Parliament to update staff alarms

Parliament bosses plan to dish out 400 personal duress alarms, as security heightens around the Beehive and in electoral offices.

Staff safety has recently been put under the spotlight after various assault, harassment and bullying allegations and investigations.

The Parliamentary Service has now put out a government tender for a contractor to provide the alarms and 24/7 technical support.

The tender documents reveal Parliament is looking for a contractor to ‘‘meet their needs to protect personnel in a rapidly changing complex risk environment’’.

The personal security devices would protect personnel within New Zealand’s iconic Parliament precinct and electorate offices and support on-site security, the documents state.

Speaker Trevor Mallard said the alarms would be particularly important for staff in MP electorate offices and people visiting unfamiliar places. Many electorate office staff worked in high risk or remote areas, and in a sole-charge capacity.

They often dealt with people who were mentally ill, he said. Although most were well-trained, there was a risk and a duress alarm was important and a last resort, he said.

He had not considered the use of alarms in Parliament’s buildings because they had a consistent security and police presence. However, if staff thought they needed to use them in the building, then they could, he said.

Under the Speaker’s 2017 rules, all 132 electorate offices must have some sort of duress alarm. MPs are also issued with alarms, if requested.

But it has emerged that the old alarms had not been working properly and had faulty GPS and batteries – to the point that some staff did not bother carrying them.

The tender was a result of feedback Mallard received on the problems with the current alarms.

‘‘My view is that it is important to have them at work and that they work well. We are probably becoming more aware of security issues now than in the past.’’

Parliament’s security manager, Bridget Lord, said that as part of a security refresh in November, there was a big focus on engagement with MPs and staff.

‘‘We realised the alarms were not fit for purpose.’’

Parliament’s security manager, Bridget Lord

Recent events in the precinct were not a driver for the review but were relevant, she said.

There was also a big push to meet staff who worked off-site for feedback.

‘‘In our view we realised the alarms were not fit for purpose.’’

Parliamentary Service is looking for alarms with up-to-date technology.

It was considering more than one solution: a portable device, office alarm and phone-based alarm.

‘‘We don’t have a set budget for this given we don’t 100 per cent know what our options are yet.’’

The request for proposal, which closes on October 4, specifies the alarms must work inside and outdoors. A list of requirements includes the ability to be secure and keep data confidential, a 48-hour battery life as well as accurate location and monitoring capabilities. The contract is expected to start in December 2019.