Introduction
Live events within the Middle East have been on the increase since the end of the global pandemic in 2020, with a region heavily populated by various cultures, these events in 2022 and Q1 of 2023 have witnessed record numbers to attendees, with plenty more high-profile events scheduled in the remainder of 2023 across the Middle East, event organisers need to ask themselves these questions.
Q. Are we taking Crowd Safety Management and Security seriously?
Q. Do members of our own team understand what Crowd Safety Management is, and the work that security do?
Q. Have we as an organisation completed a fit-for-purpose Security Survey and a TVRA (Threat-Vulnerability and Risk Assessment)?
Q. Do we have a fit-for-purpose Crowd Safety Management Plan and Security Operational Plan?
Q. Do we have a competent Security Silver Commander who can factually lead, manage, and direct our security strategy?
Q. Is our current security provider able to lead and represent us professionally in stakeholder meetings, for example with the police, promoters, tour staff and members of the C-Suite?
Q. How qualified are our members of security leadership? What experience do they have? And how has this been tried and tested under stress previously?
Facilitation
Security for a venue, or an event must be proportionate based on a Security Survey, and Threat-Vulnerability Risk Assessment (TVRA). Security must be tailored, and non-intrusive, enabling and facilitating event organisers, tour security, promoters, and internal and external stakeholders such as the police and other emergency services. We communicate with our clients respectfully, transparently, and in confidence to ensure their needs are identified, and our services are proportionate and fit-for-purpose.
Specialised Event & Arena Security
Event and Arena security is a service that gives event organizers and venue operators the peace of mind they need to optimize guest experience without compromising the safety of customers, employees, and talent. This can be exceptionally complicated when stakeholders may all have different understandings of needs, and security.
Components of a fit-for-purpose security strategy must include from the very start, Security Survey of the Venue, a Threat-Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (TVRA), Security Operational Plan, Policies and Procedures, Training, Engagement with Stakeholders, such as the Emergency Services, the Promoter, and or Tour Personnel, and clear understanding of any Show Stop Procedure, and Artist Risk Assessments.
If your current provider is not conducting all the above, some of the above, or none of the above, then you do not have a fit-for-purpose security strategy in place for your venue, concert, and or, event.
Crowd Safety Management
Safety at an event is achieved by establishing a balance between good management and good design. If you oversee people in crowded spaces, you need to understand the principles and applications of Crowd Safety Management and Crowd Science, if you do not understand these, and you are a responsible for large mass crowd events, you must engage with people who do.
Members of our team are both specialists in event security management, at both bronze and silver command levels, and are qualified in crowd safety management to a level 5 Ofqual standard, who have led, managed, and delivered security and crowd safety management solutions at events globally for over two decades. This combination of experience enables us to author, and deliver security governance for mass crowd events, which are fit-for-purpose.
Crowd Management vs Crowd Control
Crowd Management is Proactive & Crowd Control is Reactive. Crowd Management includes all measures taken in the formal process of facilitating the movement and enjoyment of people. As opposed to crowd control which includes all measures taken once crowds are beginning to or have got out of control. Crowd control is usually implemented when the crowds start to do something you do not want them to do, for example intervention by security, and or the police.
Engaging a Reputable Provider
A professional approach to mitigating risk costs money, security solutions should be driven by a Security Survey and a Security Risk Analysis, and the proposed mitigation measures presented by priority, reducing risk to ALARP (As Low as Reasonably Practicable), however as we know, security is often driven by budget in the first instance, so also ask yourself this; ‘’if procuring the cheapest option is of the highest of priority, above addressing risk priority, which has been well documented by a qualified and professional individual, then do you really need security at all? Or is it simply a tick in the box exercise and a disaster waiting to happen?’’.
When selecting a provider, you must take into consideration the type of event, and demographic of the artists and audience expected, what areas may require a different level of guard? For example, larger, more qualified resources within the PIT, how experienced is the provider in delivering these types of events, and within the same, or similar venue, most importantly the qualifications and experience of the leadership team, are they appropriately qualified to lead, manage and deliver a security strategy, and can they deliver quality documentation which will be fit-for-purpose when things go wrong.
Conclusion
Members of SABRE Risks senior leadership have extensive experience developing and implementing security governance on an international level, including high-profile long-term events, live concerts, tours, and sporting events. Our network within the Middle East means we can support event organisers and promoters, and have worked with global promoters, sporting organizations, and headline talent (AAA) within the region since 2005.
We have extensive experience at both bronze (operational) and silver command (tactical) and have delivered security and crowd safety management solutions at events with an excess of 70,000 people, which have been both recorded, and broadcasted live. We understand the complexities of live events, and the necessity to ensure these events are delivered seamlessly, and without major incident, this can only be done when risks are identified via a TVRA, and then measures put in place to appropriately mitigate any risks.
SABRE Risk believe that early engagement is a priority, so that we can conduct a Security Survey of your site and conduct a Security Risk Analysis to identify risks, we then sit with stakeholders to address these findings, and find solutions to mitigate any identified risks. Once this is completed a Security Operational Plan is formulated, and then delivery of the plan commences. We do this as we understand that reputational risk is of priority, as is the safety and security of patrons, employees, and talent.
We currently provide bespoke specialised manpower for several organisations in the region, with global presence, during AAA concerts and high-profile events, these include, but are not limited to, Silver Command (Head of Security), Event Control, Close Protection (Talent & Crew), Back of House, Stage, PIT, QRF teams and other specialised event posts.
We have members of our senior leadership team qualified in Crowd Safety Management to a Level 5 Ofqual RQF standard (UK), who have led security operations at AAA concerts and televised (live broadcast) sporting events, at a national, and international level for over two decades.
Members of our team possess a mixture of the following qualifications;
Ofqual Level 5 in Crowd Safety Management
Ofqual Level 5 in Crisis Management
HECert and Ofqual Level 5 in Terrorism Studies
BTEC Level 3 First Person on Scene (FPOSi), FREC 3, and FREC 4
Certified Security Management Professional (CSMP)
Please contact the team at SABRE Risk to find out how we can support you, and your next event. We can also provide a portfolio of clients that we have worked for, and currently work for within the Middle East.
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