Whether your event is for business, pleasure or both, the safety of your guests should always be your first concern. Someone being hurt, property being stolen or the venue being vandalised can overshadow all the hard work put into your event and could even result in legal action. Here’s a short checklist to make sure you’ve got your event security essentials covered. If you ever want more advice, you can always get in touch with us at 0800 772 3786.
The first step to securing the space where you are hosting your event is a risk assessment. This is where a trained security manager will thoroughly investigate the site for any security vulnerabilities and health and safety hazards.
This will allow you to make an informed decision about what measures you will need to put in place to mitigate the risks outlined in the assessment. Following the risk assessment you can also develop a security plan which outlines access points, emergency contacts, crowd control measures, evacuation procedures and more.
Bear in mind there is no one-size-fits all solution for event security, so risk assessments must not be skipped. Every combination of site and event is unique, and the risks in a private music venue (limited entrances and exits, fire hazards, overcrowding) are completely different to a garden party in a public space (theft, perimeter control, uninvited guests).
There’s no way you can keep your guests safe if anyone can enter your event carrying whatever they want. Whether your event is ticketed, has a guest list or is open to the public, it’s important that someone is checking who is coming and going.
This might include pat-downs and bag screening to confiscate prohibited items. These should always be carried out by trained and licensed security guards rather than stewards as there is a strict code of practice for security searches of individuals.
Trained security guards are expected to carry out necessary searches while respecting the people being searched and keeping them informed and calm throughout the process. Searches by untrained staff can result in legal action if guests feel discriminated against or their privacy was violated.
Crowd control is essential in sites with a limited public capacity, such as clubs and music venues. The capacity of a site may be determined by the number of seats, the number and width of emergency exits, and the strength of the structure itself.
Unfortunately, failure to implement crowd control measures can have fatal consequences. Just recently, a St. Patrick’s Day disco in Cookstown ended in the death of three teenagers after the crowd surged to try and enter the venue.
A number of measures can be used to control against overcrowding and disruptive crowd behaviour to reduce risk of property damage and injury to the people in the crowd themselves, to staff or to performers.
For example, a simple tally counter can allow door security to keep guests within the agreed limit, while vigilant security posted around the edges of the crowd can quickly disperse any trouble, diffuse difficult guests or calm crowds in an emergency situation.
• You’ll receive a free, no-obligation risk assessment with all security services
• Our SIA-licensed security guards are trained to be friendly yet firm – ideal for event security
• We can provide security guards with additional training in door supervision, public space surveillance, working with children and more
• Temporary, portable CCTV allows you to set up robust security systems at a fair price at almost any location
If you would like to learn more about our event security services, please get in touch with our award-winning customer services team at 0800 772 3786.
