Airport-style scanners to be installed at Melbourne's stadia

Melbourne's major sporting stadiums - the MCG, Etihad Stadium and AAMI Park - will soon be installed with airport-style security scanners in order to detect weapons in the wake of recent terrorist attacks.

The Herald Sun has reported that in an effort to protect patrons from any kind of attack, fans will soon be required to place their personal items to one side as they are examined. They will then walk through scanners before entering the venues.

Introducing the anti-terror measure Victoria Police acting Deputy Commissioner Ross Guenther told The Herald Sun "it is really important we start moving quickly where we can on stadium security, a bit like with the concrete bollards.

“There will be other technologies coming into play… one being developed is basically a zigzag barrier people walk through and that scans you as you walk into the ground,” Guenther said.

As at major sporting events in the US, fans will also be restricted to bringing clear plastic bags into the venues.

The Herald Sun reported that the scanners could be in place from the Boxing Day cricket Test in December, while the clear plastic bag measure will be implemented from September’s AFL Grand Final.

In addition, concrete bollards have already been installed throughout the Melbourne city centre as a part of the preventative measures.

There have been more than 140 concrete blocks placed on busy streets five months after a car hit a crowd of people in the Bourke Street Mall, killing six people.

Other central sites including Federation Square and Flinders Street Station were lined with heavy cement barriers.

There have now been 66 new barriers installed since 10th June in the Bourke Street Mall and at Federation Square.

According to The Australian newspaper a review was ordered into security at major venues after the tragedy at the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena, while the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (AISO) began working with the Federal Police to revaluate current arrangements.

Image: Melbourne's AAMI Park (foreground) with the MCG at right.

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