Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Solutions For Temporary Events

As Summer draws to a close, we begin to focus our attention to one of the biggest seasons of the year; Winter. Along with Winter comes a mixture of celebrations around the world, in the UK, for example, we will see Bonfire Night, Halloween and Christmas, whereas in other countries around the world we’ll see Thanksgiving, Mardi Gras and Oktoberfest.

Every year we see more seasonal events organised in towns and cities, and whilst these events are exciting for people of all ages, they attract a large number of people in one area making them a potential target for a hostile vehicle attack.

Taking this into consideration, it is important that the correct perimeter security measures are in place to protect these events and the people who attend having witnessed the devastation that hostile vehicle attacks can cause. In 2016, Berlin’s famous Christmas market was at the centre of a terrorist attack on 19th December. Sadly, 12 people lost their lives and 56 other people were injured.

To help prevent vehicle attacks happening at similar events, it is extremely important that we focus on how we can secure these types of temporary events and ensure that the people attending feel safe.

Considerations

After a string of vehicle attacks across the UK and Europe, the pressure to ensure events are secured has certainly heightened. As mentioned in the NaCTSO Crowded Places Guidance, “you cannot hold a safe event without considering security and, you cannot hold a secure event without considering safety”.

When organising an event, security measures should be one of the first things that are taken into consideration. A good place to start is carrying out a risk assessment to protect crowds against the threat. During your risk assessment, you should consider entry points, vulnerable spaces and what security measures you will need in place. If you are opting for perimeter security products, many security firms will be able to visit your site if required to help you decide what would be the best choice for you.

Depending on your requirements, you may need to factor in lead times, which is why it is essential to consider the security measures your event needs as early as possible to ensure you have the appropriate measures in place. 

Reassuring but aesthetically pleasing

The majority of event attendees will expect to see some form of security measures in place at events, however, these should be visible enough for people to feel reassured, but discreet enough so as not to instil fear. Bollards, for example, can be made to blend into their surroundings, taking into account the style and colours of the event.

There are many products available on the market which can be supplied with different cover types (depending on your chosen product) to help the product match the existing architecture. At Heald, we can offer a range of bollard covers, ranging from stainless steel covers to black cast aluminium covers, which were used on our Manual Matadors to secure New Orleans Historic French Quarter. Additional accessories can also be added to our perimeter security products, such as lighting to help with enhanced visibility or alternative colour finishes.

Surface and Shallow Mount Solutions

A big demand the security market has seen is the requirement for shallow and surface mount products. Surface mount products are ideal for temporary events due to them requiring no excavation. These can be easily deployed in a short amount of time and removed once the event has finished, as seen at The Crucible in Sheffield for the annual World Snooker Championships, where Heald’s Matador sliding bollards were deployed to secure the temporary event.

There are also products that allow constant pedestrian access as well as vehicular access, meaning your event can continue to run smoothly. For extra reassurance and to mitigate potential risks, there are products on the market that have been crash tested to stop trucks travelling at a particular speed.

Solutions for a safer world

To discuss how Heald can help protect your event, contact us today.

Like that? Read these...