Security Strategies for Large-Scale Events

From concerts to conferences, sporting events to festivals, Sydney is a city where large events are common. The biggest and most populous city in Australia, Sydney has an abundance of stadiums, theatres, arenas, corporate facilities and other venues. Local landmarks, cultural attractions, fine dining and luxury accommodation all help to make this city more appealing to professionals, artists and event organisers with grand visions.

No matter the event, managing large crowds and ensuring the safety of everyone present is essential. With potential problems like unpredictable weather, fire hazards, traffic congestion and anti-social behaviour, stringent planning is necessary. You need a method for keeping the entry points secure and verifying authorisation, as well as for keeping the crowd in order. This is a process that starts long before the event is underway, with a risk assessment plan and emergency response procedures.

Each event is different and has different risks to take into consideration. But SSTC has been providing security at large-scale events long enough to know which strategies work best for different scenarios, and when it’s time to modify your approach. This article is SSTC’s guide to keeping your security presence strong at large-scale events, and which strategies are most effective.

What Classifies as a Large-Scale Event?

A simple definition of a large-scale event is that it can accommodate more than 500 people at any given time. But of course, there’s more to the finer details than that. Large-scale events can attract anything from a few hundred to tens of thousands of attendees. Complex endeavours by their very nature, large-scale events require intricate planning and coordination in order to be successful.  

Large-scale events can fall into several categories:

Business events

For big companies, new product launches and industry conferences can be large-scale affairs attracting followers of the brand and the media in droves.

Sports

From the Rugby World Cup, to the City2Surf Fun Run, to the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sporting events in Sydney attract thousands of attendees and can require complex logistics to pull off, including closing streets and implementing traffic control measures.

Music and entertainment

NSW is home to major music festivals throughout the year, while Sydney boasts major concert venues like the Sydney Opera House and the Hordern Pavilion. When the event or the performer is big enough to pack out major venues, there’s a lot of coordination required.

Conventions and trade shows

From pop culture conventions to consumer electronics shows, these large-scale events cater to the tastes and interests of particular demographics in the community.

Cultural events and celebrations

From fireworks over the harbour on New Year’s Eve to the epic experiences of the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Sydney knows how to celebrate significant dates, landmarks and cultural events.

The “one size fits all” approach doesn’t work for event planning, and it’s even less effective for larger events. Organising large events means meeting the needs of different vendors and stakeholders, and overcoming challenges.

What Types of Security are Best Suited to Large-Scale Events?

Security can take many forms. Depending on the type of the event and its location, you may need a range of approaches to effectively manage the crowd and the proceedings. Some forms of security that are best equipped to handle large events include:

Checkpoint/door security

The entranceway or security gate of your venue is the first line of defence, and often the biggest threats are the ones that walk right through it. Checkpoint and door security can make sure all attendees have the proper permits and authorisation to enter. They can check guests’ bags, use metal detectors and employ any other strategy necessary to stop potential threats from entering your event.

Crowd control

Crowd control is an important security measure to have in place at major events with a lot of drinking, such as street parties, parades and music festivals. At more formal events, they can direct foot traffic, keep queues in order and help guests if needed. Crowd controllers are trained to respond to heated situations in the crowd and to liaise with emergency services when necessary.

Mobile security patrols

If you station all your security personnel in the same location, you leave a lot of gaps in your security strategy. Mobile security patrols can cover just as much ground as your event does. They can respond to alarms and dispatches from different monitoring stations as well as roam around keeping a lookout for anything suspicious.

Emergency response and medical professionals

Ensure you have first aid stations and medical teams onsite to handle any crises that arise. This allows you to swiftly deal with accidents or emergencies at your event as well as meet any legal requirements.

What Security Strategies Are Best For Large-Scale Events

Building a strong security strategy starts long before hiring security guards and continues throughout your event, considering its unpredictable nature. To ensure the event is safe and successful, you need not just security personnel but security strategies. Some of the most effective examples include:

A risk assessment

Before you can determine the right strategies, a comprehensive risk assessment is essential. It forms the foundation of your security approach. Consider factors such as the size of the crowd, the location and weather conditions, as well as the potential for medical emergencies, equipment failures and other urgent situations. A detailed and thorough risk assessment plan includes clearly defined roles for event staff and security personnel, and establishes clear channels of communication between stakeholders.

Screening and access control procedures

The larger the event, the more necessary it is to have advanced screening and access control processes stationed in various locations. This can include devices like x-ray machines and metal detectors as well as actions such as bag searches.

Integrated communication systems

It’s essential to establish reliable lines of communication between all involved in the safety and security of the event. Security personnel and emergency responders should be able to share information in real time and respond accordingly, with a centralised command centre monitoring incident responses. Communication is the most important ingredient for event success and all parties, including staff, security personnel, vendors, and attendees, need to be kept in the loop.

Emergency plans

No matter how well you plan, unexpected emergencies can occur. Make sure to have a plan for emergency procedures, rehearse it and make sure everyone on your team is well-versed in it.

Effective Security Strategies with SSTC

Safety is paramount to the SSTC team, and with our security service in Sydney we can ensure the safety of your event. We offer a range of security services including static security guards, mobile security patrols, checkpoint security and even security consulting. With over 25 years of combined experience, we can also put together a risk assessment plan tailored to your event. You’ll be well-equipped to handle any urgent situations that arise.

Trusted by some of Australia’s largest construction companies, SSTC are experts in traffic management, professional services and industrial services in Sydney. We can also help you acquire all the plans, permits and documentation you need for your event to meet legal requirements.

To find out more and get started on your own security strategy, contact the SSTC team for a free quote.