Understanding the interplay between safety, security, and cybersecurity

Ensuring public safety and security is a complex challenge that requires careful consideration of various risks and potential trade-offs. A crucial distinction exists between ‘safety’ and ‘security,’ though these terms are often conflated or used interchangeably.

Safety pertains to the prevention of unintentional harm or accidents that are often related to environmental hazards, whereas security focuses on guarding against intentional threats posed by individuals or groups seeking to cause harm or gain unauthorised access.

Recognising this distinction is essential to effectively address the challenges associated with managing large public gatherings, infrastructure protection, and cyber resilience.

Insights from the Surveillance Impact Report D2.1  highlight these concepts and its distinctions.

Balancing Safety and Security in Public Gatherings

Public gatherings, such as concerts, festivals, and sporting events, pose unique challenges where safety and security considerations may sometimes conflict. For instance, measures implemented to counter known security threats, such as enhanced screening procedures, can inadvertently create crowd control bottlenecks, increasing the risk of safety hazards such as stampedes or crushes. Understanding these trade-offs is essential to developing rational responses that optimise both safety and security without compromising either.

Security professionals highlight that linguistic differences across Europe add to the complexity of implementing effective safety and security measures. Many languages lack distinct terms for these concepts, leading to misunderstandings in policies and operational strategies. This linguistic overlap can blur the line between safety, which deals with unintentional risks, and security, which addresses intentional threats. Consequently, separate yet coordinated approaches must be developed to tackle these issues effectively.

Key safety considerations in Public Events

One of the primary concerns for public events is crowd management. Properly understanding crowd dynamics is vital to prevent overcrowding, maintain controlled movement, and minimise risks of mass panic. Research findings have identified five major safety concerns that event organisers must address:

1. Overcrowding and crowd management – Poorly managed crowds can lead to crushes and stampedes, resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. 
2. Crowd panic – Large gatherings are particularly vulnerable to panic-inducing events, such as sudden loud noises or unexpected incidents.
3. Extreme weather conditions – Can pose significant risks to the health and safety of attendees. Providing safe spaces during such conditions are key to preventing heat-related illnesses and other weather-induced health hazards.
4. Environmental hazards – Specific environmental factors, such as insect bites and challenging settings (e.g. caves), can pose health risks to attendees. Managing these hazards involves preventive measures and ensuring that medical assistance is readily available.
5. Infrastructure safety – Having safe infrastructures, protecting them at events, and ensuring proper stewarding.

Security concerns in public spaces

While safety focuses on unintentional risks, security addresses intentional threats including a wide-range of connected topics
such as cybersecurity, physical security, identity protection, fraud, counterterrorism, hate-crimes etc. Security professionals differentiate between ‘crowd management’ (means to guide the flow of the crowd at a certain location) and ‘crowd control’ (strict security concept, looking at ways to contain crowd movement). Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) typically emphasise crowd control, while first responders focus on managing flows efficiently. These perspectives must be integrated to ensure public gatherings remain both secure and safe.

Notably, security concerns extend beyond physical threats, including social tensions, hooliganism, and anti-social behaviour. Practitioners have noted that provocateurs exploit the anonymity of crowds to instigate violence, making it imperative to implement surveillance and rapid intervention strategies. While terrorism is not always the primary concern, high-profile incidents such as the Manchester Arena bombing at the Ariana Grande concert in 2018 serve as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance.

The growing role of cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is emerging as a critical aspect of security. As digital infrastructure becomes increasingly integral to event management, cyber threats that could disrupt event operations or compromise personal data that are collected to access the event (e.g. ticketing) or during the event (e.g. CCTVs). These include:

• Hacking into digital systems
• Cutting off power
• Hijacking display screens

It is important to incorporate cybersecurity measures into broader security planning. The interconnected nature of physical and digital threats necessitates a holistic approach, ensuring resilience against both traditional and emerging risks.

Conclusion

Addressing safety, security, and cybersecurity requires a multifaceted approach that acknowledges their distinct yet interconnected challenges. By carefully managing crowd dynamics, mitigating intentional threats, and safeguarding digital infrastructure, stakeholders can create environments that are both secure and safe. As public events and urban spaces continue to evolve, so too must the strategies that protect those who inhabit them.

Want to learn more? The Surveillance Impact Report D2.1  offers further insights into these surveillance practices and their impact on society​.