From Concert Attacks to Venue Safety: What Local Event Organisers Should Learn

Worried about safety at local gigs and festivals? You should be — and there are clear steps every organiser, council and neighbour can take now.

High-profile incidents in late 2025 and early 2026 — from an assault outside an O2 Academy show involving actor Peter Mullan to a court case revealing a planned bomb attack on an Oasis reunion gig — show how quickly public events can become flashpoints for assault, lone-actor plots and copycat violence. These cases highlight gaps in perimeter and public-space safety as much as inside-venue security. For local festivals, council licensing officers and residents near venues, the lesson is simple: plan for layered risk, communicate clearly and build resilience.

The evolution of concert threats in 2026: what organisers need to know

Since 2024 the security landscape around live events has changed in three connected ways:

• Lone-actor and copycat risks — social media radicalisation and viral coverage mean attacks at one event quickly inspire others. The 2026 sentencing of an 18-year-old who planned a copycat attack on an Oasis show (inspired by a prior Southport killer) is a stark reminder.
• Threats outside the venue — incidents often happen in queues, on pavements and in nearby public spaces. The Peter Mullan attack outside the O2 Academy in Glasgow in September 2025 shows intervention by passers-by and stewarding around entrances matters as much as door security.
• Technology-driven countermeasures — AI video analytics, integrated comms and digital ticketing make fast detection and controlled egress possible, but they must be used ethically and tested under pressure.

"He attempted to intervene before being headbutted…" — court reporting on the assault outside the O2 Academy, Glasgow (September 2025)

Practical, actionable steps for local event organisers

Start with a single principle: layered security and simple, practiced plans beat ad-hoc responses. Use this checklist and expand it according to your venue size and local risk profile.

1. Conduct a dynamic risk assessment

• Map threats (violent assaults, unlawful items, hostile vehicles, medical surges) and rank them by likelihood and impact.
• Use scenario planning: worst-case evacuation, partial lockdown, mass casualty triage — rehearse these with stewards and local responders.
• Review intelligence feeds: ticketing anomalies, online threats, police bulletins and social media chatter in the 72 hours leading up to the event.

2. Strengthen perimeter and access control

• Design ingress and egress so flows don’t cross. Separate arrival and exit routes when possible.
• Use layered screening: ticket checks at entry, visible bag searches, and targeted secondary searches for flagged individuals.
• Implement a strict bottle/glass policy and enforce it at entry. Many assaults and weaponisation start with glass or improvised items.
• Secure nearby public spaces with temporary fencing, steward patrols and clear signage to prevent spill-over incidents like the Mullan case.

3. Staff, train and empower stewards

• Staff to expected crowd density. Use a clearly documented steward-to-public ratio tailored to your event type (family festival vs. standing rock gig).
• Invest in scenario-based training: de-escalation, spotting pre-incident behaviours, evacuation leadership and safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
• Designate rapid response teams with radios and direct comms to the safety manager and police liaisons.

4. Use technology thoughtfully

• Deploy CCTV with on-site monitoring; AI analytics can flag crowd surges, fights or loitering patterns but require human verification.
• Integrate comms: unified incident log, shared radio channels, and an on-site mobile command unit to coordinate with emergency services.
• Use ticketing data to detect suspicious bulk purchases or re-sale patterns and to help reunify lost persons with their groups post-incident.

5. Plan for medical and mental health surges

• Locate first-aid posts near exits and stage sides; ensure clear routes for ambulance access and patient transfer.
• Train stewards in basic mental-health first aid and spotting intoxication signs; some incidents escalate from substance misuse.

6. Build strong, documented emergency plans

• Have clear lockdown, evacuation and reunification plans. Publish them to staff and local responders and rehearse quarterly.
• Preserve evidence protocols — train staff not to disturb scenes unnecessarily and to log actions and timings.

7. Communications — be fast, clear and local

• Pre-event: publish safety rules, permitted items and public transport options; push this via email, ticketing pages and social channels.
• Real-time: use PA systems, SMS opt-in channels and stewards to deliver instructions; avoid speculation on social media.
• Post-incident: have a media and community statement prepared to reduce rumours and reassure neighbours.

What local councils and licensing teams should require and expect

Councils are the gatekeepers for safe events. In 2026 licensing teams are increasingly focused on demonstrable preparedness, evidence of rehearsed plans, and community impact mitigation. The best licensing checks are collaborative, not adversarial.

Documentation to request from organisers

• Comprehensive safety management plan (SMP) and dynamic risk assessment
• Stewarding plan with training records and SIA numbers where applicable
• Traffic management and parking plans, including hostile vehicle mitigation where appropriate
• Noise impact assessment and waste management plan
• Insurance certificates and structural certifications for stages and temporary structures

Licensing trends for 2026

• Councils are asking for clearer public-space management plans — not just inside-venue safety — because many assaults occur outside licensed premises.
• Expect stronger conditions around bottle/glass bans, steward minimums and post-event dispersal plans.
• Data sharing with police and SAG (Safety Advisory Group) partners is now routine: organisers must show they engage with these groups early in planning.

What renters and homeowners near venues should expect — and ask for

Living near a venue can be positive — but it brings disruption risks. Neighbours have a right to safe streets and clear information.

What organisers should tell local residents

• Event dates, start/end times and expected crowd sizes
• Road closures, parking suspensions and alternative parking locations
• Nearby stewarding and police presence, plus contact points for noise and safety complaints

Practical steps homeowners can take

• Keep entrances well-lit and lockable on event nights; use a security camera aimed at your property boundary if you feel at risk.
• Sign up to local council or venue alerts; join neighbourhood WhatsApp or community alert groups to share intel fast.
• Avoid direct confrontation with aggressive visitors. Report incidents to police and to the event security team—log times, descriptions and photos if safe to do so.

Learning from the Mullan and Oasis cases: concrete takeaways

The Mullan incident and the sentencing of the teen who planned an Oasis attack are painful but instructive. They show how problems can originate before the doors even open and how community intelligence and clear perimeter controls matter.

Lessons for organisers

• Perimeter safety is public safety: stewarding outside the venue and liaison with local police reduces the chance of assaults on pavements and in queues.
• Vetting and monitoring online threats in the run-up to an event can reveal copycat intentions; work with local policing units to manage digital intel.
• Simple decisions — enforce a no-glass policy, provide clear lighting and steward presence at chokepoints — often prevent escalation.

Lessons for councils

• Require organisers to publish perimeter and dispersal plans as part of licensing conditions.
• Use SAGs to bridge organisers, police, transport authorities and health services — ensure these groups meet early and regularly.

Future predictions and advanced strategies for 2026 and beyond

Security innovations are accelerating. Here are strategies that will become mainstream in 2026–2028 and that forward-thinking organisers and councils should pilot now.

• Predictive crowd analytics: AI models that forecast crowd bottlenecks and trigger preemptive steward redeployment.
• Integrated public-space protection: planning that treats streets, queues and transit hubs as extensions of venue security.
• Interoperable command systems: shared digital incident dashboards for organisers, police and council licensing teams to reduce response times.
• Community liaison platforms: apps that allow residents to receive event updates, report issues and be part of approved watch networks.

Quick, actionable checklist: what to do this week

1. Organisers: run a 30-minute tabletop drill of your evacuation and lockdown plans with stewards and the safety lead.
2. Councils: request the organiser’s latest dynamic risk assessment and evidence of steward training.
3. Residents: sign up to the venue or council alert system and file a non-emergency policing contact for event nights.
4. All parties: agree on a single point-of-contact and an incident comms template (what you will tell attendees, neighbours and the press).

Final thoughts — building safer events together

High-profile attacks grab headlines, but most harm at events is preventable through preparation, coordination and clear communication. The Peter Mullan assault and the foiled Oasis plot are wake-up calls: they show both the vulnerability of public spaces and the opportunity to make them safer.

Local organisers, councils and residents must treat safety as a shared responsibility. Start with sensible, documented plans; test them; and keep neighbours informed. When an event treats public space as part of its remit, everybody benefits — safer streets, fewer incidents and stronger community trust.

Take action now

Need help preparing your safety plan, coordinating with your council's licensing team, or setting up a neighbourhood alert for a venue near you? Contact borough.info’s local events desk — sign up for our safety toolkit, get a free template risk assessment and join our next webinar on crowd management and licensing updates for 2026.

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