IN SEATS IN 15 MINS

SPECTATORS shouldn’t expect to queue longer than 15 minutes at the Commonwealth Games despite airportlevel security at venues.

That’s the goal of security bosses, but it comes with a catch: Fans have been told not to bring bags or backpacks if they do not need them.

THE boss of Commonwealth Games security wants no spectators waiting longer than 15 minutes to get into venues.

That is despite security checks outside stadiums and Games venues which will rival pre-flight measures in place at airports.

Games organising committee (GOLDOC) head of security Danny Baade told the Bulletin yesterday his team had set itself a goal of 15-minute maximum queue times but he emphasised fan buy-in was crucial to meet it.

Mr Baade, an ex-top cop who helped draft security plans for the city’s original bid to get the Games, said keeping queue times under 15 minutes would require co-operation from ticketholders to be achievable, he said.

“Our aim is that at busy times we will not have people waiting any longer than 15 minutes,” Mr Baade said.

“But we can only achieve that if people only bring what they need for the day.”

Games bosses plan to hammer the message to spectators that “the less you bring, the quicker you get in”.

Anyone with a bag will have it searched so if one is not needed, spectators are advised not to bring one.

The Games security operation, involving an extra 10,000 people spanning police, military and security staff, is Australia’s biggest for a decade.

The Australian Defence Force has already alerted residents not to be surprised by the regular presence of helicopters.

The chopper fleet aims to give police and partner organisations flexibility to respond to a range of situations.

GOLDOC chairman Peter Beattie said two weeks out from April 4’s kick-off he was “sleeping well at night” on the security front thanks to police and agency partnerships.

“We will have airport-type security so spectators should add more time for security checks. If you have a backpack on a train, you will be searched.

“This is about a commonsense approach,” he said.