As festival season draws to a close for 2018 it does not mean the fun is over… it is time to start planning for 2019! One aspect of your plans should be the security schedule and how you will be able to keep fans safe. Regardless of whether you are a huge and well-known festival or an independent festival, all will need to ensure they have the correct security measures in place to protect fans, staff and acts. If you follow our basic security guideline you are able to ensure any emergency situations are unlikely to occur or are dealt with without unnecessary escalation.
Front of house
Most public events have one main entrance, things can get hectic as numerous people are attempting to start the fun. Therefore, trained security members should be positioned here so that fans know there is a security presence at this event. This deters crime from occurring as well as providing peace of mind that there are individuals there to help if needed. The type of festival you are holding and the specific requirements you want to be followed will indicate the level of interaction security staff will have with visitors. For example, some may want physical searches before entering the event, others may only want a bag search etc.
Perimeter checks
The larger festivals can spread for miles, this allows some to secretly force entry to the event without paying or being searched. This is a significant security breach as you do not know who these people are, what they are carrying or how they plan on spending their time inside the festival walls. Your main aim is to keep fans safe and having fun, therefore you will need to have security officers patrolling and protecting the perimeter fence, therefore minimise the amount of forced entry.
Combination of static and patrolling guards
Due to the hustle and bustle of festivals and the need for a constant security presence, you will need to combine the use of static and patrolling guards. A static guard is someone who is given a specific area and will monitor and control that area only, whereas a patrolling guard is someone who is constantly moving whilst watching out for any emergency situations to mediate. As well as being there to control escalated situations, the guards will act as a deterrent as fans will be aware of their presence and avoid becoming involved in any trouble.
Finally, choose your security staff carefully
The level of experience and knowledge of security officers needs to be high in order to maintain an excellent level of safety. If they do not, they may not know how to properly manage an emergency situation, which in turn can be very dangerous for everyone involved. You simply cannot run an event without having experienced people on hand to direct, guide and protect the crowd.
WINNS Services has been established for over two decades providing expert security services to clients. We pride ourselves on exceeding expectations and working collaboratively with clients to offer the best solution to their queries. If you are wondering whether you would benefit from our Security Services, call us on 01702 719100 or email us at info@winnsservices.co.uk
