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By Peter Randles

Continued and improved safety of the public, staff, competitors and artistes attending events in stadia and arenas internationally is possibly one of the greatest challenges facing venue management in modern society.

Over successive years, management have implemented procedures in response to legislation, regrettably more often than not, as a reaction to a particular incident, in the hope that similar circumstances can be avoided at our own particular venue. Learning from others, and where possible avoiding parallel situations presenting themselves.

UK stadia utilise Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) as a major tool in safety management, though it must be stressed that use of this technology does not substitute good stewarding on the ground, or mitigate management obligations to safety.

Venue CCTV is integrated where appropriate with local municipality cameras, providing a broader view of the locality and venue approaches. The images allow emergency safety agencies such as the police and fire a wider picture of what is happening before, during and after an event.

From within a venue control point, which is usually sited to provide a clear visual perspective of the main arena and seating areas, staff monitor and control the various cameras, reporting potential problems to senior staff who in turn can then implement pre-arranged safety procedures and contingency plans.

Unlike the U.S., fans typically arrive at UK stadia in the 20 minutes prior to kick off and leave immediately after final whistle. This presents logistical problems of marshalling large numbers of people efficiently into the venue, and away to public or private transport from the venue. Compounding this human logistical problem, venue management collaborating with the police have to consider segregation of opposing fans at football (soccer) games until sufficient dilution of numbers can be safely accommodated. This helps avoid potential violent clashes which today are thankfully only by a small number of minority groups but still a threat which can escalate rapidly.

Crowd control is a harsh phrase describing management procedures to mitigate possible panic should an incident lead to problems. This is an important factor to consider, given that 30 percent of all recorded stadia disasters resulting in injury and death internationally have occurred in the UK since 1900.

Choice of appropriate equipment is also very important to ensure that cameras are capable of face recognition over long distance when zooming in to an area. The cameras must function under a range of lighting conditions and be sighted to give maximum coverage.

We now use CCTV more than ever in proactively avoiding potential problems, spotting known trouble makers from police intelligence external to the venue, and intercepting them as they approach entrances and turnstiles. Installation of the cameras within the ground allows operators clear and definitive views of the seating areas and public concourses, views from which are sometimes difficult because venue personnel are at the same eye level as patrons. With good camera coverage it is possible via radio link to direct staff quickly and efficiently to a hot spot or incident.

Forensic use of CCTV coverage and good venue ticketing records led successfully to conviction of a fan some years ago attending an event at Cardiff Arms Park, now Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales.

Prior to the event, management had conducted a range of risk assessments into various aspects of the event, preparing contingency measures where appropriate. A particular phenomenon of concern was use of pyrotechnics post game by fans, which had become commonplace at many European football games. Management and the emergency services elected to allow fans into the ground without a detailed search and monitor activity closely.

At the end of the game in the euphoric atmosphere of winning, a marine flare was set off across the pitch towards the opposite side, which inflicted fatal injuries on a fan sitting there.

A qualified medical steward pronounced the victim dead at the scene and investigations were instigated immediately. Review of CCTV recordings revealed to investigators the location, including the row and seat, from which the flare had been discharged. Ticketing records established that tickets for the particular seats where the flare had been discharged had been part of a block allocation made to a sports club. An off duty senior police officer from that club was able to confirm the name and address of the person who had been given the tickets.

Because it was possible to track accurately and identify the person responsible, police were able to move quickly, apprehending the perpetrator on his return home in north Wales 150 miles away from the venue.
The arrest ultimately resulted in a successful conviction for manslaughter. In his daily life the person who had discharged the flare was a pleasant, well-thought-of member of his local community. The act was out of character and in effect a prank which had gone tragically wrong.

This example demonstrates how integration of venue systems can provide a valuable safety tool by allowing one to view directly on a monitor or receive reports from ground staff and then using CCTV to make a more detailed appraisal. Typically incidents might involve single or multiple spectators, where management in the control centre can quickly establish from use of CCTV the most appropriate action necessary to contain or deal with the incident.

Other than operational uses, CCTV can play a major role in proactive security of venues during non-event periods, particularly where these are linked with Passive Infra Red (PIR) sensors, which can be activated and send a signal to a security control centre, alerting staff to possible intrusion. Modern technology allows personnel to receive images from CCTV to hand held Personal Data Appliances (PDA’s) whilst on patrol, which can allow them to judge a situation remotely without placing themselves at risk or in danger, allowing authorities or emergency services to be notified promptly.

Peter Randles was formerly stadium director at Fulham Football (Soccer) Club in west London, responsible for development of their proposed new £100m venue. He was also project supervisor and design manager during development of the £148m Millennium Stadium at Cardiff. Randles remains active in communicating internationally with stadia and arenas whilst currently managing project developments in the UK.

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