“Many people may not be used to seeing police carrying rifles at sporting events, but our objective here is to help the public feel safe, and police will be out in force,” NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said.
“The difference will be in the visibility of long arms and a stronger presence. Police will otherwise be targeting antisocial and unsafe behaviour as usual,” he said.
Uniformed and mounted police will be patrolling the grounds to reassure the public of its safety.
Public Order and Riot Squad officers will also be present, equipped with visible long-arm rifles.
Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker, Commander of Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics, said that the extra visibility of rifles is not due to a specific threat.
“I want to emphasise that there is not any active or imminent threat,” she said.
“All PORS officers are rifle trained and have been for some time, this does not reflect any recent change in capability or weaponry.”
