Melas have become an essential part of the summer in many British cities, with hundreds of thousands of people enjoying the colourful sights, varied sounds and delicious smells of a wide range of Asian cultures. AP Security has become something of a specialist in helping to ensure that these family events are enjoyed by all, working closely with the organisers of five Melas during 2011.
Three of the events took place in London – the Baishakhi Mela in Tower Hamlets, London Mela in Gunnersbury Park and the East London Mela in Barking – as well as the Bradford and Slough Melas.
Each event is complex and has different requirements, so AP’s role can be varied, taking in everything from phased road closures and keeping local residents happy to managing entry/exit points, crowd management, pit crews at the live music stages and keeping an eye out for any flashpoints that may occur between groups of youngsters.
“As with all AP’s work, our aim is to ensure that everybody enjoys a safe day,” says Sammie Martins, AP’s operations manager at the Baishakhi Mela. “These are family events which celebrate culture, so a friendly approach is what it’s all about.”
Acknowledged as the biggest in Europe, Bradford Mela attracts up to 250,000 people over two days and attendances of up to 100,000 are a feature of the three London events. Planning for each begins many months in advance and AP works very closely, as always, with the local police, council and event organisers to deliver a combination of initiative-based quick reactions and positive crowd management.
“Melas feature a blend of cultural diversity, which requires a certain sensitivity and awareness,” says John Phillips, AP’s national sales manager and head of security for the London Mela. “We always have a highly experienced management team on site and ensure that all our staff on the ground are sensitive, approachable and ready to offer whatever helpful advice is needed.
“However, if swift action is needed then our team can be redeployed very quickly to ensure that the public has a trouble-free time.”
“With public safety paramount, we need an experienced pit team for the live stages as it does get very lively, but mostly just jumping up and down,” adds Chris Hollands, who managed AP’s presence at Slough Mela.
The success of AP’s approach is measured in the number of times that the company is asked back and by the positive feedback received from the organisations that the company works with on each event.
“AP has been part of the organisation of the London Mela since the event started six years ago,” says Julian Rudd, London Mela Producer for Remarkable Productions. “During that time, we have worked very successfully in partnership with them and the Metropolitan Police to deliver a family friendly and safe event that attracts audiences of all generations and all communities.
“Many colleagues from the emergency services, as well as my own staff, see the London Mela as a model of best practice for how security, event organisers and emergency services should work together when organising large events. AP has played a crucial role in the development of that model.”
“AP has worked on many of our events and the company’s staff are always very professional and extremely helpful,” concludes Vanessa Mitchell, Events Manager at Bradford Council’s Department of Regeneration and Culture. “They always seem to go the extra mile and with events such as the Bradford Mela they play a key role in its success.”
