Event Planning: Crowd Management

Many aspects of your event can have a direct impact on crowd behaviour, such as:

• Design of venue to allow for crowd movement within the site
• Number of people attending
• Positioning of crowd control barriers and fencing
• Ensuring the right amount of facilities are available
• How messages are communicated with the public
• Who will be attending? (Think about age, where they are coming from, behaviour - each age group brings its own demands and risks).
• Character of the performers and their activities

The following points should be considered

• Entry and exit of the audience
• Opening time
• Crowd pressure at the entrances
• Opening the entrances and arrangements for the front of stage area
• Ticketing policies
• Admission policies (in particular, alcohol)
• Searching policies
• Crowd Sway/Surges
• Stewarding/marshalling
• Is security required?
• Has the event been held before?
• What can you learn from previous experience?

See new guidance primarily aimed at those with a responsibility for security at crowded places - Crowded Place Guidance