EVENT SECURITY
SPORTS GROUNDS Ken Scott, head of Inspectorate for the Sports Grounds Safety Authority, offers an insight into tackling the challenges facing sports grounds
SPORTS GROUND SAFETY IN CHALLENGING TIMES S port is an essential part of our national culture. Every week millions of people in the UK attend football, rugby, horse racing and other sporting events. Thanks to the dedication and commitment of all those who work in stadium safety, the UK is one of the safest places in the world to watch sport live. The Sports Grounds Safety Authority’s (SGSA’s) priority is to make sure people do so in as safe and secure surroundings as possible. We do this through our regulatory role within football, and our advisory work with other sports. The SGSA was borne out of tragedies which struck football grounds in the 1980s. Its predecessor, the Football Licensing Authority, was created as a result of Lord Taylor’s report into the tragic events of Hillsborough, which took place 30 years ago. Since then, we have worked with sports grounds owners to develop safe, modern stadia. But as Lord Taylor said: “Complacency is the enemy of safety.” We must never take safety for granted. But the challenges we face today are not the same as those from 30 years ago. The incidents which have occurred over the last
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COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE | ISSUE 38
five years, including Stade de France in 2015 and the attacks at Westminster Bridge, Manchester Arena and London Bridge in 2017, are a stark reminder about the vulnerability of crowded places and the importance of the work of those charged with keeping us safe. Sadly, in today’s world, we now need to consider the increasing threat posed by terrorist attack when we are developing plans. This was at the forefront of our minds when developing the newly released edition of the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds (also known as the Green Guide), published at the end of last year. This is recognised globally as the definitive statement of best practice in sports grounds safety. The publication of the Green Guide is the culmination of two years’ work, which included researching and consulting with a range of organisations including football, cricket and rugby bodies, architects and the emergency services. The document breaks new ground in recognising the crucial part that areas outside of the ground play in the safe arrival and departure of spectators. E
