The ICSS unveils its
SSI Model as a basis for major sporting event security, safety and
integrity management
2012-10-23, SOCCEREX African Forum, Durban, South Africa
The SOCCEREX African Forum
was recently held in Durban. The event seeks to bring together the leading
decision makers in African football together with their counterparts and
businesses from around the world for two days of unrivalled learning,
networking and business opportunities.
The International Centre for
Sport Security (ICSS) was a sponsor of the event and also presented a Security,
Safety and Integrity (SSI) ModelTM, which may well be the first of
its kind to act as an industry standard for planning and managing the SSI
aspects of major sporting events.
With every major sporting
event – from a FIFA World Cup to a Summer Olympics – each host nation tends to
re-invent the wheel to determine their security strategy for their particular
sporting event as well as the concept- and operational plans to execute it.
Whether a nation is in the
bidding phase or has been awarded a major sporting event, the ICSS constantly
hears the questions; “What reference documents are available?” and “Where do we start?” The ICSS has taken these questions seriously
and developed such a model.
The most common ‘reference
documents’ that one might find are individual security plans (conceptual,
operational or both) from some previous event.
Due to the absence of a “base line” security planning model, it would
however not be clear whether all security plans had been obtained, if they are
integrated, possess quality content and cover the entire life cycle of the
major sporting event.
It is quite clear that
security planning for major sporting events can still be flawed in this modern
day and age even with all the expertise and technology available to us. Take the recent 2012 London Olympics as an
example. Although the British have
pulled off an amazing feat, they experienced their fair share of challenges,
the most exasperating and most publicised one being the poor delivery of
private security services for the Games.
There is no ’one size fits
all’ to arranging security for major events, but there are however basic
principles that must be understood and managed effectively. These basic principles are as follows:
•One must understand the various dimensions that comprise the
life cycle of a major sporting event, and where one is positioned in that life
cycle at any given point in time
•One must understand what the requirements are for each dimension
of the life cycle
•Consult, track, monitor, report and communicate with key
stakeholders
•Timing is everything
In order to improve security planning for
major sporting events it seems there is a need for a reliable ‘reference
document’. A ‘reference document’ that
exhibits the following characteristics:
•Provides the
industry with a STANDARD to base its security plans on
•Is FLEXIBLE to accommodate unique dynamics
•Ensures CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT
•Ensures a DYNAMIC and ROBUST model
•OPTIMISES security plans and operations
•Whilst MINIMISING re-work
& security costs
•Ensuring LEGACY for the Host Nation in general and the respective Sport
Sector specifically
In its aspiration to ascribe to the above
characteristics the ICSS has developed such a ‘reference document’. A ‘reference document’ that
is based on harvesting the most vital knowledge and lessons learnt from
previous major sporting events – both tacit and explicit, extracted by means of
research and consultation of major sport event experts. This has led to the development of the ICSS
Security, Safety & Integrity (SSI) ModelTM.
The SSI ModelTM serves as a master
guide for the security planning of major sporting events. It consists of an SSI Framework that covers all eight dimensions of an event life
cycle and an SSI
Concept that addresses the entire
suite of security functions that have to be managed during the Preparation- and
Operations Phases to ensure a holistic and integrated security plan.
This brings us to the other question one hears
so often; “Where
do we start?”
The SSI ModelTM Framework covers all eight dimensions of a major sporting event
life cycle, whether one is planning to bid for a major sporting event or has
already been awarded the hosting rights.
The eight dimensions are briefly as follows:
1. Due Diligence
Action:
This is where it all ‘starts’. It
basically entails researching of all relevant contracts, sport regulations,
legislation and event history, vetting of staff and service providers, as well
as an in-depth risk analysis based on National-, Regional- and International
risks , integrated between the bid / organizing committee and the
government.
Outcome:
Discovery and awareness of the opportunities and threats
2. Strategy
Action:
This entails the development of an SSI strategy for the event, an SSI concept
indicating WHAT SSI services will be provided, any legislation that may be
required to be developed pro-actively in support of the event and specifically
to indicate any security service exclusions.
Outcome:
A clear Direction for providing SSI services.
3.
Planning
Action:
This entails the structuring of the organizing committee’s security department
and specifically the Joint Security Coordinating Committee with all relevant
stakeholders, development of support services plans, concept plans (WHAT will
be provided) for each of the SSI services required, as well as the eventual
operational plans (HOW the SSI services will be provided), development of the
organizing committee’s own internal SSI policies, procedures and services,
development of an SSI Communications Strategy, as well as the SSI budget. It is also vital at this early stage to
ensure an accurate SSI needs analysis to base tenders and contracts on as well
as to compile a Testing Plan and a Legacy Plan.
Outcome:
A robust Design for quality SSI services.
4.
Implementation
Action:
The core aspects to be managed successfully in this dimension are Staffing,
Procurement and Contracting, Construction (permanent physical facilities and
temporary overlay), Signage, Running Orders and Training.
Outcome: A
smooth Deployment.
5.
Testing
Action:
This is a critical dimension that requires the organising committee to test its
readiness to host the event. The core
aspects of this dimension include the early development of a Testing Plan,
early finalization of all Agreements with test venues, Communication of the
Testing Plan, Budgeting, Preparation of the Team, Testing Logistics, Deployment
Plan, Debriefing and Revision of plans, policies, procedures & training in
preparation of the main event.
Outcome:
Valuable Diagnostics.
6. Execution
Action:
This is the moment of truth. The core aspects to be covered in this dimension
are the Hand-Over of Facilities, Deployment of Personnel and Equipment, SSI
Operations Management and the Main Operations Centre (MOC).
Outcome:
Successful Delivery.
7. Close Out
Action:
After every event the organising committee attempts to close down its
operations as soon as possible.
Outcome: A
smooth Departure.
8. Legacy
Action:
Each event offers government security forces, the sport code involved and the
sport facilities involved in hosting the event the opportunity to equip
themselves with the most recent technology, equipment, training and experience
to plough into the SSI services of future events or general public security and
safety. This is why it is imperative to
pro-actively approve a Legacy Plan that ensures this can happen in a
sustainable manner.
Outcome:
Future Development.
In order to ensure that the
SSI ModelTM conforms to the requirements of being dynamic, flexible
and robust, the major sporting event life cycle has to be professionally
project managed. The application of
research and expert knowledge by the ICSS on a continuous basis ensures that
the model is continuously improved and remains relevant.
As far as the SSI ModelTM
Concept is concerned, it
covers all the SSI Operations required for any major sporting event. The key SSI Operations are as follows:
•Inter-agency
Security
•Venue Security and
Safety (including Fan Zones)
•Security Technology
•Cyber Security
•Close Protection
•Logistics Security
•Hotel Security
•Transit Security
•Sport Integrity
•Ticketing Security
•Accreditation
•Government Security
and Safety
The core knowledge required
to inform the above aspects, ensure that they are addressed comprehensively and
integrated effectively resides in the expertise of the right people, as well as
recording cumulative knowledge in an accessible knowledge portal. This is one of the core strengths of the
ICSS.
In an attempt to minimise
the risk of unnecessary mistakes, wasted time and fruitless expenditure the
ICSS is able to offer the SSI ModelTM as a baseline from which
bidding- and host nations, sporting bodies and sport venues alike can start to
track, monitor and compare their sport security, safety and integrity planning.
The SSI ModelTM
is ultimately a common
sense model that can help major
sporting event security experts ensure that SSI plans are developed and managed
effectively, and the ICSS hopes that this model will assist in making common
sense a common practice for all major sporting events in the future!
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