Bredin, the top-ranked New Zealand umpire, has been heavily criticised on social media recently, particularly by Central Pulse fans, who feel Bredin wrongfully penalised the team in the dying stages of a loss and draw against the Steel the past fortnight.
Since penalising Pulse goal attack Jodi Brown for taking steps in the last minute of the Steel's one-goal win against the Pulse in Dunedin on May 2, Bredin has been accompanied by a security guard for the Pulse's home games against the Mainland Tactix and Steel in Porirua and Palmerston North.
New Zealand ANZ Championship operations manager Kate Agnew said while there was security at every game, ''an increase in social media comment'' resulted in extra security around Bredin.
''Just like anybody who is responsible for the delivery of a competition, we take very seriously our responsibility towards the people that we contract,'' she said.
''This is one of those situations where it's wiser to err on the side of caution.''
''The ANZ Championship takes providing a secure environment for all the teams and officials very seriously.''
In the dying moments of Sunday night's 55-55 draw between the Pulse and Steel in Palmerston North, Bredin enraged Pulse captain Katrina Grant after penalising her for contact outside the circle, before advancing the penalty next to the goal post, where Jhaniele Fowler-Reid scored the match-tying goal.
Grant was visibly upset with the call, and approached Bredin after the final whistle to voice her frustration.
She was promptly turned away by an official, and the league is reviewing the incident to decide whether or not action will be taken against Grant.
Grant and Pulse coach Robyn Broughton approached Netball New Zealand to discuss the team's difficulties with Bredin after the match.
In addition to criticising Bredin's umpiring, some comments on social media questioned whether it was fair Bredin, the Dunedin Netball chairman, was allowed to umpire the Southern Steel.
However, Agnew quashed any thought there was a conflict of interest.
''We don't believe that in anyway it compromises his ability to umpire in the ANZ Championship,'' she said.
''This is actually quite a common thing in netball, where people do hold various roles in different organisations within the structure of netball.
''He is one of the top umpires in New Zealand and has been for a long time. He's also held the role as Dunedin Netball chair for several years. He's certainly not able to access anything or have any more bias about the Steel than anybody else.''
Bredin declined to comment when contacted yesterday.
Security around Bredin will continue to be assessed.
