The Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) has issued a new Circular for the Public Service to follow when reporting security incidents.
Secretary of DPC, Timothy Reardon said Circular C2021-08 Reporting Security Incidents set out the procedures for reporting security incidents, which should be noted and adopted by Government Agencies.
“A key component of reporting all threats is the completion of the Threat Checklist and the reporting process,” Mr Reardon said.
“The process includes the NSW Police Force (NSW Police) and the Commonwealth, particularly when relating to national security issues or terrorism activity,” he said.
Mr Reardon said the Threat Checklist should be readily accessible by all Agency personnel, particularly those who operated public inquiry lines or had similar duties.
He said Agencies may receive correspondence which revealed a risk that the author, or someone they knew, would commit a criminal act including a terrorist attack.
“The reporting of direct threats against people or places is via the emergency service number of triple-zero (000), NSW Police Area Commands, and when applicable to the National Security Hotline,” he said.
“The head of a NSW Government Agency or equivalent will determine if it is necessary to inform his or her Minister.”
Mr Reardon said that in the case of a verbal threat, Agency personnel should record all relevant information that may assist with the identification or origin of the call, even though it was almost certain the relevant call data would be time or date stamped.
He encouraged Agencies to review and practice the management of suspicious articles or other threatening scenarios such as improvised explosive device, gas, powder, or residue.
“In the event that written information of a threatening or offensive nature is received by either normal mail or electronically, the action taken will depend on the nature of the threat,” he said.
“If the threat is non-specific, call the local NSW Police station; if the threat is against a person or place, call triple-zero (000) and if the threat contains specific politically motivated violence or terrorism call triple-zero (000) ,” Mr Reardon said.
Access to Circular C2021-08 can be made on the DPC website at this PS News link.
