From our August print issue, our regular contributor Ken Rogers speaks from experience about event stewarding.
I was most concerned when visiting a musical event in a small town in Essex to see large crowds with it seemed only a few stewards: some were drinking alcohol out of cans. To gain access to the event held in a public park was by voluntary donation; part of these proceeds were for charities. Most of those attending were not from the town and therefore were unknown to stewards. Much alcohol was consumed with the inevitable result a number of young people – some under 18 – became violent and resulted in injuries. A number of victims were young visitors attending the event. Alcohol was purchased from a nearby off-licence and at the festival. Police, small in number, were overwhelmed with visitors, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. This left the park in the hands of stewards. There was obviously a health and safety issue here.
Definition
A definition of a steward includes ‘a person who helps to supervise some event in an official capacity.’ In my opinion the stewards fall within the remit of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 as newly amended by schedule two of the Private Security Industry Act 2006. They are employed as security-gate-door supervisors and therefore as alcohol was being supplied at the venue that had entertainment, such persons came under the Act. Lessons have been learnt; councillors are requesting that such events be supervised by qualified staff. The above clearly illustrates that there is much work to be done in educating the public and local authorities of responsibilities in crowd control at such events. It further clearly illustrates that there is employment on offer to the regulated security industry. Then there is the new Licensing Act. Under the terms of any licence granted there should be a condition for the event to be professionally supervised.
Declare gifts
It is ten years since my article ‘Is it a gift or is it corruption?’ was published in Professional Security. Security managers can be put on the spot when witnessing the freebies that company buyers receive from the suppliers, such as free tickets for Wimbledon. Should not ministers and other members of parliament set an example? As a town councillor I declare a bottle of wine and give it to a charity raffle, and I do not claim expenses.
