgrims move between six locations located in and around the Central Business District of Sydney, and Pope Benedict making numerous appearances around the City. During the Sydney 2000 Olympics, crowd control and security was a paramount task that was superbly handled by many security agencies including the Australian Defence Forces. WYD represents a greater challenge. Unlike the 2000 Olympics, this is post 9 / 11 and the dynamics of security have changed as have the threats. According to Deputy Commissioner Dave Owens, Commander of the NSW Police World Youth Day Security Operation, Security preparations for this year’s World Youth Day are on track following a visit to New York and Washington by NSW Police dignitary protection officers last month. Officers went to the United States for the Pope’s recent visit where more than 55,000 people attended a service in Washington and more than 60,000 were at a Mass in New York. “ We sent two experienced officers to the United States to observe the Papal visit and it was encouraging to learn that our preparations are exceptionally well advanced.” “We started our planning for World Youth Day almost two years ago and looked at the crowd management, traffic, transport, and resource and security requirements from past World Youth Day events. When asked about the magnitude of the challenge in protecting such vast amounts of visitors in addition to the city itself, Commander Owens elaborated. “The Sydney crowds will be well in excess of those experienced in the US but it is important to learn that many aspects of the NSW Police World Youth Day Security Command plans mirror the arrangements that the US Secret Service had in place for the visit of His Holiness.” While security is a key component for Sydney’s World Youth Day, the event should not be compared to last year’s APEC meeting. WYD 2008 is a ‘festival and celebration’ which will draw hundreds of thousands of visitors in the CBD and Randwick Racecourse, where a Mass will be celebrated. One of the clear messages coming through is that there will be an atmosphere of celebration, festivity and happiness from the crowds expected to welcome the Pope. Deputy Commissioner Owens added that while police will be treating World Youth Day as a celebration and a festival, police have to ensure the safety of the pilgrims and well-wishers as they travel to and from the various venues, and have response plans in place. “Some of those plans include well tested counter terrorism responses, and emergency management arrangements.” “Over the past two weeks New South Wales state police and elements of the NSW Fire Brigades and NSW Ambulance Service have been carrying out specific World Youth Day training exercises, including motorcade rehearsals. “The World Youth Day Security Command has also been involved in planning crowd management, traffic and transport arrangements and security. " “This planning has involved all emergency services and stakeholders such As the Roads and Traffic Authority, Maritime NSW, State Rail, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, and Local Councils. “A range of resources form the NSW Police Force will be utilised for World Youth Day including Highway Patrol, Dignitary Protection, Explosive Detection Dogs, Public Order Riot Squad, general duties, Marine Area Command, Aviation Command, Commuter Policing and Communications. “We will be employing similar strategies to those of previous major events in Sydney to ensure the appropriate numbers of police are available. “This includes a leave embargo, postponement of training, and a number of courts matters being put over until after World Youth Day,” Deputy Commissioner Owens said. NSW Police are also advising those intending on coming into the CBD for World Youth Day events should plan their journey and check for event updates by visiting www.wyd2008.org or www.wydca.nsw.gov.au