# Event Security Planning Checklist for Organisers | Go Security

> Planning a safe event takes more than a few stewards. This event security checklist covers risk assessment, crowd management, access control and Martyn's Law.

Source: https://gosecurity.uk/blog-event-security-planning.html

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Sector Focus

# Event security planning: a checklist for organisers

Published 11 September 2026 · 6 min read

Good event security is invisible when it works and glaring when it fails. Whether you are running a community fair, a corporate function or a large festival, safety depends on planning done well before the gates open. Use this checklist as a starting point, and bring in professional support early.

## 1. Start with a risk assessment

Every plan begins with understanding the specific risks of your event: the audience, the venue, capacity, alcohol, the profile of the event and the credible threats to it. The assessment drives everything that follows.

## 2. Plan crowd management and capacity

Know your numbers and how people will move. Entry and exit flow, pinch points, queue management and clearly planned evacuation routes are the backbone of a safe event.

## 3. Control access and screening

Decide how you will manage entry, ticketing, bag checks, accreditation and restricted areas. [SIA-licensed event officers](https://gosecurity.uk/security.html#event) and door supervisors are essential here.

## 4. Prepare for emergencies

Have clear, rehearsed procedures for medical incidents, evacuation, invacuation and lost children, and make sure every steward knows their role. A plan nobody has been briefed on is not a plan.

The events that stay safe are the ones where the difficult scenarios were thought through while everything was still calm.

## 5. Get your communications right

Radios, a clear chain of command and a single control point let your team respond fast and consistently. Coordination is what separates a managed incident from a chaotic one.

## 6. Factor in Martyn's Law

With the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act expected to take effect in spring 2027, larger events will face new preparedness duties. Building counter-terrorism awareness into your planning now is smart, not premature. Read our [guide to Martyn's Law](https://gosecurity.uk/blog-martyns-law.html).

## 7. Use experienced, licensed professionals

Event security is a specialist discipline. Properly licensed, vetted and briefed officers who understand crowd dynamics and de-escalation are worth far more than untrained stewards on the day.

### Plan a safe, well-run event

From stewarding to full event management, our SIA-licensed teams keep events safe. Book a free consultation to plan yours.

[Book a Free Audit](https://gosecurity.uk/security-audit.html)

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