Event Security Management:

Security Management is a must-have in the event industry. So we should keep these things in mind while planning an event.

• Set your safety and security objectives What is it you want to achieve? How will you achieve it?  Where do your responsibilities start and end?  This doesn’t have to be complicated. But spending a little time asking yourself these questions will help you clarify your position and plans.
• Document your intelligence and information Are criminal organizations or individuals likely to target your event? Who may wish to engage in anti-social behaviour. Where is the event taking place? What incidents occur at similar events or at events held in the same location? Your intelligence will help you understand the risks.
• Understand the risks and be prepared to change your event plans accordingly What are the safety and security priorities based upon your identified risks. Is it emergency access to your site or a strong search regime? Is it keeping queuing guests off the highways. Do you have the capacity to increase the relevant resourcing or physical protection if there is a change to the threat levels?
• Engage with safety advisory groups, licensing authority and other sources of information. Talking to the statutory bodies and external partners will help you find out more information about your event environment and any current national issues regarding safety and security. Police Security Coordinators (SecCo’s) are a source of very valuable information. Always refer to statutory and up-to-date good practice guidance. The Health and Safety Executive’s Event Safety Guidance has been recently updated and is a good starting point. Ensure you fulfil any licensing conditions that you may have volunteered to adopt or that may be imposed upon you.
• Work with suitably qualified, competent and experienced people Do your research and check that your safety officer, security, and stewarding teams understand all potential threats and risks and are suitably experienced or qualified to manage crowds effectively. Crowd management is both a skill and a profession, with recognised qualifications for safety managers. The consequences of a safety or security issue can be very serious, so protect yourself, your staff and the public, and employ a professional to design your emergency access, evacuation, contingency and crowd management plans.
• Ensure your communication plans are effective Keep your communication lines open with all parties before, during and after the event. Hence Make sure you keep regular contact so you know what’s happening and are aware of potential impacts. Think about the safety and security messages you need to convey to your customers before and during your event. For example, what’s the best way of telling them what they can and can’t bring in or where the emergency exits are located? This will save time on searches and help reduce queues.

Monitor the situation during your event too, and be prepared to change your plan and tactics if necessary.

• Test and exercise your plans This doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Bring your key people together and look at recent issues at similar events, then ask yourself honestly if you are equipped to manage such incidents. Document your findings and update your plans accordingly.
• Document your risks, the mitigation for those risks and stay vigilant You must keep audit trails and records of your decisions. Always remember that if there were to be an enquiry, you would need to show your thought process and demonstrate the information that informed your planning.
• Ask yourself: have you have taken all reasonable steps to keep people safe and secure? The answer should be yes. Always. Would you be happy for your family and friends to attend your event? Would you be safe in the knowledge that they were safe and secure? Not only do you have a moral duty to care for your clients and staff, but the consequences of failing to do so can be severe.
• Debrief your event honestly and openly Again, this does not have to be time-consuming or expensive, but the best way to improve is to seek honest feedback, which, if you’ve planned appropriately, is likely to be positive! Embrace the positives, address the shortcomings, and remember that we all make mistakes, but any mistakes must be rectified moving forward.