Dear professor Fried:

I am responsible for security at a college stadium and wonder what needs to be done to secure the perimeter of a facility? J.L., Florida

Gil Fried, J.D.

Dear J.L.

While numerous security issues are examined within a facility, there is not as much emphasis placed on external concerns. Industry professionals take seriously perimeter safety concerns. However, sometimes confusion arises concerning jurisdiction or responsibility for various safety concerns. For example, if protestors are marching in front of a facility is it the facility’s responsibility to ensure safety or is it up to the municipal authorities to act? The primary concerns associated with perimeter safety focus on personnel entry management, vehicular entry management and parking lot management.

Personnel Entry Management. Personnel entry management focuses on how to monitor and manage individuals attempting to enter a facility. Biometric and facial recognition systems are used for entry management when someone is entering a facility, but what systems can be used when individuals are not yet near the entrance, but on the street? For example, what strategies or equipment/systems are in place that can identify when someone is casing the outside of the facility to gauge security strategies in preparation for a terrorist attack?

Patrons can be monitored in several ways, from roving security patrols to video surveillance. The options are almost limitless. A new device called Sky Watch allows four to five officers to be elevated in crane-like device from the ground to as high as 24 feet in seconds. Such a visible device couples with greater monitoring options can be a deterrent for some conduct.

Fencing still is the best technique, when patrons need to be kept out. New fencing that is attractive and practical is being developed. One solution is WireWall, which cannot be climbed or cut because small gaps between each link prevents fingers and cutters from penetrating gaps.

The two primary concerns for patron management include communication and video systems. For examples, alarms are critical, but a communication system can let patrons know about an alarm and possibly discourage them from attempting to enter from the beginning. Video surveillance can have the same effect.

Communication Systems. Any signage effort needs to be undertaken in a uniform manner to educate patrons about different policies and procedures. Patrons often are calmer and reassured when they know they are standing in the right line and progress is being made. A display system can communicate proper gate assignments; list banned items and note the estimated waiting time for individuals waiting to get into the facility.

Signs need to be displayed conspicuously at entries, choke points, entry roads and even freeway offramps. Signs need to be legible from far enough away that people with vision limitations do not need to move to the sign, causing delays and movement interruption. Displays should avoid visual clutter and use consistent colors, shapes, and information to develop familiarity.

Entry management needs to focus on keeping fans/customers calm and passive while waiting to enter the facility. The waiting time to enter a facility can be stressful and difficult, especially for people accompanied by children, or who have disabilities, alcohol/drug issues and those in need of restroom facilities. Signage is one solution to entertain and educate these patrons. Video monitors also can be used, but they generally are closer to the facility rather than at the perimeter.

Video Monitoring. Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTV) can be used to monitor entry and egress procedures and actions for surveillance monitoring and litigation assistance. New video systems also can help identify events from security breaches to false alarms. CCTV systems can monitor entrances and exits and the data can be retrieved immediately and analyzed to determine what caused an alarm.

CCTV systems are primarily analog or digital. Analog has been around for years and is known for its often-grainy pictures — the kind typically seen when the film of a bank robbery is shown. Digital is the more effective option. It allows images to be enlarged without losing significant clarity. Less storage space is required for the images and the images can be enhanced without distortion. Analog systems often can be purchased for several hundred dollars, depending on the number of cameras. Digital systems normally start at just over $1,000 through $15,000 for basic systems.

The “photophone” now combines CCTV technology with the ability to transfer images anywhere for immediate access and assistance. A photo can be taken in a command center and sent digitally to a security person. In the future, these systems might be expanded to include smell, hearing, and touch. Current systems allow for secure, Internet-based, high-speed, bi-directional monitoring to allow multiple facilities and sites to be monitored at the same time from completely different locations.

Policies. It should be noted that while implementing surveillance systems and alarm systems are important, they have little value if personnel are not properly trained in security protocols. An alarm system has minimal value if employees fail to turn on the alarms, do not track the monitors, or override the system to prop doors open for innocuous activities such as smoking or to get fresh air.

Vehicular Entry Management. Vehicular entry management focuses on preventing the wrong vehicles from entering the facility. With the 1995 World Trade Center bombing, 9/11 and countless other attacks around the world, terrorists have shown a willingness to use vehicles as weapons. While it is hard to control aircraft without federal authorities getting involved, cars, trucks and vans can be controlled.

Vehicular concerns need to be moved as far away as possible from the facility entrance, which is why checking vehicles at the perimeter is critical. Vehicle inspection can range from questioning drivers to inspecting the cargo or using a mirror to inspect underneath a vehicle. Take special care to monitor delivery trucks because they have the size to hide numerous items and they often are inspected infrequently if they make regular stops at the facility. Video images often are taken, but all vehicles entering the perimeter should be logged in, noting all materials delivered to the facility. Care should be taken to determine where deliveries are going in facility. Numerous facilities contact the person to whom the delivery is addressed to make sure they are expecting a delivery and to allow them to inspect the delivery at the loading dock rather than first taking it inside the building. Since many delivery trucks are rentals, besides recording license plates, driver license info also should be recorded before allowing a vehicle driver to proceed to the facility.

Parking Lot Management. Vehicular entry management is even more critical when a facility has a parking structure under the primary facility. Any attack within the garage can possibly cause the facility to collapse. However, the perimeter parking concerns are just as important. While terrorist might want to attack as close as possible to a building to cause the greatest damage, criminals prefer to operate further from security posts. Examine local crime statistics to determine whether crime is an issue affecting outlying locations. Consult local police to help determine appropriate action.

Since a parameter can be several blocks to several miles in distance, effectively patrolling outlying parking areas is critical. Horse-mounted patrols going through a crowd can have a calming effect on patrons and often are able to reach remote areas faster. From their raised position, mounted security personnel also have a better line of sight to monitor the crowd. Thus, if there is a choice between a motorized inspection and a horse-mounted unit, and cost is not an issue, consider trying the horsemounted patrol option. A side benefit of horse-mounted patrols is the positive feeling generated by kids wanting to see and touch the horse. Besides horses, dogs can be utilized to check for illegal or unauthorized items. However, to avoid frightening people dogs need to be on tight leashes.

While all the previously discussed perimeter security systems/strategies are important, they are best utilized in a combined system. Enterprise security information systems coordinate all facets of the security plan including crime vulnerability analysis, security risk surveys, electronic security systems, guard patrol management, incident tracking, life safety system, security management system and even building/HVAC management system. Through integration systems all these elements can communicate with one another to provide a seamless communication network, so one security system can know what is going on with another system.

Editor’s Note: We all have had nagging questions and times when we did not know where to turn for the answers. We are not talking about questions such as what were the names of the singers in Menudo. We are talking about facility security questions. Those industry professionals who are lucky enough to have a mentor might have someone to call. Others have developed a network of other executives who can help answer certain questions. However, many people make decisions in a vacuum without appropriate answers. Such an approach can lead to a lucky decision or a major disaster. To help solve this problem, Public Venue Security is pleased to announce a new column focused on answering critical concerns and questions raised by our readers.

Our columnist is Gil Fried, an associate professor at the University of New Haven where he coordinates graduate programs in Management of Sports Industries and Facility Management, which are endorsed by the International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM). Fried has worked with the IAAM on various projects from train the trainer programs to developing case studies for the International Crowd Management Conference. He is a well-known attorney in the sport facility area and serves as general counsel for several sport facility associations. He also serves as the director of risk management for OR&L Facility Management where he helps monitor risks and safety issues for several million square feet of public facilities managed by the company. He has written several books on risk and facility management and speaks extensively throughout the country. Public Venue Security is honored to have him both on its advisory board and to answer your questions. You can contact him by e-mail at gfried@newhaven.edu. For more information, visit www.gilfried.com.