Football Security: Tightening Budgets, Reviewing Priorities

One of the biggest challenges and most stimulating aspects of securing large sporting events is that no two events are ever the same.

The spontaneity of crowds poses a unique security challenge, and the whole dynamic of an event can change in a matter of seconds. Our security industry aim is simple: We are there to ensure a positive experience for the fans.

With increasingly tight police budgets, coupled with the need for stadiums to cut costs, the implications for the security industry need to be properly understood so that an appropriate level of safety and security for fans, players, and staff is maintained. Rather than look at this as a political football, the events security industry should view it as an opportunity to demonstrate the value we add.

As the effects of spending reductions in public services are felt across the UK’s police forces, we have tracked an increased role for security stewards at football matches. As efficiencies need to be made, the police have focussed on conventional policing activities in and around football stadiums whilst we handle the rest.

For example, Strathclyde Police used to deploy 36 police officers to perform turnstile searches at one of our major stadiums in Glasgow. This role is now carried out by private security staff. The same applies to the segregation of fans, which is now handled by security stewards rather than constables. In fact, depending on the stadium risk profile, some less contentious matches are now police-free.

Previously, CCTV operators were police officers, but now they have been replaced by private security personnel, freeing up the police to police. The same type of review is also happening at Scotland’s national stadium, Hampden Park. In my view, this reexamination is logical.

Why should the police be tied up at turnstiles or CCTV control centres, making test calls, or conducting segregation of fans when this job can be done by stewards? It seems the best use of the police’s time (and capabilities) that they should be deployed at events to perform the essential policing duties that only they can provide.

Last week, in fact, the first ever international football match in the UK to be held without any policing presence took place.

Trained security professionals
We all know that when resources are tight, we have to focus on the essentials, and this is what police at sporting events appear to be doing. Fortunately, trained security professionals are at hand to fulfill the tasks left behind, ensuring the appropriate security package is maintained.

It is therefore important that stewards have the correct training to support the family enclosure but be prepared to deal with situations at the more difficult end of football match security, ensuring the stadium retains a family-friendly and safe environment.

SIA-licensed stewards are trained in physical intervention and de-escalation tactics and can eject people jeopardising the atmosphere — be it with bad language, drunken behaviour, or any other threat to a good day out for fans.

Our more typical stewards still carry out the essential roles of public reassurance, handling tickets, supervising safety exits, and monitoring general spectator behaviour. The critical point is that a varied and bespoke approach is required from the industry.

Security considerations at football matches are as wide and varied as they have ever been. Each match is different, and risk profiles vary considerably. Constant assessments need to be made, and this is all the more necessary because of the changes to the police’s role.

Take, for example, the trends in football ticket pricing which have implications for how the industry secures matches as demographics change and football becomes more affordable to a wider range of people.

Cuts in funding are having a wide impact, in a wide variety of ways, but our aim of ensuring a safe, secure, and enjoyable atmosphere at sporting events remains.

With our partnership with the police, we in the events security business should see this as a great opportunity to demonstrate what we can do with our collective experience and the great people working for us. Frankly, failure to do so now would be somewhat of an own-goal.