Police reveal security details for city centre

Police will ban people regarded as security threats from parts of central Perth during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and have revealed the areas where they will have the power to search citizens and force them to hand over identification.

The toughest restrictions will apply from Friday, October 28, to Sunday, October 30, but the powers will be in force between October 20 and November 5 in designated "core security areas" and "restricted areas".

People will be banned from restricted areas - event venues or places delegates stay - during CHOGM unless they have accreditation.

Restricted areas include the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, the State Reception Centre at Kings Park, the Hyatt Regency and Pan Pacific hotels, Government House and Winthrop Hall at UWA.

Citizens will be able to go into core security areas, which include central city streets where delegates' motorcades will pass and zones around restricted venues - but they can be frisk-searched by police and forced to hand over identification.

In those zones, people cannot conceal their identity.

CBD Restricted Area | State Reception Centre | Pan Pacific Hotel | Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre

Deputy Commissioner Chris Dawson, State security commander for Operation Demille, said the powers were necessary to guard the heads of more than 50 countries and protect the 4000 delegates.

He said the CHOGM Special Powers Act allowed police to nominate other people to demand identification or do frisk searches but currently only police officers were authorised and that was unlikely to change.

"If we consider someone may be a security threat we may want to look in their backpack . . . or do a basic search . . . there are no strip searches," he said.

HYATT HOTEL | GOVERNMENT HOUSE | UNIVERSITY OF WA | Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre Phase 2

Despite the security and city road closures during the three-day event, Mr Dawson said authorities had tried to ensure the community could come into the city during CHOGM.

Police tape will line the roads but pedestrians will be allowed to walk along St Georges and Adelaide terraces and the surrounding streets.

The Police Minister or Police Commissioner can declare other areas closed if authorities identify a security threat.

CHOGM Action Network spokesman Alex Bainbridge said: "These areas are open to the public and we don't think people's rights should be restricted in public areas."

The Police Commissioner has the power to ban people from all CHOGM-related events and all security areas if he believes they will pose serious safety threats to persons or property and Mr Dawson expected several people to make the list.

People who enter a security zone illegally, disrupt an event, fail to identify themselves or give false identification papers face 12 months jail.