How do accreditation, access control and searches work at my event?

Accreditation and designated areas (s18)

• The controlling body, event organiser or stadium/venue owner, in consultation with the event safety and security planning committee, can accredit participants, officials, staff, contractors, stewards, security, police, emergency and health officials, media, broadcasters, sponsors, VIPs, volunteers, vendors and anyone with a support role in the safety and security plan.
• You must clearly mark every entry point to a designated area with a notice saying access is limited to people accredited for that area.
• Entering a designated area without an accreditation card is an offence (fine and/or up to 6 months). Access control officers can ask for the card, refuse entry and remove anyone who can't produce one.

Access control officers and searches (s20)

• You may appoint in writing a security officer as access control officer to control access of people and vehicles, and peace officers to be in charge of searches and seizures.
• Access control officers and peace officers must display an accreditation card showing their appointment.
• A peace officer may search people, bags and vehicles entering a stadium or venue for prescribed prohibited or restricted objects, require bags to be opened, carry out searches by an officer of the same gender, and use electronic scanning.
• A person who refuses a search request, or appears intoxicated or under the influence of a prohibited substance, can be refused entry or asked to leave.

Traffic-free zones (s20(9)-(14))

• Mark every entry point to a traffic-free zone with a notice that access is limited to accredited people and vehicles.
• Unaccredited vehicles can be ordered out, or removed and impounded at the owner's cost.