Event Communication

Clear communication is always a necessary element for a protection plan to operate properly.  When creating an operational plan for a special event or irregular gathering, especially when dealing with large crowds, special considerations must be made in regards to the security personnel’s contact procedures and equipment.

For large events, local management, organization, or tenants will often have their own line of communication already set up. The security team must understand the existing network’s function on its own and adjust the function in a security context accordingly. It is vital for the security officers to have access to that channel in the event of an emergency, however it may or may not be best to allow all security to operate on their own dedicated channel depending on the congestion levels of the radio channels. Security can also liaise with the operators of scoreboards and PA systems to coordinate a protocol for warning messages.

There are many other ideas to consider when coordinating an event, such as radio frequencies, the need for headsets or earpieces, and press policies. With a higher amount of operational variables that officers may need to confront, event security requires a higher level of communication understanding and procedure.