UK Music is supporting Counter Terrorism Policing’s initiative this summer to help music fans enjoy gigs and events this summer. The #BeSafeBeSound campaign was created in 2019 with the aim of sharing safety and security advice.
In addition to UK Music, Creamfields, Radio 1’s Big Weekend and The O2 are among those supporting the campaign.
UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said:
“An incredible amount of work has taken place to make venues and festival sites as safe as they can be. The security and safety of music fans is everyone’s top priority in what promises to be a brilliant summer of live music.
“While there’s no evidence of any increased threat to live events, it’s important that everyone is vigilant and reports anything suspicious.
“We can all play our part in keeping each other safe – so I would urge everyone attending events to stay alert and follow the advice of police and venue organisers.”
Counter Terrorism Policing’s National Co-ordinator for Protect and Prepare, Chief Superintendent Michael Orchard, said:
“This summer we’re expecting to see increased footfall at outdoor events, but also the continued return of fans to live music at venues and arenas in our towns and cities.
“Our priority, working alongside festival organisers, is to make sure people can enjoy their favourite artists safely.
“A huge amount of effort goes into training and security measures by organisers, and through #BeSafeBeSound we’re keen to highlight the role the public can play in the wider security operation of an event.
“The best advice is always the most simple, we want people to trust their instincts and report anything that doesn’t feel right. It’s also important to respect security measures that might be in place, and do a little bit of research about personal safety.”
A spokesperson for Creamfields festival said:
“As festival organisers we want everyone attending the show to have a fantastic time, people’s safety and security is key to that and remains our top priority.
“We continue to work with Counter Terrorism Policing to share the #BeSafeBeSound safety messaging at the festival to help give people a heads up about what they can do to look after themselves and each other.”
Director of Security at The O2, Paul Williams, said:
“We take the safety and security of all our fans and visitors very seriously and will continue to support #BeSafeBeSound and Counter Terrorism Policing here at The O2.
“Security is everyone’s responsibility, so help us keep you safe by reporting anything that doesn’t feel right to our security and policing teams, and we will always act on those concerns.”
Campaign advice for anyone attending an event this summer includes:
- Arrive early for extra security measures. This will help prevent delays in getting into the event.
- Be patient with security checks and don’t give security, staff or stewards a hard time. It might seem inconvenient, but these measures are in place to help you.
- It is essential that you don’t bring unnecessary items to the event; this will help to speed up searches and your entry to the event.
- If you spot something that doesn’t feel right, report it to police or to security staff immediately: don’t leave it to someone else.
- If you see something on social media that concerns you, report it.
- In an emergency, if you think there is an immediate risk, always call 999 and look around you for help from staff – especially those with radios who can raise the alarm quickly.
- Don’t leave bags unattended or anywhere they could cause a security scare. And never agree to look after anyone else’s bags, no matter how genuine they seem.
- If there is an incident, listen to staff and any announcements.
- Remember, the chance of being caught in a terrorism incident is small. But if it happens – Run, Hide, Tell.
If you see or hear something that doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and ACT. Report it in confidence at www.gov.uk/ACT. You will not be wasting our time. Your actions could save lives.
You can follow and support the campaign at @TerrorismPolice on Twitter and @counterterrorismpoliceuk on Facebook using #BeSafeBeSound