What is Security & Event Control?

Security and event control is the set of people, plans and systems that keep an event safe, from stewards and security staff on the ground to the event control room coordinating them. Security handles access, searches and incidents; event control is the hub where decisions are made and every team is linked together.

How security and event control works

At a festival or large concert, safety is run in five stages:

  1. Plan: the safety team writes the event management plan, risk assessment and security plan, agreed with the local authority and police.
  2. Staff: security companies and stewards are booked and briefed, with roles for gates, pits, patrols and backstage.
  3. Control access: searches, ticket checks and accreditation zones decide who goes where.
  4. Run event control: the event controller, safety officer, security, medical and police work from one room, logging every incident and talking to teams by radio.
  5. Respond and review: incidents are handled and logged, and the logs are reviewed afterwards.

Security companies juggle many events and staff, which is why some security services use Crescat to schedule staff and share event details with clients.

Security vs event control

Security is the people doing the work: door supervisors, search teams and response teams. Event control is the command centre, led by an event controller, that sees the whole site, makes decisions and directs every team, including security. Smaller events may combine both in one supervisor.

What an event control room includes

  • The event controller and safety officer
  • Heads of security, stewarding and medical
  • Police and fire liaison at larger events
  • CCTV screens and a site map
  • An incident log, kept in writing or software
  • Radio channels for each team

Frequently asked questions

Do event security staff need a licence?

In the UK, anyone working as a door supervisor or in security roles at licensed events usually needs an SIA licence. Stewards doing non-security tasks, such as directing people, may not. Check the rules for each role and location.

What is the difference between stewards and security?

Stewards guide and help the audience, watch for problems and report them. Security staff deal with searches, ejections and incidents. Many events use both, with stewards in larger numbers.

Who is in charge of event safety?

The event organiser holds overall responsibility, usually delegating day-to-day decisions to a safety officer or event controller. They can stop the show if needed.

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