The International Centre for
Crowd Management and Security Studies

Journal of Crowd Safety and Security Management (JCSSM)

The second issue (December 2009) of the Journal of Crowd Safety and Security Management (JCSSM) has now been published.

Since the appearance of the first issue of the Journal, in its modest form, in February 2009, the Journal’s webpage has been receiving, on average, 50 hits a week from readers around the world.

The second issue includes students’ edited projects, plus contributions from readers in Australia and the USA.

See Journal page

111 feared dead in Russian nightclub blaze
At least 111 are feared dead after a nightclub fire in Perm, Russia.The fire, was apparently started by pyrotechnic fountains let off inside the Lame Horse nightclub. .

Scores hurt at Christmas lights switch on in Birmingham
About sixty people have been injured during a crowd surge at Birmingham's Christmas lights switch-on. More than 20,000 people turned out for the event at Millennium Point, which had been due to feature acts including JLS and the Sugababes. A city council spokesperson said more people than expected had turned out and they had feared for crowd safety. For link to article and video footage click on title BBC News

Ingress Breakdown
click on title for link.

Crowd Safety Management Students Graduate
Buckinghamshire New University is delighted to announce the successful graduation of the third cohort of Crowd Safety Management students.

SECURITY WEEK
Safety,sustainability and crowd management. 21-25 September 2009, Missenden Abbey, Buckinghamshire. for further details see link on fuller news item and contact:- Tom Harrison Tel: +44(0) 1494 601 620 email:tom.harrison@bucks.ac.uk

The day live music died
In the wake of the UK Government’s clear reluctance to act on the bureaucracy of the Licensing Act 2003, admit it’s mistakes and end the ongoing controversy over the Metropolitan Police’s form 696 Andy McSmith, writing in the The Independent Saturday, 18 July 2009, reports:

Second death at Madonna stage collapse
British worker, Charles Prow aged 23 has been named as the second person to die following the tragic stage roof collapse in Marseilles.

Three hurt in freak festival accident
Three people have been injured at the Bearded Theory music festival in Derbyshire after part of a stage collapsed when "freak" strong winds lifted part of the roof off the stage.

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Patrick Jordan
Patrick was an active and valued board member of the Centre and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Buckinghamshire New University in recognition of his contribution to event safety through his work at Mojo Barriers. Chris Kemp Executive Dean, speaking on behalf of the University, said.....

New one day course promotes live event green skills
European festivals organisation Yourope, Bucks New University and environmental campaign group www.agreenerfestival.com have lauched a new short course in sustainable event management. The course aims to meet a growing demand by festival and event organisers for more knowledge and training about a range of issues to do with managing sustainable events.The one day course which will be held on February 20th 2009, will be hosted by Bucks New Uni and is aimed to provide event planners and organisers and those involved in environmental planning at events with training and knowledge of some of the key issues, and their solutions, to enable informed decision making on environmental best practices. The key topics covered include an introduction to organising sustainable events and

Bucks New University Crowd Safety Management workshop,The Event Show Olympia 21st January 2009
Bucks New University and the International Centre for Crowd Management & Security Studies have been invited to host a workshop on Crowd Safety Management. The workshop will be chaired by leading crowd safety expert Mick Upton, founder chairman of Showsec International and the Centre. He will be joined by Mark Hamilton, Managing Director of G4S Events and founder of Rock Steady and Ben Challis,UK lawyer specialising in Entertainment Law and Exectuive Producer for television coverage of Glastonbury Festival

Injuries at X-factor show
5 teenage girls have been injured at a free concert featuring X-Factor finalists JLS at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon, South London.

61 dead in Bangkok club blaze
A devastating fire at a New Year's event in a Bangkok nightclub has left at least 61 people dead with more than 212 injured in a stampede to escape from the blaze which broke out at the Santika Club just after midnight.

Inaugral UK Festivals Conference and UK Festival Awards held on 30th October 2008
It was standing room only at the inaugural UK Festivals Conference which preceded the UK Festival Awards as delegates packed into the Gibson Guitar Showrooms in London's West End. The event was promoted by www.virtualfestivals.com, Yourope, Bucks New University, IQ and www.agreenerfestival.com .

AIF Launch Scheme To Tackle Festival Crime
· AIF Announces Formation Of Security Task Force · Drive To Identify And Combat Organised Gangs · First AIF Initiative · Scheme To Be Extended To Non-Members

Final Greener Festival Awards announced- thirteen more festivals pick up the eco-award
Eight English festivals including The Big Chill, Bestival, Summer Sundae Weekender, Shambala, Reading, Leeds and End of the Road and Waveform along with Scotland's Hydro Connect, Ireland's Electric Picnic, Portugal's Boom, Southbound in Australia and the Rothbury Festival in the USA have joined the illustrious list of winners for the 2008 Greener Festival Award. All of the award winners were praised by organisers www.agreenerfestival.com for their efforts to promote environmentally friendly music festivals.

UK Festival Awards nominations out
The UK Festival Awards, which take place at the O2 Indigo, have announced their list of final nominations. The showcase event for UK and European festivals takes place on the 30th October and will be preceeded with the first ever UK Festival Conference, presented by the UK Festival Awards team, Virtual Festivals, A Greener Festival, Buckinghamshire New University and Yourope, the European festival organisers association and will be held at the Gibson Guitar Studios in central London. And the nominees are ....

Another catastrophe as 168 die in temple stampede in Jodhpur
Thousands of pilgrims, allegedly panicked by false rumors of a bomb, stampeded at a Hindu temple in Jodhpur, western India on tuesday, killing at least 168 people. Television footage showed dozens of bodies lying on the sidewalk, while nearby frantic people tried to revive unconscious devotees, slapping their faces and pressing on their chests.

43 dead as fire engulfs Chinese disco
At least 43 revellers died as a fire caused by fireworks swept through a Chinese nightclub, causing a mass stampede for exits.

Sound Advice - Make Some Noise!
Back in July, the HSE launched www.soundadvice.info , the entertainment industry's very own guide to the Control of Noise at Work regulations. Its popularity means that it is currently rated as the number 1 noise-related website by Noise Bulletin (out of 45...we never knew there were so many). The HSE is keen to spread the word further so if you have a site and would be kind enough to add a link, please do so.

At least 21 dead as Ramadan cash handout triggers stampede
At least 21 people have been crushed to death in eastern Indonesia after a charity event hosted by a wealthy family turned into a stampede, officials have said.

Noel Gallagher Assualted on Stage
Noel Gallagher was assaulted whilst perfomring at the Virgin Festival in Toronto. A man - called Daniel Sullivan, apparently - ran on stage and pushed him over. CMU Daily Click on title for full article and link to footage

Police use Licensing Act to cancel Babyshambles Festival night
For the first time in the UK the police have used Section 160 (orders to close premises in an area experiencing disorder) of the Licensing Act 2003 to get a live performance stopped. from www.musiclawupdates.com

Door supervisors to use handcuffs in Carlise
Door supervisors working for a Carlisle security firm will be allowed to use handcuffs to restrain troublemakers at clubs and pubs before police arrive at incidents.

145 dead in temple festival stampede
At least 30 children were amongst the estimated 145 pilgrims who were killed in a stampede yesterday (3rd August) at a Himalyan shrine in Northern India, apparently sparked off by rumours of a landslide.

Loud music prompts more drinking
On top of recent research that says certain types of music can increase the risk of violence in bars and clubs, a French study has shown that turning up the volume on the music can speed up the drinking at the bar. Researchers found loud music correlated with increased alcohol consumption and shortened the amount of time it took for bar patrons to empty their glasses:

Lasers blind fans at Russian festival, law suits follow
CMU Daily reports that at least twelve, and possibly as many as thirty people were blinded at a festival in Russia earlier this month after lasers were reflected into their eyes.

T-in-the-Park stabbing clouds spectacular success whilst two die at Norweigian Festival
A festival-goer viciously stabbed at T-in-the-Park is making "good progress" in hospital. Police report that the 22 year old man was attacked by two males after going to the aid of a female friend who had been accosted by the two.

12 Dead after Mexico City nightclub raid
Nine teenagers and three police officers are dead after police raided the News Divine nightclub in Mexico City as students celebrated the end of the school year.

New association for independent festivals launched
A group of independent festivals in the UK, headed up by the 25,000 capacity Bestival and the 40,000 capacity Creamfields, have set up the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF).

18 year old dies at Rock Ness
An 18 year old man was found dead at the Rock Ness Music Festival on Saturday 7 June.

Great White settlement muddies the water on legal liabilities
The news that US radio conglomerate Clear Channel will pay $22 million into the “Great White” victims fund sends out worrying signals to media ‘co-promoters’ and others involved in the promotion of music events in the USA and elsewhere.

Bucks students become the first in the country to gain the Live Event Safety Passport.
The Production Services Association ran the first ever Events Safety Passport at a UK university on 1st May at Buckinghamshire New University.

Recorded music formats should be greener
48.5% of music fans would prefer to buy their CD’s in sustainable packaging rather than in the traditional plastic case.  These are the initial findings of the latest survey carried out by Buckinghamshire New University on behalf of the cross music industry initiative Julie’s Bicycle.

Festival and Stadia Certificate a Roaring Success
The Certificate in Festival, Stadia and venue Safety held at the Centre for Crowd Management and Security Studies in High Wycombe were an unqualified success.

Music Fans Want Green Events
Over 80% think noise, waste and traffic have a negative impact. Big rise in CO2 awareness at festivals. 48% would pay more for greener events. 36% say green is important when buying a ticket. The initial findings of research conducted by the Centre on behalf of music industry campaign group Agreenerfestival.com just published…

New Head of the Centre
Mark Hamilton, MD and Chairman of the Rock Steady Group takes over as Head of the Centre.

Buckinghamshire New University unveils MOJO Barriers Education & Training Centre
Friday 14 December 2007, saw the official opening of the Mojo Barriers Education & Training Centre, part of the Centre for Crowd Management & Security Studies at Buckinghamshire New University.