High Footfall Screening: Rethinking Person & Bag searches for venues and events

A specialist from the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) casts a critical eye over established norms of search and screening at venues and events, and provides a call to arms to consider alternative approaches.

It’s probably fair to say that person and bag searches at venues and events are often conducted the way they are because that’s how it’s long been done at that site, or is typically done in that sector.

Existing approaches have their limitations

Manual searches can be highly effective, but that effectiveness can be significantly degraded by pressures to achieve high throughputs, or by the physical and mental demands on personnel of rapidly and repeatedly performing a task.

Technologies such as metal detection and bag X-ray can help address these issues, but systems typically require an increased footprint, have capital and operational costs, and increase the training burden.

The world is constantly changing – the nature of the terrorist threat and attack methodologies evolve, as do other threats that concern site operators (e.g. protests), and customers’ expectations regarding the security and visitor experience.

Through its High Footfall Screening work, NPSA has long been working to champion innovations in search and screening technology and process design that reduce barriers to adoption, and improve security and customer experience outcomes.

A good starting point for those responsible for security at venues and events is to consider the following:

Constructively challenge norms and be alert to biases

Recognise that every site is different – so what works somewhere else won’t necessarily be right for yours.

Accept that no search process can eliminate risk

Instead, focus on reliably detecting the threats that pose the greatest risk of harm: explosive devices and weapons capable of mass casualties. Ask yourself: what is it that keeps you awake at night? Detection rates on smaller threat items may not be as good, but items posing a similar risk of harm are likely to be present in your premises anyway.

Remember the importance of a layered approach to security

Effective security requires multiple, complementary measures, each practical and proportionate. Rather than committing ever more resource to marginally improving screening outcomes, focus that additional effort on reducing risk in other ways; for example, staff security awareness, and preparing effective incident response.

Aim for 100% screening

Screen everyone and everything, focusing on your detection priorities. If you systematically search all bags large enough to contain these priority threats, you have screened all bags. If you instead randomly select a proportion of people or bags for searches, you won’t have the same assurance.

Maximise throughput by optimising your entry process design and delivery

Question whether you need visitors to divest pocket contents or outerwear to achieve your search and screening outcome and address other potential pinch-points such as ticket checks. Maximising throughput should reduce the cost per person screened, as well as improving visitor experience and reducing risks associated with queues outside the premises.

Keep it simple and utilise the skills people already have

Many technologies require system-specific training for effective operation; for example, interpretation of X-ray images. This can be a significant barrier to adoption, particularly for temporary events and sites reliant on contracted-in personnel. By contrast, products designed for high footfall screening applications aim to be intuitive for both users and visitors, typically signalling the majority of people or bags as “clear”, with those causing an “alarm” referred for a resolution step, such as a manual search.

Technology can be a great enabler – how it’s used is the key

The person responsible for security at a premises or event must ensure that any search and screening measures they deploy address the site’s requirements and are implemented effectively through appropriate policies, procedures, staff training and supervision.

NPSA has developed a suite of test methods spanning Discriminative Metal Detection, Discriminative Threat Detection (metallic and non-metallic threats), and High-Throughput Bag Screening.

The test results help product manufacturers communicate their systems’ detection capabilities and nuisance alarm rates, whilst helping site operators select the products and settings that best meet their requirements.

For further information please visit:

www.npsa.gov.uk/building-protection/search-screening