Event organisers must act now to ensure they meet essential security requirements to protect the public, a White Paper published today has warned.
‘Time to Act Now: Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) and the responsibilities facing event organisers’ urges organisers of events, large and small, to proactively review their security procedures now before imminent changes to the law come into force.
It highlights that while the introduction of Protect Duty, also known as Martyn’s Law, may still be months away, organisers ought to be proactive and not wait until the legislation is in place to take action.
The White Paper also provides guidance on the approach and steps event organisers are to take to ensure the safety of their employees, volunteers, and members of the public.
The document has been written by HVM experts from Hardstaff Barriers – one of the UK’s leading suppliers of HVM solutions and the company responsible for delivering the Government’s National Barrier Asset (NBA) framework.
The guidance document will be available to visitors at the Event Production Show, at ExCel London, on March 1 and 2, 2023. Attendees are invited to visit Stand F5EE and seek expert advice from one of its main authors, Niall Griffin CSyP, who will be in attendance throughout the event.
Niall is one of less than 300 Chartered Security Professionals on the Register in the UK, making him one of the most knowledgeable and qualified specialists working in the HVM industry.
Niall said: “Anyone who attends an event – from a small gathering to a sports game attended by thousands of spectators – has the right to be safe and protected.
“Event organisers have a duty to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of these individuals, and that they are not exposed to risks to their health and safety arising from the operation of the event.”
He added: “The underlying message throughout the White Paper is the importance of planning ahead and taking proactive steps to keep people safe, rather than wait until imminent laws are in place.
“This proactivity will not only protect people’s lives, but it will also protect the reputation of an event and the organisations behind it.”
Hardstaff Barriers will also be showcasing its range of HVM products at the Event Production Show, which are all approved to standards including EN 1317, IWA 14-1, PAS68 and VADS.
People can also request their free digital copy of the White Paper ‘Time to Act Now: Hostile Vehicle Mitigation and the responsibilities facing event organisers’ here