Sports Technology

Brisbane venues including The Gabba and Suncorp Stadium are to have their security enhanced with the installation of new facial recognition technology.

The Queensland Government announced that it will be investing $8.3 million in the latest security technology as part of a preventative measure to stop potential threats from both banned persons or those known to the Police’s national database.

As reported by Brisbane newspaper The Sunday Mail, the upgrade follows a review of stadium security, ordered by Queensland Sports Minister Mick de Brenni last year, which found there were a need for improved security at key Stadiums Queensland venues.

Used at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, the technology claims to be able to scan faces in crowds up to 1 kilometre away and will alert stadium security and Police if it identifies a threat or person of interest.

The security, already in use at the Sydney Cricket Ground, but will be rolled out with immediate effect to the 52,500 capacity Suncorp Stadium and The Gabba.

The security upgrade will also see CCTV blind spots eliminated, the width of fencing around venues be narrowed to make it impossible to pass dangerous items from outside and anti-ramming barriers will be installed at venues.

Speaking about the upgrades, Minister de Brenni said the upgraded CCTV would also detect anyone participating in illegal in-play betting scams that take advantage of delayed overseas broadcasts, advising “our stadiums are world class and we are investing to make sure every experience is world class and safe.

“Last year we saw some isolated cases of unacceptable behaviour from individuals in our venues, but around the world we’ve seen tactics used by people that want to instil fear. So we’re moving ahead of the game and taking action to make sure that every patron who visits one of our venues can feel safe.

“This is about upholding the integrity of the venues, and it is about upholding the integrity of the game.

“This work is ongoing – as threats change, the measures we employ to keep Queenslanders safe need to stay ahead of those who might want to do us harm, so I’ve made it clear to the Stadiums Queensland Board that this work is high priority and will remain high priority.

“Some of our venues hold more than 50,000 people at a time. I want every single one of those people to know that while they are in one of our venues, they can feel safe.”

Images: The Gabba (top) and Suncorp Stadium (below) will introduce new facial recognition technology.

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