by admin 
How a hostile vehicle has impacted a busy Victorian shopping mall, and what you can do to prevent these types of attacks
Crowded places are environments that are easily accessible by large numbers of people on a predictable basis. According to Australian National Security, crowded places include, but are not limited to, sports stadiums, transport hubs, shopping centres, hotels, clubs, places of worship, tourist attractions, movie theatres, and civic spaces. These places generally have peak periods where crowds are more prominent, and the threat of a hostile vehicle carries a more serious outcome should they be attacked.
Northland Shopping Centre in Preston, Victoria, experienced a horrific incident in June 2025, where a man in a stolen vehicle rammed bollards at the entrance of the centre and proceeded to drive through, where hundreds of people were innocently shopping. Thankfully, no one was injured; however, this incident has showcased the importance of the right mitigative solutions being installed.
Is your solution fit for purpose?
There are dozens of vehicle mitigation solutions on the market, all to mitigate unauthorised vehicles from entering a space; however, some are there more so as a deterrent, whilst others have been crash rated to ensure they stop hostile vehicles in their tracks. So, how do you know if your solution is fit for purpose? It’s quite simple – engage with a security consultant to perform a risk review!
Within a risk review, a security consultant will identify areas of vulnerability with your current security and can design custom strategies to safeguard your site. When you think of security, the scope is far greater than guards or CCTV, especially in crowded places. Utilising a range of security measures to create a security posture that is fit for purpose can be the difference between a successful attack and successful mitigation.
When we look at shopping centres and their risk profile, many areas need attention. There are many common security challenges within these environments, such as theft, property damage, terrorism, emergencies, anti-social behaviour, and more. Incorporating security tactics like CCTV, guarding, access control, physical security, perimeter/entrance protection, emergency plans, and more will help thwart these security challenges and provide a safer shopping experience for shoppers and retailers alike. Performing a risk review will help identify where your centre should focus.
If we look at the example of the Northland Shopping Centre vehicle terrorising shoppers whilst speeding through the mall, the vehicle had to pass the bollards at the front entrance. It was noted that the driver hit an unmarked police car and a bollard 3 times to gain entry, meaning the bollards installed at the entrance were not crash-rated and a deterrent solution – very common practice for shopping malls. A risk review of the centre now would highlight that deterrent bollards in less populated areas could be used; however, surrounding entrances, open entertainment quarters, or areas with straight roads/carparks where a vehicle could charge through at high speed, crash-rated bollards would be more appropriate.
How Gunnebo Can Help
At Gunnebo, we provide various hostile vehicle mitigation and access control solutions, designed to physically protect your space against common threats in shopping malls. Some of our most common solutions for this space include:
Crash Rated Bollards – Placing these at entrances and entertainment areas will protect shoppers and reduce property damage in the event of a hostile vehicle attempting entry. These bollards are designed to stop vehicles travelling at medium to high speed almost in their tracks, reducing penetration and impact.
Street Furniture – Incorporating Street furniture into your perimeter protection is an effective way to protect a location inconspicuously. A planter box, for example, will have crash-rated bollards underneath with a cover on top that doubles as a garden and seating. This solution provides high-level protection without the stigma of feeling as though you are walking into Fort Knox.
Non-Rated Solutions – Utilising non-rated perimeter additions is a useful way to enhance your overall security posture without breaking the bank. Things like wheel stops, concrete spheres, planters, bollards, bike racks, and more can be used in a shopping mall environment to act as visual deterrents, manage traffic, and people flow without compromising safety.
Full Height TurnStiles – Protecting the perimeter or staff entrances using Full Height Turnstiles is an option for larger centres with lots of people passing through. This solution ensures only authorised people get access to particular areas, increasing overall security.
Security Doors – Protecting control rooms and security offices is usually done via lock and key; however, these spaces are generally the heart of a centre and should be protected accordingly. Using verification interlocking doors, such as the SoloTek, or installing an attack-rated door are options to ensure these primal areas are protected properly.
Access Control – Gunnebo has recently launched Validus, a simple access control platform. All of our Entrance Control equipment is also able to integrate with nearly any access control system for versatility and adaptability.
In Summary
The threat landscape is forever changing and evolving. It is our responsibility to ensure we keep up with trends and security best practices to protect our shopping malls. Providing staff with adequate training, engaging in risk reviews, updating emergency plans regularly, and monitoring activity are all ways to mitigate threats in this space. We have seen some horrible incidents happen in the past 12 months within shopping centres like the Northland vehicle ram, the Bondi Junction knife attack, dozens of other knife attacks across the country, violent altercations, and more. Being proactive and understanding your risk profile is the best way to approach security. You want to ensure you have the right product in the right place to complement your risk profile. The right security will make people feel safe within these urban environments and reduce the number of incidents from occurring.