Parliament wants to expand its security force

The Parliamentary Service is working to beef up its security force and has plans to send teams into the field with MPS if they’re facing threats.

Politicians and others at Parliament have become increasingly concerned about safety since the 2022 riot.

In the year since, a new stabproof vest has been rolled out for security guards and there have been discussions about whether they need special powers to end future occupations.

In Budget 2023, the Government allocated $14 million over the next four years to improve security.

Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael GonzalezMontero said this funding would be used to deploy security to electorate offices when needed, and to respond to an increased demand from MPS to have their homes checked and fitted out with security equipment.

Until recently, Parliament’s security staff have been focused mostly on the precinct. The security team also communicates with the electorate and community offices which house MPS and staff across the country, but security at these sites had not been a major issue.

Gonzalez-montero told a select committee there had been a steady increase in attacks on these community offices, and also on MPS and staff when they were outside of Parliament.

Gonzalez-montero said an increase in threats, attacks and vandalism meant the Parliamentary Service needed to significantly bolster its security operation and would soon start organising security for some MPS while they were in their offices, or out in the community.

‘‘We’ve had reports of members that have been attacked, so we will establish a team that will work with the members and the police, if they’re going to a rally or an event in the community,’’ he said.

Generally, a police unit called the Diplomatic Protection Service (DPS) is responsible for providing protection to the prime minister and other MPS when required. The Parliamentary Service hires security guards and maintains security systems at Parliament and its offices.

Gonzalez-montero said he hoped the new security team could also gather intelligence on risks to MPS, and respond across the country. But he said there were budgetary constraints which could limit its impact.

‘‘It will gather more intelligence, see how safe it is and if necessary provide protection to members as they go into the community,’’ he said.