Warwick Security Forum: Stakeholders, community figures educated on response to armed offender scenarios

A security forum provided awareness for the Southern Downs community to stay vigilant, alert and prepared in case of a serious active incident. Here’s why the community is preparing for the unthinkable.

Members of local police, fire and emergency services and the department of education at Armed Offender Training on July 25, 2024. (Photo: NRM)

The worst case scenario of an armed offender wreaking havoc in our community is an “unthinkable” situation, but one that the community should be prepared for.

That’s the message from the Protective Security Forum that was held in Warwick, with health workers, shop owners, emergency services, principals and more attending, with the focus on dealing and being safe in active armed offender situations.

Forty community members attended the community forum to educate and prepare for the “unthinkable”, with police saying it’s better to be prepared than not.

It’s the situation no one thinks could happen, but the public is remained urged to listen and be ready for any situation.

ASIO says that in 2024, terrorism, particularly at a domestic level, was one of the country’s principal security concern, only behind espionage.

Warwick Detective Senior Constable Jim Doyle said due to recent events, anywhere, including Warwick, could be a possible location of a serious incident and it was easier to take action and create awareness than the opposite.

“Crowded places become vulnerable places, and it’s essential stakeholders and police are all on the same page on how to respond in an incident,” Constable Doyle said.

“Police want to see awareness and confidence, we can’t pretend we’re immune from incidents and we need to be confident our public knows how to deal with it for the betterment of the community.

“You can never think something unthinkable is not possible.”

While sleepy Warwick may seem an unlikely target to the public, recent events such as the Wieambilla massacre or the Bondi stabber being from Toowoomba could be reason for the police to be concerned.

The Australian Federal Police says modern terrorism, particularly extremism, is “enduring, increasingly complex and diversified”.

Even on a local level, brazen daytime robberies with weapons are becoming more common, from appliance stores to big retail chains.

Security and Counter Terrorism command held an security forum in Warwick for principals, emergency services and stakeholders on July 25, 2024. (Photo: NRM)

“It’s so important we never stop this proactive approach, we want police out in the community which can deter behaviour and we want people having skills to help themselves or others in those sort of situations,” Constable Doyle said.

“We want our local community that we can be confident we can do the job that’s required and days like today helps the community believe that we are always thinking and are never complacent.

“Just because Warwick is a nice cold country town full of roses, it couldn’t not one day be the location of something significant, so it is important we do our job and make everyone aware.

“The truth is the ultimate outcome is no one has to use anything we teach here today, but the there's always the possibility one day we will and we’d be wiser for it.”

Originally published as Warwick Security Forum: Stakeholders, community figures educated on response to armed offender scenarios