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Police in 'breast flash' probe at gig

The Amity Affliction.

Police are looking into allegations a bouncer at a concert at Red Hill Auditorium asked a young woman to flash her breasts before she could go back inside the venue on Friday night.

Bart Primrose claimed to hear the “inappropriate” request while waiting for friends outside the gig on Friday night and later also allegedly heard another bouncer threaten to stab an aggressive male patron who was trying to get back inside the venue.

Mr Primrose had been standing near the gate about 11pm when he said he heard the young woman, who he thought was under-19, ask a bouncer if he was going to let her in.

“He said ‘you know what to do’, I looked over and saw her, just really quickly, flash, and then he stepped back and sort of said ‘not good enough’ or something and then she did it again,” Mr Primrose claimed. “As soon as she did that she got in. There were three other security guards there.”

He said he could see only the woman’s bare back from where he was standing.

Police from the licensing enforcement division are making inquiries and have urged the young woman to contact them to provide her version of the incident. They will be investigating whether the bouncers are “fit and proper” to hold a security licence.

Red Hill Auditorium manager Marcus Sarich said an investigation was underway with Ace Security + Event Services, the company that provided bouncers for the gig.

He said the bouncer claimed the young woman had been allowed to go to her car to get a jumper but they had not recognised her on her return.

She had then lifted only her jumper to show her t-shirt and the bouncers had then realised she had previously been inside and re-admitted her, Mr Sarich claimed.

Mr Sarich said they had been using the security company for the past three years and had not received any other complaints about them.

Ace Security + Event Services management yesterday apologised to the young woman and the venue management for any distress or embarrassment experienced over the allegations.

“The management of Ace Security + Event Services deeply regrets the incident that occurred where it is alleged that a security guard engaged by Ace Security made an inappropriate suggestion to a member of the public at an event at the Red Hill Auditorium,” they said in a statement.

“The guard in question has been engaged by us on many occasions and has always operated in a professional manner. We set very high standards for our guards to follow and our clients would attest to this.”

Mr Primrose posted the allegations on social media and offered to support the young woman if she complained to police.

Yesterday afternoon another man posted on the page: “Was this just before 11pm? If so then I was standing out the front under an umbrella picking up my gf (girlfriend). “I too saw a girl flashing her breasts but didn’t really think much of it other than someone getting a bit excited.”

Mr Primrose claimed the violent threat was made about 11.30pm when security staff were trying to stop two men re-entering the venue.

“One of the guys was drunk and aggressive and there was some shoving and pushing, to be expected from a drunk person,” he said. “There were three security guards pushing him out and one of them said ‘C’mon bro I’ll f***** stab you’. I was standing with the mate of the guy that was threatened and we were both shocked. It was a bit extreme.”

Management for The Amity Affliction released a statement saying they were “shocked and appalled” by the allegations against the security personnel and were taking them seriously.

“After being made aware of the alleged incidents we immediately made contact with the promoter of the concert who was responsible for engagement of all security,” they wrote.

“The Amity Affliction… have always promoted an inclusive and safe environment for their fans for the 10 years they have been performing together.”