Counter-terrorism police issue safety advice for festivalgoers
The UK’s National Counter Terrorism Policing Network has issued safety information to festivalgoers as part of a new, UK Music-backed social-media campaign, #BeSafeBeSound.
While there is no intelligence to indicate an increased threat to festivals and live music events, the Metropolitan police’s deputy assistant commissioner, Lucy D’Orsi, says she wants the public to familiarise themselves with the #BeSafeBeSound checklist so they can play their part in keeping people safe this summer.
Additionally, police will release a series on videos on social media “encouraging festival-goers to have an amazing time, but to report anything suspicious, however small.”
“There are some huge festivals taking place in the coming months, and we want everyone to have a fantastic time,” says D’Orsi, who gave the welcome address at the second Event Safety & Security Summit (E3S) last October. “Whilst we want everyone to have fun watching their favourite artists, people’s safety and security remains the top priority for police and festival organisers.
“The purpose of #BeSafeBeSound is to ensure that everyone attending these events knows they have an important role to play in the wider security operation. Everyone can help make events safe and secure by familiarising themselves with the #BeSafeBeSound advice, by reading our Run, Hide, Tell guidance and to be ready to act if they spot suspicious behaviour and activity.
“I would urge everyone attending events this summer to stay alert and follow the #BeSafeBeSound advice”
“Don’t think you might be wasting anyone’s time – it is always better to be safe than sorry. If something doesn’t look or feel right it probably isn’t, so tell someone.”
Counter Terrorism Policing’s key advice includes:
- Please arrive early for extra security measures. This will help prevent delays in getting into the event
- Be patient with security checks and help the staff to help you. We know it is inconvenient but they are there to keep you safe
- It is essential that you do not bring unnecessary items to the event; this will help to speed up searches and your entry to the event
- If you spot someone acting suspiciously, report it to police or to security staff immediately: don’t leave it to someone else
- In an emergency, if you think there is an immediate risk, always call 999 and look around you for help from staff – especially those with radios who can raise the alarm quickly
- Don’t leave bags unattended or anywhere they could cause a security scare. And never agree to look after anyone else’s bags, no matter how plausible their story
- If there is an incident, listen to staff and any announcements. Organisers will have emergency plans to help you keep safe
- Remember, the chance of being caught in a terrorism incident is small. But if it happens: Run, Hide, Tell
UK Music CEO Michael Dugher comments: “While it’s important to stress that there is no evidence of any increased threat to live music events this summer, it’s sensible that we all stay vigilant and follow advice.
“Festivals and live music gigs in the UK are amongst the best attended in the world and have rightly earned their reputation as well-organised events where nothing is more important than the safety of music fans.
“I would urge everyone attending events this summer to stay alert and follow the #BeSafeBeSound advice from the police to make sure everyone has a fantastic time in a safe and secure environment.”
More information can be found at www.counterterrorism.police.uk/safetyadvice.
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E3S 2018: Collaboration key to securing the industry’s future
The Manchester Arena bombing of 22 May 2017 was a “game-changer” from a counter-terrorism perspective, laying bare the importance of a strong private security presence to combat the growing threat to ‘soft’ targets such as concerts, said Metropolitan police commander Lucy D’Orsi, opening the second edition of the Event Safety & Security Summit (E3S) on 30 October.
The Met’s deputy assistant commissioner in specialist operations gave a 15-minute welcome address in which she said the Manchester attack – along with the vehicle ramming attacks in Westminster and on London Bridge in March and June 2017, respectively – proved that “anything is potentially a target; anything is possible”.
D’Orsi’s address kicked off a packed day of panels, presentations and workshops for the sophomore E3S, which boasted more than double the content of last year’s debut event. More than 300 professionals from 20 markets attended the day.
Other highlights included a speech by Lord Kerslake, author of the eponymous inquiry into the Manchester Arena attack, who presented the key findings and recommendations of his report; panel sessions on ‘Protecting the Future of Live Events’, which examined what initiatives are helping develop an international safety culture, and ‘Learning Transferrable Lessons’, which considered operations from the World Cup to state visits by US presidents to learn lessons from each scenario; and a host of talks and workshops covering security training, emergency messaging, behavioural detection, lockdown procedures and more.
Lord Kerslake described the Manchester Arena bombing – the deadliest terrorist attack in the UK since the 7/7 bombings of 2005 – as a “brutal, real-world test” of the venue’s security procedures.
The Manchester Arena bombing was a “brutal, real-world test” of the venue’s security procedures
He identified four key lessons event organisers and venues should learn from the tragedy: That his review, commissioned by mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham, was “the right thing to do, and should become standard practice in future”; that “importance of partnerships” between stakeholders, as well as thorough emergency planning, “cannot be overstated”; that a “genuinely multi-agency approach” is needed in case of emergency (“even in strong partnerships, the tendency of agencies under pressure to default to a single-agency way of working is extremely strong,” he explained); and that however good those plans are, “the reality will be different. There is no substitution for good situational awareness and discretion.”
As terrible as the attack was, Lord Kerslake concluded, had it taken place ten minutes later – when more young fans were exiting the arena – the outcome would have even worse. “We cannot afford to be complacent,” he said.
A key theme of the E3S 2018 was the importance of openness among stakeholders and the ability – and will – to share crucial information.
The O2 head of operations Danielle Kennedy-Clark said the live events industry needs to get better at sharing data with each other. “As a venue,” she commented, “we have a very close relationship with local authorities and other stakeholders […] but I do still feel a lot of the time security is seen as a big secret. We’re getting better but there’s still a long way to come.”
Tony Duncan, who works as tour security director for artists including U2, Madonna, Rihanna and Sir Paul McCartney, said the events security landscape is currently “fractured at best”, tending to “react to big events”. The industry could, he suggested, benefit from “formalis[ing] procedures across the board”.
“A lot of the time security is seen as a big secret”
One popular presentation at E3S was a preview of the new Green Guide, given by Ken Scott of the Sports Grounds Safety Authority. Scott also spoke about how his organisation, formerly the Football Licensing Authority, was formed after the Hillsborough disaster to “sit over the top of all those competing commercial entities [football clubs] and take the best bits of each, which you [the entertainment industry] don’t have”. “Maybe you need something similar,” he said.
The SEC’s Jeanette Roberts, a former inspector for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), suggested there could be an HSE-style government agency to set security standards industry wide. With HSE, she explained, “what they did was reach out to the industry for their knowledge – it was a brave step for the agency to go and say, ‘We need your help’.”
From a police perspective, D’Orsi concluded by saying it’s a long-term police goal to share as much information on threats as possible with venues and private security companies. Addressing delegates, she said: “Many of you represent iconic locations and events which are often broadcast live – and if you look at the propaganda put out by ISIL [Islamic State], Al-Qaeda and other groups, you are attractive targets.
“There will be less policing at live events in future – but the ambition to share as much as we can with you is very strong, and I’m confident we will achieve that.”
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Conference agenda for E3S 2018 revealed
Organisers of the Event Safety & Security Summit (E3S) have revealed the agenda for the second edition of the conference, more than doubling the number of discussion topics and presentations from last year’s debut.
The invitation-only event takes place on 30 October at the Congress Centre in central London, with over 400 delegates expected to attend, and brings together leading international venue, festival, touring, sport and security professionals.
Highlights from the 2018 agenda include:
- Lucy D’Orsi, deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, conducts the E3S Welcome Address
- Lord Kerslake, author of the independent inquiry into the Manchester Arena attack in 2017, presents the key findings and recommendations of his report
- Panel sessions include Protecting the Future of Live Events, which examines what initiatives are helping develop an international safety culture, and Learning Transferrable Lessons, which considers operations from the World Cup to state visits by US presidents to learn lessons from each scenario
- Crowd Connected’s James Cobb presents Mobile Messaging in Emergency Communication, featuring exclusive results of crowd movement data – including evacuations – gathered from festival apps, while Daniel Brunsch of the University of Cologne introduces a new approach to crisis communications, the Guardian Angels.
- Gary Simpson, security director at SMG Europe, leads a 45-minute workshop on developing Dynamic Lockdown Procedures for a variety of different events
- JSaRC’s Shaun Hipgrave reports on a year of trials of new methods and technology, in Alternative Approaches to High Footfall Screening
Other panels focus on topics including flexible solutions to in-work training, while presentation topics include the threat to crowded spaces, prioritising risk to events, integrated safety and security planning, the crowd as participatory threat sensors, working with group psychology in emergencies, trends in behavioural detection and the revolution in event incident logging.
“This year’s agenda builds substantially on last year’s sold-out event,” says ILMC head and E3S organiser Greg Parmley. “With 20 topics announced and more to come over the coming weeks, E3S sits at the centre of where safety, security and live events intersect.”
E3S is produced in close collaboration with the MOM Consultancy, European Arenas Association (EAA), National Arenas Association (NAA) and Association of Event Venues (AEV), with input from leading live event security companies, theatre and festival organisations.
The full agenda, and further event information can be viewed online at www.e3s.world.
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