Problems for police/security

Why would you need any security or police presence? Apart from the deterrent effect, which can be worth any fees paid in itself, a selection of other problems that police/security might need to deal with at an event are are listed below. An ordinary member of your staff would not be equipped or have the powers to deal with most of these, and simply be too scared by a few of them. Again the type of event you are will dictate the relevance of this information. The primary school sports day will almost certainly not be under threat of most of these problems and so will not require the presence of police or security staff.

Theft

The most common problem encountered at events, is theft. The sections below briefly discuss the areas which thieves are likely to target.

Equipment

An event site is potentially a self-service store for thieves. It is usually located in a rural area and almost certainly there will be a range of expensive equipment and tools lying around with little supervision and a lot of confusion. People and vehicles are coming and going at odd hours. Nobody would notice a couple of lads loading a generator into a van – until the owner of the generator comes to turn his lights on!

Vehicles/trailers

You picked your site with easy access in mind. Every person and piece of equipment on site probably came by vehicle, and the vehicles and various trailers are expensive and likely to be targeted by thieves.

Stalls/stock

Stalls are frequently set up and stocked early, or even the day before the event starts. Sneak thieves may try to raid these stalls and steal some of the stock.

Cash theft

Thieves can target cash on site, either on the stalls or rides, or at the pedestrian or car park gates. Considerable sums of money build up quite quickly at these points and they are soft targets. You may think that the sums involved are too small to bother with. I strongly caution against complacency. You don’t have to look too far through the newspapers to read of armed raids on post offices and building societies, where the stolen money amounts to only a few hundred pounds. If they are willing to go to such lengths against quite secure targets such as post offices and building societies, imagine how sweet and soft a target like your gates could appear.

Property from cars

Theft of and from cars is a major element of reported crime in the UK. Event car parks are a tempting soft target. Some cars are left insecure, but criminals can quite easily break a window to steal bags, phones, radios etc.

Property from caravans/tents

At larger events, some people will stay on the event site for the duration of the event, either sleeping in a caravan or tent. During event opening hours, it is quite likely that the criminal element will roam around the caravan and tented area, looking for an opportunity to steal anything available.

Pickpockets/handbag theft

The public may be the subject of theft by pickpockets and/or handbag theft. Where the public gather and are likely to be carrying money/credit cards etc., and will probably be distracted, the thieves will not be far behind.

Arson

It is not unknown for tents, stalls, sheds, hedges, farm barns and stores, fields of crops etc. to be set on fine by youths, simply for the mindless and cowardly thrill of seeing the fine engines attend to deal with the fire.

Criminal damage/sabotage

Similarly youths have been known to damage or deliberately sabotage equipment for no apparent reason. This could be disruptive to your arrangements, but more importantly could be very dangerous

Disputes/domestics/drunks

Disputes are likely anywhere, but if there is a beer tent, disputes will be more common due to the influence of drink. If the weather is hot, people have a greater thirst, more alcohol is consumed and the likelihood of drunken disputes increases.

Counterfeit currency

At any large public gathering, criminals are likely to attempt to pass counterfeit . Cashiers, gate staff, stallholders etc. should be warned to look out for counterfeits.

You are reminded that counterfeit notes and coins have no value and that it is a criminal offence to attempt to pass on a forged counterfeit note or coin. Just to make sure you understand that – if you take and accept a forged £50 note, then realise it is forged and try to pass it on to avoid the loss, you are now committing the criminal offence! When found, all such notes and coins should be surrendered and the police notified.

Animals in distress

While security staff are patrolling car parks and the event site, particularly in summer, they should also be aware of the potential problems of pets or event animals left in cars. It is possible that car park patrols could find dogs or other animals locked in unattended cars and in distress. It is very easy for a dog, or anything for that matter, to die in a locked car, without too much sun at all. If an animal is found in distress, I suggest that you broadcast a message with the vehicle details over the public address system, requesting the owner return to the vehicle immediately, and inform the police and/or the RSPCA and any on-site vet.

People left in cars

On a large site, it is not unusual for elderly or young people to be left alone in a vehicle, to rest while the rest of their group continue to enjoy the events. It is worth briefing your security patrols to check anyone in a vehicle. They may just be asleep, waiting for their partner to return, or they may have had a heart attack, or they may be stealing the car radio!