The Association Of Independent Festivals (AIF) has reiterated that security is the "number one priority" for promoters, as the fallout continues from the horrific mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas.
The October 1 attack, which killed 58 people, was the latest atrocity to hit the live music industry following the terror attacks at Manchester Arena in May and The Bataclan in Paris in November 2015.
"The was a horrific incident, a terrible loss of life - our thoughts are first and foremost with the victims, their families and all those affected," said AIF general manager Paul Reed. "Security measures at festivals are frequently reviewed and the number one priority of promoters is always the safety of audiences. Lessons are learned and if additional measures need to be introduced at festivals then they will be, it's a continual process."
Organisers of the International Live Music Conference (ILMC) held the inaugural Event Safety & Security Summit (E3S) yesterday (October 10) at London’s Intercontinental Hotel at The O2, which was planned prior to the US tragedy. Bringing together leading international venues, touring and sport professionals and security experts, it saw a mixture of dedicated presentations, keynote addresses and broader panel discussions.
E3S was produced in collaboration with the European Arena Association, National Arena Association and Association of Event Venues in the UK, with input from other leading theatre and venue organisations and live event security companies.
"Event security is a constantly changing picture in the UK and further afield, especially in the current climate," added Reed. "AIF members are experts and have a frequent dialogue with law enforcement and other relevant agencies at local, regional, national and international levels and there is a great deal of intelligence sharing. This sort of dialogue with authorities is essential."
Counter terrorism officers will attend AIF's Festival Congress in Cardiff on October 30 to deliver a two-hour training scenario for delegates.
