Those attending large events in New York City public parks will now be subject to bag checks before entering portable restrooms. The new precautions were put into place on Sunday at Central park's Japan Day festivities were a private security firm was contracted to conduct bag checks on backpacks as well as small purses.
"These are added security measures being implemented by the city and event organizers in the wake of the incidents at the Boston Marathon," wrote a spokesman for the Parks Department, Tara Kieman, in an email confirming the policy. Kieman went into further detail, adding that the searches would be conducted by event organizers, private security firms, or the NYPD, depending on the circumstance.
"We live in a complex world where you're going to have a level of security greater than you did back in the olden days, if you will," said Mayor Bloomberg last month in explaining how park visitors will need to tolerate increased security measures. The NYPD has also ordered 100 portable surveillance cameras to be used at future public events.
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