In response to the incidents of injury and loss of life caused by crowd surges in recent years, a group of UK industry experts collaborated to create a crowd management framework for venue operators and event organizers. The framework is called ‘Safer Crowds, Safer Venues’ and aims to provide crowd management guidance for indoor venues with a capacity of under 5,000 including concert venues, theaters, nightclubs, pubs, bars, restaurants and more.
While the framework is not intended as a regulatory tool or official guidance, it provides a solid foundation for small to medium-sized venues to enhance safety and security for both employees and attendees. It covers best practices for event challenges, including planning, staffing, counter-terrorism, safeguarding, medical and weather.
UK Crowd Management Association, Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), and Live Music Industry Venues and Entertainment joined forces with industry experts and stakeholders to compile the document for which there was previously no dedicated framework. The tragic incidents in recent years underscore the critical need for standardized and effective crowd management practices, according to Anne Marie Chebib of the UK Crowd Management Association.
In recent years, there has been an increase in tragic accidents resulting from a “crowd crush” or “crowd surge” at events. The most high-profile incident was Travis Scott’s ASTROWORLD concert which resulted in the deaths of eight people. In the UK, four people were critically injured in London after a crowd crush at Asake show at the O2 Academy Brixton, with two people passing away from injuries sustained at the 2022 concert.
Michael Kill, the CEO of NTIA, said “This isn’t just about raising the bar in crowd management; it’s about extending a lifeline to businesses that may not have naturally considered crowd management as a priority.” The ‘Safer Crowds, Safer Venues’ framework provides essential guidance to venue operators and event organizers to ensure a safe and secure environment for everyone involved. To access the document, visit the website linked in the article
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