RiskUKOctober2017

Safety in Numbers: Risk Management
Regimes for Large-Scale Events
Terrorist attacks
against the public in
Western Europe and
North America have
been on the rise since
2011. According to the
Global Terrorism
Database, we’re
currently experiencing
the highest rate of
incidents since 1994.
Within that scenario,
both the methods and
motives of the
terrorists are evolving.
In the aftermath of
several devastating
events, Andrew
Mortimer observes
why he believes the
way in which large
crowds are protected
and managed merits
reconsideration
This year alone, terrorist attacks have
included the use of firearms, explosives,
bladed weapons and, increasingly, acids,
other chemicals and vehicles. Of late, we’ve
seen vehicles used as weapons against crowds
in London (Westminster, London Bridge and
Finsbury Park), Stockholm, Barcelona and
Charlottesville, Virginia. During the August
Bank Holiday, while a number of attendees at
the Notting Hill Carnival in London were treated
for injuries after being doused in an
unidentified liquid by an assailant.
Attacks at concerts and nightclubs have also
been on the rise in recent years. Gunmen and
suicide bombers have infiltrated venues in Paris
(The Bataclan, 2015), Orlando (the Pulse
nightclub, 2016) and Manchester (MEN Arena,
2017), tragically resulting in the deaths and
serious injury of hundreds of people.
While police forces and counter-terrorist
units have necessarily spearheaded changes to
their approach around such episodes, event
and venue managers, security teams and
facilities management leaders have also had to
address their own methods of operation.
Essentially, anyone with a professional
responsibility for keeping the public safe at
large events has been motivated to ensure their
events/premises are as secure as they can be.
Across the globe, fundamental reviews of
security, training and crowd safety have been
undertaken and put into effect. Overhauling
policies and procedures, however, will put
pressure on venues and their security partners
in terms of increased manpower and
equipment. Yet with strategic contingency
planning, clear communication and frequent
policy reviews, this pressure can be anticipated
and alleviated, at least to some extent.
For its part, the Metropolitan Police Service
holds regular Project Griffin briefings (ie events
for business owners to better equip themselves
when detecting and deterring terrorism). Other
bodies also issue regular advice and guidance.
Indeed, the Project Griffin programme has been
extended so that training can now be delivered
by in-house teams to the wider company
security network. Also, the National Counter-
Terrorism Security Office has widely publicised
its ‘Run, Hide, Tell’ campaign.
In addition to keeping abreast of the latest
advice from industry bodies and the
authorities, and conducting ongoing risk
assessments, security solution providers must
also proactively plan for emerging threats.
Sometimes, this can be as a result of specific
incidents, such as the above mentioned
vehicular attacks, which have led local councils
to review the vulnerability of public spaces and
install protective bollards and barriers.
In the case of sports and music venues,
where visitor experience can be more overtly
influenced by site design, more subtle solutions
can be adopted. For example, the famous
cannon statue at Arsenal FC’s Emirates Stadium
in north London essentially serves the same
purpose as a barrier.
In other instances, risk assessments may be
in response to emerging technologies and
trends, such as the development of ceramic,
plastic, fibreglass or carbon fibre weapons
which are undetectable by traditional metal
sensors, or drone technology (which now poses
a clear threat to open-air events).
Technology and human intelligence
To tackle these challenges, it’s crucial to have a
robust supply chain and trusted partners in
place who can supply rigorous solutions. For
example, anti-drone technology including
radars and GPS disablers is now being invested
in by security providers. For the detection of
weapons, more advanced, high frequency
scanners and x-ray machines are being
deployed in tandem with specially-trained staff.
This combination of technology and human
intelligence is of the utmost importance. While
technology develops at a relentless pace, the
experience and intuition of human beings
cannot be rivalled. Deterring reconnaissance by
would-be attackers is hugely important. Even
the mere presence of well-trained officers with
the ability to detect and identify ‘hostiles’ can
potentially disrupt reconnaissance activity.
Allied to this, new smart CCTV equipment can
recognise the silhouettes of individuals and
identify when their outlines change. This helps
to alert security if someone has left a bag
unattended, but human insight is needed to
assess the true threat – is it a genuinely
suspicious occurrence or an honest mistake?
Only a person can decipher that detail. For staff
to be able to work with these advanced
technologies, though, investment is required.
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