Now we are in a post-pandemic era, we have a host of opportunities for socialising including attending all the concerts, comedy gigs, and event fairs that we missed during the period of lockdowns and social distancing.
We are also living in the post-Manchester arena era, where the security industry was demonstrated to be using under-trained and under-equipped event staff unable to effectively identify and disrupt threat and then react to a serious incident at the venue. In the past decade, concerts and events have been attacked on at least three occasions, and twice in a coordinated attack by multiple threat actors.
In addition to the threat from attackers seeking a soft target, incidents such as the Brixton Academy crush have highlighted the risk from poor planning and the use of poorly trained and, often, underpaid security staff. If a customer is only willing to pay the lowest amount for their security and the security provider is failing to pay their staff a suitable salary for the hazards they face, then we should anticipate these consequential incidents.
In response to the Manchester arena attack, the UK government have developed The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill – often referred to as Martyn’s Law.
This much-anticipated piece of legislation will rock the security world.
Event organisers contract out essential services such as audio-visual technicians, stage and gantry assembly, and medical cover, but safety and security can be an afterthought, or grudge purchase.
Is your security contractor able to provide you with the right advice, and security plan, and then provide procedures, train, and exercise their staff for events specific to your venue – or are they just checking tickets and managing entry?
Perhaps it is the guests who will, again, pay the price for a venue paying lip-service to event security?
Threat Intelligence and Risk Assessments
An all-source intelligence report is critical when it comes to event security, encompassing the threat to the venue, the performers or acts, main threats to the attendees – as well as any ‘recognisable guests,’ often referred to as a ‘VIP.’ Additionally, it is important to know where your vulnerabilities are in and around the venue that would enable a threat actor to complete their mission.
Queuing guests falling off a kerb into oncoming traffic due to poor queue management is equally as lethal as a stabbing, and easier to plan for and avoid.
Only by conducting a full assessment can a comprehensive risk assessment be produced that incorporates all the threats and vulnerabilities identified and a fit-for-purpose security plan to be developed. Threat intelligence is key in understanding the security risks you will face at your event.
Venue and Terrorism Risk Assessments
Without the threat intelligence function, any event will struggle to produce a credible Terrorism Risk Assessment or Evaluation. Any premises able to hold 800 guests is an ‘enhanced’ venue, with any other venue qualifying as a ‘standard’ venue; all qualifying venues must be registered with the regulator.
A Terrorism Risk Assessment or Terrorism Risk Evaluation must be completed for all qualifying venues, and in the case of an enhanced Terrorism Risk Assessment, must be adjusted either every 12 months or after any material change to the venue.
In addition, for qualifying events at an enhanced premises or public event qualifying for enhanced status, a full Terrorism Risk Assessment must be completed either three months prior to the event, or as soon as “practically possible” prior to the first date of announcement.
The Terrorism Risk Assessment does not just relate to the venue, but to areas in the vicinity of the venue, and how any events taking place may impact on the safety of those attending the event. We are not just planning for the worst at our event, but potentially preventing an external action of terrorism impacting our own event.
It is worth noting that an act of terrorism may escalate from a minor event to a major incident, and ensuring event staff are situationally aware and practicing behavioural detection to identify threats in the close, near, and far distances is key to early warning of a rising storm.
Qualifying Persons
In addition to venues being registered, an appropriate person (or people) responsible for the venue must be nominated and registered with the regulator. In the instance of the event being held by a ‘body corporate’ such as a company or partnership, then the qualifying person must be a senior member of the body such as a director, manager, or secretary.
Whilst the proposed bill does not yet specify requirements, it is wise to assume that the NaCTSO Competent Persons Scheme1 will align with any future requirements for the qualifying person.
Though the scheme will undoubtedly provide the first step for event organisers, any venue wishing to develop a complete and credible Terrorism Risk Assessment or Evaluation would be wise to employ an individual or organisation with extensive experience in intelligence, managing risk, with individuals experienced in counterterrorism and event security.
Security Measures and Terrorism Training
Security measures must be in place to both reduce the risk of terrorism occurring, and to reduce the risk of physical harm should an act or terror take place within, or in the vicinity of, the event venue. These measures include producing effective standard operating procedures (SOPs) which are to be followed in the event of an incident.
An important aspect of the proposed bill is the need for training, and for providing terrorism protection training to any individual receiving renumeration for their attendance at the event – and is not limited to those staff undertaking event security roles.
The provision of terrorism protection training must be provided to all individuals working within the event as soon as practically possible.
Training is the bedfellow of testing. Testing SOPs is critical to ensuring the safety of the individuals within the venue, and all staff should be given their “Actions Stations” position and understand their role in responding to any incident.
Unless all venue staff are capable of responding to an event using the SOPs designed by the qualifying person, then the ability of the venue to collectively respond to a major incident is questionable.
Event Security Compliance
The event security world is about to be rocked by the new legislation, and ensuring that all event staff – cleaners, bar staff, lighting crews, and security teams – are all collectively trained and capable of responding to a major incident is a grave concern for many event organisers.
You hire professionals to mix the cocktails – hire professionals to secure your event.
To find out about how Toro can support you with your next event please email mike@torosolutions.co.uk.