Summer time is officially upon us, and many people will be heading out for events of all kinds – concerts, festivals, sporting events, and more. With the threat of theft, misbehavior, violence, and vandalism, how can these events be secured so they can be enjoyed by all?
What are possible threats to security at events?
With large crowds present and focused on enjoying an event, pickpockets and thieves have a wide window of opportunity to strike. Mobile phones, payment cards, and personal belongings are items that could be stolen in the blink of an eye while someone is enjoying a concert or sporting event, and may not be aware of the theft until much later.
And it’s not just personal items that are at risk of being stolen. In January 2023, $15,000 worth of sound and lighting equipment, as well as food and drink donations from the local community, were stolen from a storage area at the Calgary Arts & Music Festival. The thieves also took an extra step to conceal their actions by switching out the stolen goods with other items, and organizers of the event were left reeling from the brazen theft. (1)
While large events are meant to be places where people can have fun and let loose, there is always the risk of misbehavior, violence, and vandalism. In November 2022, Vancouver police identified 10 suspects who took part in a riot at the PNE Fairgrounds during the Breakout Festival. The riot was started after the concert headliner cancelled at the last minute, leading to an eruption of chaos that caused over $300,000 in property damage. Angry concert goers tore down tents, threw garbage cans, and attacked the event’s vendor booths. Police were able to identify some of the suspects after the fact through video footage recorded on attendees’ cell phones. (2)
Health, safety, and liability are also key reasons to take a proactive approach to event security. With so many people in attendance, anything can happen – unsafe behavior such as climbing speaker poles, alcohol or drug abuse, and medical emergencies like heat stroke. The ability to act quickly is key to providing effective security – if someone is having a health issue, or needs medical assistance, Video Monitoring can help by alerting first responders directly to the area where there is someone in distress, eliminating guess work of where the person is located, thus prioritizing health and safety. Trespassing is also a major concern, as enthusiastic attendees can wander into areas that are off limits, including artist areas and VIP tents. These are just a few examples of the multitude of health and safety considerations that are taken into account when establishing event security.
What type of events require proactive security?
Events come in many different forms – festivals, concerts, and sporting events are just a few examples people flock to all year round. When organizers are putting together these events that are attended by thousands of people, event security is at top of mind in order to keep attendees & employees safe, and also prevent any potential theft, vandalism, violence, or misbehavior that could arise as a result of so many people gathering in one place.
These gatherings can be unpredictable, and providing proactive event security can help reduce the chances of this unpredictability impeding on the fun being had at events all over the world. We’ve had the pleasure of providing security solutions for different kinds of sporting events, including major international golf tournaments. These major tournaments require a customized security solution that covers all the angles and keeps athletes, officials, and attendees secure and protected while they enjoy their favourite game.
Regardless of the event, our team of security experts rise to the challenge by providing a logistically sound security plan worthy of such special occasions. Many event organizers are well aware of the efficacy of our security solutions, with several organizers utilizing our technology year after year – the overall security goal is to cover more ground at events, and synchronizing guard deployment to incidences with a robust network of our proprietary Video Security Units.
In contrast to golf tournaments – we’ve also provided proactive security for large music festivals and concerts. Whereas a golf tournament are typically quiet and reserved due to the nature of the sport, a loud music festival requires a different approach. Festivals are fun, but unpredictable events where most attendees are understandably letting loose – with some occasionally getting into trouble. With so many people moving around the venue, and so many different viewpoints to cover – proactive security is a necessity to keep an event secure.
In all instances of event security coverage, our focus has been to help prevent theft, vandalism, and violence and make each event enjoyable for all attending. In order to provide the required coverage & protection, several considerations must be made:
Leveraging a Next-Generation Cellular LTE Platform
Large events require a security solution that is forward thinking and reliable. Our Video Security Units operate within our proprietary Cellular LTE Platform, which is changing the game of event security. Festivals and sporting events are typically set up in parks, golf courses, and remote locations where hardwired Internet connections are hard to find. The Cellular LTE signal eliminates the need for Ethernet cables that need to be run and tested before an event – our Video Security Units can be setup and up and running in under 30 minutes.
These units leverage Cellular LTE signal to transmit high-quality video back to the mobile Video Monitoring Centre on-site at events. Installation is extremely flexible – the units can be mounted on poles, tents, and even trees to maximize video coverage and protect all areas that need it. Events are temporary setups that require security that is nimble and cost effective, and the placement of our Video Security Units can provide the necessary coverage events require, while also helping to keep event costs low.
Site Planning & Logistics
The first part of establishing event security is performed by our Logistics department. The Logistics team will meet with organizers and make site visits well in advance of an event to get an accurate picture of what areas need coverage.
Whether it be a concert or sporting event, each event requires a customized solution tailored to its security needs. The process of site planning requires our Logistics team to act on the fly – as the event comes together there are various tents, vendor booths, and other areas that may not be fully set up until closer to the event start date, or changes to layout may occur as last minute arrangements are made for additional sponsors, vendors, or activities.
As the event gets closer, our team will continue to refine the locations of our Video Security Units to maximize safety and security. Multiple industrial generators are often used to provide electricity on site to power the entire event, as well as our Video Security Units. Once camera positions have been established on rafters, poles, and other vantage points, our Logistics Team will set up a dedicated security trailer on site that is managed and monitored by a dedicated Video Surveillance Operator.
On-site Incident Response
Our Live Operator works in collaboration with the on-site Event & Security staff to provide a complete security presence. While our Operator provides information such as suspect descriptions, location, and behavior – on-site security professionals will tend to the incident and investigate further.
Post-Event Procedures
After the event is wrapped up, we can provide full video reviews of any incidents that occurred to gather additional details and insights to assist event organizers. We follow very strict chain-of-custody guidelines and all hard drives with raw video data are given to the clients. These hard drives are delivered to clients in a secure attaché case that protects the drives from the elements and any damage that could occur during delivery.
This raw video data is especially important for insurance purposes – if there was an incident of injury or other serious matter, these video archives can provide an accurate picture of what actually occurred; this is key if there are any claims of injury, even if it is well after an event has taken place.
Event security is essential to ensuring events of all kinds are enjoyed by everybody without the threat of theft, violence, or vandalism. Our proactive security solutions help to make each event successful and assist in providing a positive event going experience for all attending.
Resources:
- “Calgary BIG Winter Classic ransacked; $15K in equipment, donations stolen”, Jillian Code & Alejandro Melgar, CityNews, January 19, 2023
- “Vancouver police identify top 10 suspects in riot at Breakout Festival after Lil Baby no-show”, Bridgette Wilson, CBC News, November 1, 2022