EVENT SECURITY " detonate theirs soon after, away from the stadium and away from the feeling flock of fans. One can only imagine how high the death toll could have been had the first terrorist not been refused entry to the stadium. More recently, and admittedly more closer to home, the attack on an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on 22 May saw a lone wolf attacker detonate an improvised explosive device in the foyer area of the venue as parents waited for their children to vacate the venue. 14,200 people attended the concert, with 23 adults and children killed as part of the attack. A further 250 were injured in what has been described as the deadliest attack in the UK since the 7 July 2005 London bombings. CROWDED PLACES GUIDANCE The new Crowded Places guidance for the UK is primarily aimed at those with a responsibility for security at crowded places, including local authorities. It covers the key areas of protective security including physical, personnel, personal and cyber, designed to assist crowded place sectors assess the risk and build a security plan to help mitigate that risk and recover more quickly should there be a terrorist attack. While it is accepted that the concept of absolute security is almost impossible to achieve in combatting the threat of terrorism, it is possible to reduce
While the tragedy that shook Paris, and with it the rest of Europe, was an act of terrorism that should not be given a disservice in discussion, there is no denying that the outcome had the potential to be much worse the risk to as low as reasonably practicable. This new guidance aims to do that. Launching the guidance, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy D’Orsi said: “Terrorist attacks are rare in the UK, but recent events have shown that an attack could happen anywhere and without warning. Those locations either public or private where large groups of people gather, for reasons such as entertainment, business, transportation, sporting or social occasions, have always been preferential targets for terrorists. “This new and updated guidance is intended to give protective security advice to those responsible for managing the security of crowded places. Every location is different and I would urge those of you who hold this responsibility to review your security using the information in this guidance to reassure yourselves around your Security Plan. Guidance within this booklet is intended to not only make the UK more
Crowd Control
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resilient to a terrorist attack but also to support our fight against other crimes.” PHYSICAL SECURITY AND COMMUNICATION The guide offers a range of advice to a number of different event venues and public spaces, including restaurants and hotels, cinemas and theatres, visitor attractions, commercial centres, transport hubs and stadia and arenas. A number of these places, particularly stadia and arenas, are at risk of a terrorist attack ‘by the very nature that they are crowded places’. Events from around the world in recent years have highlighted how ‘terrorists are prepared to use different methodologies to attack sites and online terrorist media seeks to incite, inspire and enable individuals and groups to target these venues’. One key message within this events security guidance is the notion of not creating a ‘fortress mentality’. While it is true that !
Safeguarding your event The Thrills without the Spills Delivered by Event Health and Safety professionals, for the best possible event experience. •Event Licensing •SAG attendance •Event Safety Management plans •CDM compliance •Trader supply auditing and safety management systems •Event Risk assessments •Crowd Management Plans •Noise Management plan •Bespoke Event Training •Fire Safety Management Plans
Wessex Safety Services LLP Phone: 07850030791 Email: info@wessexsafetyservices.co.uk Website: www.wessexsafetyservices.co.uk
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