{"id":2255,"date":"2018-02-28T22:06:47","date_gmt":"2018-02-28T22:06:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniofglos.blog\/eventsglos\/?p=2255"},"modified":"2018-10-09T15:21:07","modified_gmt":"2018-10-09T14:21:07","slug":"what-measures-can-you-as-an-event-manager-take-to-make-your-attendees-feel-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uniofglos.blog\/eventsglos\/2018\/02\/28\/what-measures-can-you-as-an-event-manager-take-to-make-your-attendees-feel-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"What measures can you, as an event manager, take to make your attendees feel safe?"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the hardest issues for\u00a0event managers\u00a0to grasp is balancing the fan experience with the safety of attendees. In recent years terror attacks have become more\u00a0frequent at events and we need to be aware that following\u00a0this recent rise, the public\u00a0are now more\u00a0concerned about\u00a0their safety than they ever have been before.<\/p>\n

In a survey carried out\u00a0by ATG Access<\/a> (2017), 29% of the public said they now will not go to large events taking place in the UK, due to concerns about the level of security. Whilst\u00a041% of people\u00a0said they will not attend events if they think they will be overcrowded, through fear that it would be hard to leave if an incident was to happen.<\/p>\n

Why the sudden\u00a0change?<\/h2>\n

In the last 3 years there have been over 23 terror attacks just across the west world, including the Bataclan Theatre attack in 2015, the Bastille Day Celebrations in Nice and the German Christmas market attacks in 2016 and the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester in\u00a02017. As the timeline below shows, this is an unsettling increase in attacks with people fearing whether or not another attack is imminent.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Timeline<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Every time we see another attack in the headlines, people ask, how did they not get noticed? How is it possible that security did not see them? Why does this keep happening? Will it ever be possible to prevent these attacks from happening?<\/p>\n

How exactly are event managers supposed to know how much security is too much or too little?<\/p>\n

According to the survey carried out by EventHuddle (2016) 93% of event organisers don\u2019t feel adequately trained for an incident. If this is the case, are the public right to feel uneasy at our events?<\/p>\n

So what are the public’s expectations?<\/h2>\n

In todays current climate, the question shouldn\u2019t be whether your event should have security or not but more about the level of security the event should have. Since the Manchester attack, the UK has seen numerous sporting and music events and there is no doubt that they have increased their security.<\/p>\n

For the first time in 10 years the terror threat was raised to the highest possible level, from severe to critical, meaning that an attack was to be expected imminently. So how did public security change?<\/p>\n

Police stepped up security on major cities such as London and Manchester, as well as extra bag checks at events and more armed police on guard outside concert halls and festivals etc. Security is increasingly changing since there has been more of a threat of terror attacks, However, is that enough to put the publics mind at rest? Apparently not.<\/p>\n

In the 2017 ATG Access report,\u00a036% of the public suggested they would prefer for there to be more armed officers patrolling public events, with 39% suggesting that they would feel more at ease if emergency services were on site and easily visible.<\/p>\n

\"pexels-photo-179993\"

Source:\u00a0Thomas W\u00a0via Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n

Whilst security personnel can help to put the publics mind at ease, its the visible security measures that mean the most. Almost half of the public surveyed would welcome more thorough bag searches and the use of metal detectors, CCTV and bollards and barriers to ensure their safety.<\/p>\n

So what can\u00a0event managers\u00a0do?<\/h2>\n

While it is almost impossible to prevent all terror attacks, everyone has a part to play in trying to reduce the impacts of them, this is not a matter of being prepared it is a matter of imagining the unimaginable.<\/p>\n

As events are becoming the preferred target for terror attacks event managers can enhance their security to ensure attendees feel as safe as possible. Different ways to enhance their security could be:<\/p>\n