3rd June 2009: Completing the tendering process that began last October, The Association of Independent Festivals today unveiled Showsec – the largest specialised event security company in the UK – as the company selected to lead the organisation’s anti-campsite crime task force.  

With a record of over 25 years managing crowds at high profile events and venues, including Creamfields, Belladrum, Bestival, Camp Bestival and Rock Ness, Showsec have demonstrable requisite skills and experience. They will now be tasked with gathering and sharing knowledge and tackling the organised gangs who have targeted festivals in recent years. 

The service, designed to complement a festival’s existing security setup, will allow promoters and event managers to enhance their security operation by taking part in pre-briefings and receiving information from other festivals specifically in relation to crime.  

In addition to their intelligence gathering operations the new team will also, when requested by promoters, be available to undertake security work on site at festivals, spotting known criminals and identifying potential areas for concern during the event. 

The security task force will commence operating this summer when briefing and intelligence gathering operations will begin at Rock Ness, Camp Bestival, Creamfields and Bestival.  

Information gathered from these shows will be shared with all AIF members, their respective heads of security and relevant police forces to ensure that the intelligence necessary to help reduce crime is available to all events. 

Simon Battersby, Showsec: “We fully support the AIF’s initiative to reduce crime at festivals, and we are extremely pleased to be working alongside them this year to enable festivals to clamp down on crime”  

Rob da Bank, co-founder of AIF: “We announced the AIF Security Task Force earlier this year as one of the cornerstones of why I wanted to form AIF in the first place and we’ve been working hard with the security industry and with AIF members to get a working plan which we now have. We feel confident we’re now in a position to help make a difference to help protect the public who attend our events.” 

Jim King, director of Loud Sound and AIF board member: “It’s rewarding to see how united our industry is on the issue. AIF is fully committed to supporting all efforts to help solve a problem which is a concern to festivals of all shapes and sizes.”