The ICSS participates in panel discussion at the IACP Symposium, Sao Paulo on the protection of Fan Zones and public places used for major events

Malcolm Tarbitt, Director of Security and Risk Advisory at the International Centre for Sport Security, attended the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in Sao Paulo recently, where he participated in a panel discussion on the protection of Fan Zones and public places used for major events.

Brazil is currently the host to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.  Traditionally, the military police in Brazil perform the task of inner perimeter security at sport venues, and are finding it challenging to relinquish control of this vital function to private security companies.  This is especially so in light of the security fiasco experienced by the 2012 London Olympics.

In answering a question on how safe it is to allow private security companies to perform the task of stewarding and inner perimeter security at sport events, Malcolm informed them that if certain simple basics are addressed there is no need for concern.  These include the standard phases of the event and understanding what the requirements are for each one (Bidding- and Technical Inspection phases before being awarded the event, and then the Planning-, Implementation-, Testing-, Execution-, Close-out- and Legacy Phases after being awarded the event), a compact yet complete Security Committee (including the Local Organising Committee and relevant government law enforcement-, intelligence- and military stakeholders) to jointly manage all security aspects of the event, as well as a quality tender and contracting (procurement) programme based upon sound security requirements, followed by continuous contracts-, project- and operations management throughout the respective phases.  If this is done, it would be impossible to suddenly establish a year before the event that one’s private security force has to be increased by 100% or that one’s security service provider cannot deliver the required quantity and quality of security personnel only weeks before the event starts!

Although it is clear from media reports that the security service provider did not deliver according to contract, the Local Organising Committee and the Government (Home Office) should have project managed the contract which would have indicated well in advance whether the security service provider was meeting delivery milestones or not. 

Another crucial aspect is the planning and execution of a Testing Programme for an event.  Unlike the FIFA World Cup which has an official test event a year in advance of the World Cup (the FIFA Confederations Cup), the Olympics do not.  It is therefore imperative to plan well in advance to host one’s own test events in order to ensure that policies, procedures, training and operations are optimal for the main event.  If the private security service provider was managed effectively, then the private security would have been a key aspect of the Testing Programme.

Malcolm then emphasised that the point he was making, is that Brazil should not be concerned about the poor delivery of private security companies for an event such as the 2012 London Olympics, as the Security Committee remains in control of all planning and execution.  Any failure of private security companies to deliver for an event can only be attributed to the Security Committee (bearing the basics in mind), and NOT to private security companies.

If one sticks to the basics, then common sense will become common practice.  Unfortunately the 2012 London Olympics have not managed to do this, which has turned what should have been ‘spectacular security’ into a ‘security spectacle’.  Sadly, this has made security the spectacle, instead of the sport.

Also see the following link: http://theiacpblog.org/2012/07/25/iacp-south-american-executive-policing-seminar-in-sao-paulo-brazil/

2012 London Olympics Security Challenges Continue 

Sun News Network interviews Malcolm Tarbitt, Director of Security and Risk Advisory at the International Centre for Sport Security on the security of the 2012 London Olympics.
http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/featured/news/868018287001/olympic-security-fails-india/1759923469001

PRESS RELEASE

24^th July 2012

The ICSS discusses security at fan festivals and ‘soft’ venues and the

socio-economic legacy left by safe and secure international sport events at the IACP International Symposium on Sports Security 2012

 

Sao Paulo, Brazil; 24^th July 2012: The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), the not-for-profit organisation that specialises in sport security and integrity, today highlighted a number of critical aspects in major sport event security at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) International Symposium on Sports Security 2012. 

As part of its mission to share knowledge and best practice with event organisers in Brazil ahead of the country’s hosting of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a senior delegation from the ICSS, including Helmut Spahn, Executive Director, Malcolm Tarbitt, Director of Security and Risk Advisory, Shaun McCarthy, Director of Research and Knowledge Gathering and Massimiliano Montanari, Director of International Cooperation and External Relations, led two panel discussions at the symposium.  The panels explored the securing of fan festivals and ‘soft’ venues and the socio-economic legacy left by hosting safe and secure international sport events.

At the first workshop, entitled ‘The Challenges involved in safeguarding fan festival zones and soft targets during major sport events’, Helmut Spahn, who was joined by Malcolm Tarbitt, stressed the importance of implementing appropriate security measures at potential ‘soft’ targets during major sport events, including hotels, restaurants and bars.

Speaking at the event, Helmut Spahn, Executive Director of the ICSS said; “Fan zones and soft venues now play an important part in the overall success of a major international sport event, yet despite this, the consideration these highly-populated venues receive in the overall master security planning can be minimal.  As a result, there is now a critical need for major event organisers to plan and provide appropriate safety and security at ‘soft venues’, as well as a need for the development of international standards of security planning for fan zones so that knowledge and best practice can be shared between organisers.”

During the second workshop, entitled ‘Socio-Economic Legacy and the role of the security establishment in major international sport events’, Massimiliano Montanari and Shaun McCarthy underlined how hosting safe and secure international major sport events can play a vital role in the wider socio-economic development of a host nation, as well as stressing the role that safety and security investments can have in building national competitiveness and the benefits of community engagement policing strategies.

Massimiliano Montanari, Director of International Cooperation and External Relations at the ICSS said; “New host countries, such as Brazil, face growing concerns about the scale of investments in safety and security for major sport events and the competing socio-economic needs of society.  However, national economic development and major sport events need not compete with each other and if approached in the right manner, sport events can be used to provide opportunities in economically marginalised communities.   At the ICSS, we are committed to sharing knowledge globally to ensure that the benefits of hosting sport events are maximised and long-lasting.”