Bulldogs introduce tough security measures

The Chief Executive Officer of the Bulldogs Rugby League Club, Mr Malcolm Noad, today released details of an extensive security plan that will be adopted for all Bulldogs home and away games in the future.

Bulldogs officials, NSW Police and the NRL met this morning to finalise the plan that will be enforced for all games, starting with the double-header event coming up this Sunday at Telstra Stadium.

The plan includes a range of increased security measures that are designed to prevent a re-occurrence of the recent violent scenes at Sydney Football Stadium. The measures include working with the NSW Police service, venue managers (both home and away) and security prior to each event to undertake a thorough risk assessment. Based on this assessment, appropriate numbers of Police and security will be allocated. The Club will also clearly identify and inform all supporters of ?alcohol free and family areas? for each Bulldogs home game and inform the away club of designated away team seating and no alcohol family areas at both the Sydney Showground and Telstra Stadium.

In addition, the Bulldogs will introduce regular Bulldogs Supporter and security meetings to discuss and inform fans on specific game by game initiatives, as well as introducing a special Bulldogs Supporters Group specifically designed to offer support to the Club with the quick identification of anti social elements within the crowd.

Mr Noad said: ?These initiatives are designed to clean out the element at games that wants to make trouble rather than support rugby league. Specific action that will be taken against identified offenders will include ejection from the game, prosecution and lifetime bans from all NRL fixtures. Families need to know that they can come to our games and not feel threatened and trouble makers need to know that they will be caught and face the consequences of their actions.?

The Bulldogs have previously committed to working with opposition clubs on these initiatives and will also work with the media and the NRL to help the club with the re-enforcement and identification of the trouble makers for all future events.

The Club also said it would explore with the NSW Police Service the opportunity to re-ignite Operation Tarat with a view to working with them and the NRL to stamp out anti social behaviour and would also continue to work with the NSW Police Community Leaders to assist in identification.