Over 85 million people attend events each and every year. From important political debates to fun nights out, they are a chance for people to come together and celebrate their interests. However, the sheer quantity of attendees also means that events can be hotspots for anti-social behaviour and safety risks. Fortunately, high-quality event security solutions offer accredited protection with the required skills to deal with the numerous incidents that may arise. But, if you’re reading this, you likely already know the importance of proper security. Which begs the next question: how many security guards per person are needed for an event? It’s not as simple as it sounds, so read on to learn more about the considerations and complexities that you should be thinking through.
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- Risk Assessment: Understanding Your Event Requirements
- How Many Security Guards Per Person?
- The Bottom Line
Risk Assessment: Understanding Your Event Requirements
The government advice for event organisers explains that health and safety is a key responsibility of whoever is involved in arranging the event. So, when planning, security and safety should be a high priority. There are many factors that influence the type and quantity of security you’ll need. An event risk assessment is a vital step that can aid you in ensuring that all your bases are covered, from attendance numbers to any special circumstances. Whilst you can complete a risk assessment yourself, it is worth delegating the assessment to the security firm you intend to hire, especially if your event is more complex. However, working through the following factors is a useful starting point when estimating how many security guards you are likely to need…
Attendance numbers
The number of attendees is perhaps the most influential aspect when it comes to deciding how many security guards per person are needed. The more people, the more risk that a security concern will arise, simply because of the increased number of different interactions that can happen and the varied types of people that will attend. To put it simply, a private function with 30 RSVPs will require significantly less security personnel than a large festival with 30,000+ attendees.
The best way to gain insight into attendance numbers is to either ticket your event or ask individuals to RSVP depending on which seems more appropriate. This will give you a rough ballpark figure to work with. If your event doesn’t require a fixed guest list (such as a public open mic night or a town market), then you should always plan for more rather than fewer people showing up. Generally speaking, when it comes to security, it’s better to overestimate.
Nature of event
Your event will likely have a specific purpose which, in turn, will determine the type of people who attend, the tone of the activities, and the atmosphere of the space. For events where individuals are likely to become disruptive – a political rally, for example – it might be the case that a higher number of security guards will prove beneficial to keep things safe and secure. On the flip side, having too many security guards at a small-scale, relatively low-risk event like a book fair could make people feel uneasy.
Venue size and location
Similar to the number of attendees, the size of your chosen venue is also a considerable factor when it comes to deciding how many security guards are needed per person. This is because the larger the venue, the more opportunities there are for individuals to access prohibited areas, or even for non-participants to access the event altogether. Having enough security to cover any off-limits areas as well as the perimeter is vital to keep the event going smoothly.
Additionally, the location of your venue could play a role. For instance, if your event is taking place in a particularly ‘rough’ area, you might want to consider increasing security presence to correspond with the perceived risk increase.
Alcohol
In the events industry, alcohol demands an elevated level of caution because of the impact it can have on a person’s behaviour and thought processes, often making them less likely to reason properly and control their actions. As a consequence, any event where alcohol consumption plays a role should, as a general rule, have a higher number of security guards than one that does not.
Beyond your general responsibility, it may even be a legal requirement of your venue to have a certain level and type of security presence depending on their alcohol licensing. This is all down to the Licensing Act of 2003, which among other things states that a premises license can include a condition that ‘at specified times one or more individuals must be at the premises to carry out a security activity.’ It is worth checking your particular venue for this or any other legal requirement.
Special circumstances
For certain events, there may be specific circumstances that require added security. For instance, a high-stakes event with a famous speaker may require an additional guard to act as a close protection officer. Or, if there is a particularly valuable object or a large amount of money present, the event will likely need more security resources to adequately guard against thieves or vandalism.
How Many Security Guards Per Person?
Unfortunately, there is no set answer to how many security guards are needed per person. As you have likely gathered, it depends on the specific circumstances of the event. In fact, relying on generalisation can be dangerous, landing you in some difficult legal situations if something goes astray and you don’t have adequate security present. However, there are some guidelines that can be helpful as a starting point…
Tasks and types of security guard
Firstly, though, not all security is created equal, and neither should any event security plan be. There is a vast array of security jobs that may need doing dependent on your specific event, and each can require a different type of security guard. For instance, there is a difference between mobile patrol guards that cover the perimeter of the venue, and static security guards that are positioned at specific restricted points. To really drive the point home, the guidance from the SIA about event security suggests licensed coverage for:
- Screening
- Searching for illicit substances, for instance with specialist detector dogs
- Responding to incidents
- Protecting property
- Patrolling for unauthorised entry
- Ejecting troublesome individuals
- Guarding specific areas
- Special measures (such as to protect VIPs)
Whilst it is unlikely that one event will require individuals for each specific item on the above list, it does go to show that when planning how many security guards per person you need, you should consider the different skillsets required for each task and think carefully about whether you require a smaller number of general personnel, or a larger specialised team.
Guiding Ratios
Whilst the security requirements for specific events should not be generalised, it can be helpful to have some ballpark figures to aid in cost estimations, for instance. For some starting points, you can expect to require at least the below ratios of security guards per person:
- Small to medium events: Roughly 1:100 or enough to at least cover entrances, exits and crowd control.
- Large events: Roughly 1:150.
- High-risk events: Roughly 1:50.
- By space: 1:10-15m2.
- Events including alcohol: Divide the number of people to one guard in half. For instance, 1:100 becomes 1:50.
Best practice
With all this said, when it comes to actualising your plans, it is always best to check with your chosen accredited security specialists. They will have the relevant skills, training and experience to advise you on your specific requirements whilst also offering guidance on cost.
The Bottom Line
When considering how many security guards are needed per person, the answer isn’t straightforward. The ideal number will depend on several factors, such as the location, type of event, number of attendees and the security tasks required. For most situations, at least one security guard per 100-200 people can be a good starting point, although events with a higher security risk might require more presence. Ultimately, it is crucial to tailor security staffing to your particular circumstances, and getting in touch with your chosen security provider can help to create an effective plan.
If you’re looking to learn more or ask questions about your own event requirements, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team. Alternatively, you can find more general security advice on a variety of topics by visiting our other blog posts.