Crowd Management at large scale events: learning from Liverpool
As a servant to crowd management at large scale events in the private sector, over the years I’ve been involved in my fair share of sporting celebratory parades.
A notable experience of mine was 8th June 2023, being tasked with leading the West Ham team victory bus walk through the streets of East London. An experience and challenge I’ll never forget.
There’s something special about an entire city in celebration. Banners waving, smoke from flares in the air, fans shoulder to shoulder. The recent Liverpool FC victory parade had all of that and more. But behind the buzz was a serious reminder that even celebratory occasions can present serious risks if we do not prepare to prevent the unthinkable.
As you may know, a vehicle drove into the crowd that day, injuring 109 people, including 4 children. No fatalities, thankfully, but that outcome could have been very different. And it forces us to ask: are we truly ready for what happens when the plan shifts?
A modern threat landscape
In today’s world, large public gatherings such as football parades, concerts and city-wide celebrations are coming under increasing scrutiny. And rightly so. These events draw not only passionate crowds but also serious risks. Whether it’s terrorism, lone actors, or simple misjudgment, the threat is evolving quickly, and it’s more complex than ever.
It’s necessary for security companies to stay ahead of the curve with threat trends. For example, in 2015, just 5% of UK terror threats came from far-right groups. Today, it’s 35%. That’s not a subtle shift. It’s a complete reframing of risk. And as these threats change, our strategies must evolve too. This is the thinking behind Martyn’s Law, created after the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. The law aims to ensure frontline operatives are trained, prepared, and trusted to respond to these evolving risks.
We’re only as strong as our weakest link. Without competency, communication, and coordination, we’re not managing risk. We’re just hoping it doesn’t show up.
The Liverpool incident: a teachable moment
Liverpool’s victory parade drew hundreds of thousands. It should have been a perfect day. But confusion over timings, unclear routes, and insufficient vehicle blocks resulted in a car breaching the crowd line.
Admittedly, we don’t know everything about how it unfolded or how this slip-up happened. Were resources pulled too early? Were assumptions made about when things would quieten down? This isn’t about pointing fingers. It’s about learning where the problem started, and why.
From the available reports, I’ve gathered the perpetrator managed to gain access to that street by following an ambulance through a roadblock, just ten minutes after the Liverpool team’s bus had passed.
There is one key truth to remember: the public is not trained to assess risk in real time. That’s our job. Which is why layered safety planning is critical. Strategic road closures, physical barriers, visible marshals, and clear channels of communication between organisers, police, and private security. These aren’t luxuries, they’re non-negotiable.
Why employment standards matter
When you peel back the layers of security issues, one hard truth becomes clear. Cheap labour will always lead to a drop in service quality. Clients have both a moral and operational obligation not to cut corners when it comes to security personnel.
I’ve been in this industry for over 20 years, and unethical low-cost labour practices have always been a concern. Thankfully, the government is now taking stronger steps to address this. With HMRC increasing pressure on PAYE compliance, there’s growing momentum toward building a more stable, better trained, and more accountable workforce. Legitimate employment structures mean better training, higher standards, and stronger teams on the ground.
Where we go from here
Crowd safety in 2025 and beyond requires more than just high-vis jackets and steel barriers. It demands foresight, situational awareness, and collaborative planning across stakeholder agencies working together to consider all objectives, bring intel and work together for the best outcome. For Trojan Security, working with the City of London Crime Prevention Association and the City Security Council as an ambassador for collaborations with the night-time economy, it has been invaluable to share intel with the police and other stakeholders.
The role of technology
Integrating technology to close the gap of human error could potentially save lives. For example, AI and real-time surveillance in threat detection and crowd management. There are unwarranted fears that this will replace our role in the industry, but I believe it will only enhance us. Allowing invaluable human resources to focus on more important tasks rather than being burned out from doing the mundane.
We must learn from post-event debriefs and create scenario-based training to evolve our teams. A harsh term I learnt recently, which really hit home, was “Pre-Mortem”. Emphasising the importance of identifying problems and threats before they have a chance to play out.
The Liverpool incident was a warning. A celebration that turned tragic. And to be honest, it could have happened in any city. But as Pete O’Doherty, the Commissioner of the City of London Police reminded us at the CoLCPA AGM: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” (Benjamin Franklin).
We may not always get a second chance. So, whether it’s a festival or a football parade, the responsibility is ours to keep the public safe. And when the next city celebrates, we must make sure the only story being told is the one they came to cheer for.
Ivan Mariacher
Managing Director, Trojan Security
