Event security specialists Showsec This summer’s Hyde Park festivals and concerts saw nearly half a million ticket holders see a record nine gigs in 13 days, from June 22 to July 3.
The annual series of shows, organised by Live Nation, included two Kings of Leon nights, Hard Rock Calling festival, with headliners including The Killers, Bon Jovi and Rod Stewart, an Arcade Fire gig and Wireless Festival, featuring acts including Black Eyed Peas, Chemical Brothers and Pulp. Pictured at the Wireless Festival is singer Grace Jones. Event stewarding contractor Showsec has provided security at the events for the last eight years, and again Showsec director, Simon Battersby, led a team to oversee security arrangements.<br><br>Simon said after: “It is hugely rewarding to see the strength and quality we have across our management team. The operation, led by Steve Reynolds and Paul Legge, not only features seasoned campaigners but great new talent that has been scouted, trained and mentored. This talent improves year-on-year.”<br> <br>As with all major events in London this summer, there is a focus on observing procedures by various agencies, including the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), Greater London Authority (GLA) and the Metropolitan Police, ahead of the Games and other events planned for 2012.<br> <br>These organisations monitored a new road closure system run by Showsec and the traffic management company Sola, which saw Park Lane and other tributary roads closed from 10pm until egress was complete. Previously the Metropolitan Police managed the egress of the public onto public roads but this year Live Nation, and, in turn, Showsec, took responsibility due to changes to policing policy. The decision to put a temporary closure on Park Lane and its tributary roads was described by the security company as a progressive and positive move which enabled the site to clear more swiftly, and arguably more safely, each evening. It also allowed Showsec to distribute the 45000 to 65000 crowds to various exits across the area, and offer a safe route to public transport.<br> <br>Up to 100 stewards helped man the closure each evening, ranging from implementing diversions and directional stewards, to road closure marshals trained to chapter 8 standard.<br> <br>Hannah Farnham, festival manager at Live Nation, said: “This year has been a huge success and we’ve seen nearly half a million customers come through the gates in ten days. It’s been an eclectic mix, both of bands and audience with an interesting audience demographic split each night; every group acts differently. We have worked closely with Showsec, and they have ensured that the correct level of security has been provided each day, and across each area of the site.”<br> <br>The varied bill of artists, diverse audiences, and the changing site set-ups, required monitoring of crowd safety and behaviour. Over 600 event security staff per show were drawn from Showsec’s offices, with London office manager Paul Legge co-ordinating.<br> <br>Paul says: “While the London office took the lead, we had invaluable support from our offices across England and Wales. The company’s new management infrastructure meant we could provide experienced managers across all areas of the site, who were able to make decisions quickly and excelled in delivering a responsive, reactive and professional service.”
