One of the biggest challenges and most stimulating aspects of securing large sporting events is that no two events are ever the same.
The spontaneity of crowds poses a unique security challenge, and the whole dynamic of an event can change in a matter of seconds. Our security industry aim is simple: We are there to ensure a positive experience for the fans.
With increasingly tight police budgets, coupled with the need for stadiums to cut costs, the implications for the security industry need to be properly understood so that an appropriate level of safety and security for fans, players, and staff is maintained. Rather than look at this as a political football, the events security industry should view it as an opportunity to demonstrate the value we add.
As the effects of spending reductions in public services are felt across the UK’s police forces, we have tracked an increased role for security stewards at football matches. As efficiencies need to be made, the police have focussed on conventional policing activities in and around football stadiums whilst we handle the rest.
For example, Strathclyde Police used to deploy 36 police officers to perform turnstile searches at one of our major stadiums in Glasgow. This role is now carried out by private security staff. The same applies to the segregation of fans, which is now handled by security stewards rather than constables. In fact, depending on the stadium risk profile, some less contentious matches are now police-free.
Previously, CCTV operators were police officers, but now they have been replaced by private security personnel, freeing up the police to police. The same type of review is also happening at Scotland’s national stadium, Hampden Park. In my view, this reexamination is logical.
Why should the police be tied up at turnstiles or CCTV control centres, making test calls, or conducting segregation of fans when this job can be done by stewards? It seems the best use of the police’s time (and capabilities) that they should be deployed at events to perform the essential policing duties that only they can provide.
Last week, in fact, the first ever international football match in the UK to be held without any policing presence took place.
Trained security professionals
We all know that when resources are tight, we have to focus on the essentials, and this is what police at sporting events appear to be doing. Fortunately, trained security professionals are at hand to fulfill the tasks left behind, ensuring the appropriate security package is maintained.
It is therefore important that stewards have the correct training to support the family enclosure but be prepared to deal with situations at the more difficult end of football match security, ensuring the stadium retains a family-friendly and safe environment.
SIA-licensed stewards are trained in physical intervention and de-escalation tactics and can eject people jeopardising the atmosphere — be it with bad language, drunken behaviour, or any other threat to a good day out for fans.
Our more typical stewards still carry out the essential roles of public reassurance, handling tickets, supervising safety exits, and monitoring general spectator behaviour. The critical point is that a varied and bespoke approach is required from the industry.
Security considerations at football matches are as wide and varied as they have ever been. Each match is different, and risk profiles vary considerably. Constant assessments need to be made, and this is all the more necessary because of the changes to the police’s role.
Take, for example, the trends in football ticket pricing which have implications for how the industry secures matches as demographics change and football becomes more affordable to a wider range of people.
Cuts in funding are having a wide impact, in a wide variety of ways, but our aim of ensuring a safe, secure, and enjoyable atmosphere at sporting events remains.
With our partnership with the police, we in the events security business should see this as a great opportunity to demonstrate what we can do with our collective experience and the great people working for us. Frankly, failure to do so now would be somewhat of an own-goal.
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Hi Eric. A subject that’s extremely close to my heart both from a personal and professional viewpoint. I’ve been a Season Ticket holder across two football clubs – whom I’ve supported since I was a young boy – for a combined total of 25 years. I received and read the G4S press release on the Scotland-Estonia game and, indeed, watched the match live (at home). Very impressive statistics and reports. One wonders how far we might be away from some other games – higher profile league games, for example – being police free? During the Christmas period I attended the Queens Park… Read more »
In answer to your last question, from my point of view stewards should merely report incidents to the police. There’s not much more you can do, right? Weirdly, I almost prefer the real-world touts to the online touts — always feels to me like they’re making more of an effort. Obviously, not condoning that. Moving on… I think it’s amazing that we’re at a point there could be any football matches in this country taking place without police in the stadium. From the dark days of the 80s and football hooliganism to where we are now is a massive leap.… Read more »
Providing security in a sports extravaganza is much more precarious than other such events of public gathering. Infact people are coming to have fun and enjoy the sports and if they are required to go through lots of body searches, scans and other security barriers , then that turn them off and dampen the enthusiasm and fervour with which had stepped into the sports stadim. It is sort of double edged. If you let the security to go lax then the probability of unforeseen goes up. On the flip side , too much of tightening of security would be detrimental… Read more »
Sheh — absolutely and this applies to anywhere that manned guarding is being used. Nightclubs, offices, hotels, residential communities. The guards should be a visible deterrant to those planning on causing trouble and should not in any way take away fom the overall positive experience. If someone enters a nightclub or a bar and is overly-aggressively searched or interrogated by security staff, it’s fair to say they’ll enter the venue angry and potentially more likely to cause trouble. If they enter after having a pleasant exchange (note I say pleasant, a guard doesn’t have to become best friends with the… Read more »
Whilst I agree with some of the points raised, I have issues with the ‘Quality’ and levels of training of some of the Security Officers and Event Stewards employed at Chelsea Football Club where I am a Season Ticket Holder. Those permantly employed are on the whole friendly and dilligent, however, when the Liverpool, Manchester United, West Ham and Tottenham supporters arrive, the mood changes, to tension and aggressive attitudes by extra Security/Event Staff overseeing the Event. Outside the Ground main junctions which were normally covered by Police are now managed by the ‘Yellow Brigade’ who stand around doing nothing, whereas the Police… Read more »
@John Legge I think of all of that comment the crucial thing you said was that staff ‘are trained to the highest levels, with rates of pay to match.’ Certainly, the industry needs to offer good pay in order to entice people into taking the job seriously. Not some of the minimum wage horror stories (and they are horror stories, as I understand they are often exaggerated by national media) that we hear from time to time.
@ Rob
That is a good point. A lot of times people expect to get top shelf service for bottom shelf prices, and that just isn’t fair. A person should receive fair compensation to compell them to provide excellent service.