Event Industry Faces “New Era of Accountability” as Industry Practitioners Call for Seamless Security
- MEI Management
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Written by TaylorBridges: https://taylorbridgesconsultancy.com/
Event organisers and security professionals are being urged to rethink crowd safety, balancing stringent new legal requirements with an unimpeded, welcoming visitor experience.
With the impending legal obligations under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, venues will soon face strict statutory duties to implement proportionate protective security measures. This legislation marks a "new era of professional accountability," mandating robust risk assessments, scenario-based contingency planning, stronger collaboration with emergency services, and demonstrable staff training. It requires a profound culture shift where security is no longer treated as a compliance "bolt-on," but as a core component of the visitor experience.
To meet these new statutory demands for "demonstrable training", industry leaders are pointing to robust educational pathways, such as the newly supported SFJ Awards and NaCTSO qualification - Level 3 in Counter Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness. Investing in this level of specialised training ensures that decision makers are confident, well-briefed and able to develop risk and preparedness plans, allowing them to project necessary "reassurance and authority" without alienating guests.
Professionals note that modern events operate against a backdrop of complex risks, ranging from deliberate acts like terrorism and cyber-interference to extreme weather and sudden public order shifts. However, the industry faces a crucial paradox: the better the security, the less visible it should appear to the public. Heavy-handed measures, such as long queues and intrusive searches, can negatively shape a guest's experience, making them feel like suspects rather than valued guests.
To achieve the "delicate balance" between robust safety, security and a premium visitor experience, organizers are urged to adopt four core strategies:
Designing with the visitor in mind: Prioritising flow, comfort, and dignity through wider queuing lanes and better signage.
Investing in staff: Utilising highly trained personnel to seamlessly bridge the gap between hospitality and security enforcement.
Embracing technology wisely: Using tools like ticketless entry and AI-driven surveillance to support, not replace, human decision-making.
Planning for the unexpected: Developing flexible contingencies, clear command structures, and planning for "worst disaster" scenarios, such as 20,000 people arriving for a 5,000-capacity event.
Security: Assessing vulnerabilities to emphasise a tiered, risk-based approach to security, focusing on threat detection, with thorough exercising, testing and validation of rapid response mechanisms.
Ultimately, practitioners stress that safety and the visitor experience are fundamentally "interdependent". A welcoming environment naturally minimizes the tensions and frustrations that can lead to disorder. The ultimate goal is to seamlessly integrate safety and security into the natural flow of the day, ensuring visitors leave feeling safe, valued, and eager to return.
