Event Security 101
Event security management means only one thing. Trouble. Wherever there are many people gathered, there’s bound to be trouble of some sort, and if you add in alcohol, perhaps, or maybe some narcotics and the generally bad tempered person here and there, you’re in a world of hurt. That is, if you haven’t planned everything out properly. Someone once said that failing to plan is planning to fail, but failing to plan well amounts to the same thing.
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The Planning Stages
Whether you’re the grand high poobah of the event, or just the security guy (or girl), you need to start early. Preventing incidents is your major priority, and that can only happen if you know everything, before you need to know. So be there for the first stages in the event, work with the rest of the management team, and make them talk to you, talk with you, and talk about you for that matter. It doesn’t matter what they think – you will need to make them see our side of the story.
The sad part of working in security is the fact that usually, it’s a financial black hole. That is, on the surface. It’s an expense that is hard to justify, because on the surface of things, it looks like security only costs money without bringing anything back. That is only a half truth. The half of it that is true is that the impression is only on the surface. The rest is false.
Security will make people feel safe – it will make people be safe, and when people feel safe in an enviroment that stimulates spending, they are apt to take out their wallets much more quickly than if they weren’t feeling secure. This is something that needs to be pressed from the first stages of event planning. Event security management should be very, very high on the agenda, both when it comes to money and when it comes down to management time spent on it.
– Make sure you know everything there is to know before you need it. You need to know the venue, the amount of staff, the number of guests (projected, of course – normally there’s no way of knowing exactly before the actual thing goes down), physical area, escape routes (also known as possible sneak-in points), back doors, etc. All these things are physical, that’s the bottom line.
Checkpoint Security for Events
Checkpoint security for events is really nothing more than a normal, run-of-the-mill security checkpoint. Depending on your budget, you should opt for x-ray machines and at least two operators for each of them. How many you need will be dependent on the number of visitors that the event expects – always calculate about 20% more. That way, you’re also covered in case something happens to your checkpoint, or if something comes up to delay the process. Remember also that delays in security is a major cause of stress in crowds, and can spark “unrest”, as they say.
Metal detector portals – one for each x-ray machine. This thing is going to need an operator as well. If you can, opt for CEIA PMD2’s. They’re quick and reliable, and a 5-yr old can calibrate them. The PMD2s are also favored in government installation, proving their track record.
One guy (or girl of course – we don’t want to discriminate) to do rechecks of bags, and you’re set on the checkpoint.
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Event Security Theatre
Interesting points made in your post.
Unfortunately it is due to the “black hole” that many event promoter’s won’t invest enough into security resources. The event is there to make money not spend it all away. I understand the concern, I don’t fully subscribe to the concept.
The other point I’d like to add, is that those who do opt to purchase security services either don’t spend enough time investigating the organization they’ve hired, don’t hire enough personnel for their event and expect that security personnel are going to perform other tasks not normally assigned. Let security do what they are supposed to do best; perform a security function.
I enjoy reading your posts.