When you are planning for an event, there are several factors you should consider making sure it is as safe and secure as necessary. A proper and professional event security firm should liaise with local authorities at the appropriate stage of the process.
At Stage Event Security we have developed a trusted and professional reputation within the local community of Suffolk. We know the importance of working with local authorities and it is part of our event security strategy to incorporate this working relationship into every appropriate stage of our planning and execution. There are several factors involved in working with local authorities, some of which may seem obvious while other areas can be overlooked.
When we talk about local authorities, we include the emergency services and the local council. Ultimately, all parties involved in the running of a successful public want to achieve the same goal. That goal is to ensure that all eventgoers enjoy their time and are safe in doing so. It’s also essential to consider the local community and businesses and to work together to minimise disruption to them.
As outlined about, working with local authorities is extremely important for running a safe event. Not to mention that in most cases you will need a license to run an event at your chosen location. A license might be compulsory but your work with the local authorities should far transcend this. The local council will be interested in several key elements like crowd management, transport capability and how local businesses will be affected. The emergency services, such as local police forces and fire services, will require reassurances about the steps being taken to maximise safety of all people in the vicinity.
One of the most common ways of managing this partnership is through a Safety Advisory Group. A decision on whether to form a group should be made during the event proposal stage. Depending on the local council’s policy, large-scale events may require a group or a similar partnership while smaller events may not. The projected visitor count, type of event and challenges of the surrounding area can influence the decision.
Safety Advisory Groups are usually set up by the local council as a way of managing the coordination between all parties involved. Event organisers should use this as an opportunity to aid in the planning and management of their event. They should attend regular meetings to build relations and show commitment to running a safe event. The organisers should be honest, not promise what can’t be achieved, and keep the group informed of updates.
Safety Advisory Groups usually involve members of the licensing, council, emergency services and environmental health teams. It is an opportunity for all concerned to address any public safety issues and advise on solutions.
Working with local authorities is just one key part of preparing for an event. Event security planning should also include a security audit which identifies what steps should be taken to improve the current security solutions and what new solutions should be implemented. If you would like to know more about what a security audit involves, check out our security audit guide.