Security Measures At High Profile Sports Events
By Jason Wakefield, Sales Director at Todd Research
The government-imposed lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic saw the introduction of restrictions that meant major sporting events were postponed, leading to stadiums sitting dormant and a high turnover of security staff. As these restrictions have lifted and eager fans start to return, many stadiums now have the added challenge of recruiting and training new personnel to replace experienced staff who have migrated to other industries during the pandemic, potentially leaving a skills gap.
This comes at a time when stadiums are planning for proposed new counter-terrorism legislation known as Martyn’s Law. This follows a high profile campaign by Figen Murray, whose son Martyn Hett was killed in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack, and could require venues to establish a coherent and proportionate approach to protective security in any place or space to which the British public has access. Stadiums and large venues must engage with freely available counter-terrorism advice and training, conduct vulnerability assessments of their operating places and spaces, mitigate the risks created by the vulnerabilities, put in place a counter-terrorism plan, and plan for the threat of a terrorist attack.
Overcoming Today’s Challenges
There is no single technology or security measure that will ensure the safety of staff and visitors. A pat down, bag search and CCTV are no longer enough, and vigorous searching is a challenge when there are large stadiums that see between 75,000 to 90,000 spectators arriving within short periods of time. There are a lot of parameters to consider, from how many staff and what detection technologies are needed, to how to speed up the process when fans arrive. Finding the right balance is a real challenge.
A Holistic Approach
Security technology manufacturers recognise the need for this comprehensive approach, and combine state-of-the-art products – from metal detectors and X-ray scanners to trace detectors and vehicle scanners – with all-encompassing training, expert advice and maintenance services to aid venues. Understanding the benefits and limitations of each technology is vital to ensure the right solution fits individual needs. For example, metal detector arches that visitors must pass through before entering the premises reveal metallic objects – such as firearms and knives – but this approach can create a queue if not deployed properly, slowing entry and creating a potential target for an attack outside of the security cordon. Security checkpoints can now be more versatile with the introduction of freestanding ferrous-magnetic search poles to perform safe, discreet and non-intrusive security screening of threats. This new portable technology has evolved to the point where detectors can indicate the approximate location of an object, improving search efficiency and mitigating any risk of any malicious attack.
Conveyor and cabinet X-ray scanners have also advanced enormously in recent years, and now offer the heightened ability to identify threats, including biological or chemical agents – e.g. anthrax, ricin and caustic soda – in post, parcels, small bags and briefcases arriving at venues. Combining intelligent software with improved image quality, these systems can highlight objects to operators by clearly distinguishing between different materials using automated colour coding. This helps security staff to confidently and quickly screen and identify suspicious objects.
Crucially, any technology is only as good as the operator, making comprehensive training essential to ensure staff are using equipment effectively, as well as how to quickly spot dangerous items or be able to spot suspicious behaviour in potential perpetrators. Certain training can be incorporated into regular equipment maintenance visits – which is vital to meet regulatory requirements and ensure optimal performance – as part of a comprehensive service agreement.
Summary
To stay one step ahead of potential perpetrators, event organisers and facility managers need to be aware of the dangers inherent in any large gathering, and take a holistic approach to the security measures they implement. It is important that sports venues have security operators who are suitably trained and have the correct equipment – user-friendly metal detectors, X-ray scanners and trace detectors – which provides high throughput inspection of mass casualty threats, so visitors are kept safe.
