Like many football clubs and large venues, Fulham Football Club is mindful of the need to mitigate the risk of the terror threat on event days and keen to begin preparing for future safety and security obligations in advance of Martyn’s Law (Terrorism: Protection of Premises) legislation.
The Premier League Club asked SAFECROWDS to advise them on a proportionate and operationally viable approach to protecting the Zone Ex area around their Craven Cottage stadium from vehicle as a weapon attacks. Our team carried out a Threat, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (TVRA), visiting the stadium and talking to the club’s team to gain a full understanding of the layout of the location and operational practices. We also carried out a Vehicle Dynamics Assessment (VDA) as an integral part of this process, providing vital data about the potential velocity and trajectory of a hostile vehicle. This enabled us to advise the football club on the correct locations for temporary hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) systems on match days, and the level of protection required in order to implement effective and proportionate protection.
We specified the ARX Stopper!™️ a certified, pedestrian permeable HVM system, which can be installed on roads, pavements or uneven ground. The surface-mounted system is assembled onsite in minutes by our fully trained technicians, who have also completed ACT (Action Counters Terrorism), first aid, and customer service training. We have branded the covers for the HVM system with the Fulham FC emblem, enhancing the match day experience for fans and supporting the club’s safety-positive reputation.
We also specified the RB50 moveable HVM barrier; a versatile, certified HVM system deployed in 4000mm arrays, which can be moved into position in minutes, and moved aside in seconds to allow authorised or emergency vehicles into the protected area.
Both HVM systems are surface-mounted and each deployment involves co-ordinated implementation and de-rigging before and after each fixture to protect fans during ingress and egress, while minimising disruption to local residents and motorists.
Alongside the HVM equipment, the SAFECROWDS team has also brought RAPAID emergency bandages kits to each deployment, ensuring help is at hand to stop the bleed in the event of an incident, accident, or injury.
As HVM protection was a new feature of match day preparations, an important part of the brief was to communicate professionally with fans and residents should they have any questions about the equipment or why it was being used. The customer services training completed by the SAFECROWDS teams, alongside their training in correct installation of the HVM systems, ensured we delivered that goal.
Thanks to the outstanding success of the Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) deployments and the exemplary professionalism demonstrated by the SAFECROWDS team throughout the 2023/24 football season, Fulham FC has chosen to award SAFECROWDS the contract for several critical security services 2024/25 season. This new agreement encompasses canine explosives detection and canine pyrotechnics and drug detection services, including spiking substances, along with comprehensive traffic management/Zone Ex solutions. The decision reflects Fulham FC’s confidence in SAFECROWDS’ ability to enhance security measures at their events, ensuring a safe and enjoyable environment for fans and staff alike. This partnership not only highlights SAFECROWDS’ expertise in canine security operations but also underscores the importance of effective crowd management and safety protocols in modern sporting venues.
To date, during the first four months of the football season, there have been no pyro incidents following the introduction of our canine detection services, and several drugs arrests. The club has also saved money on its security budget and gained a co-ordinated approach from an accountable security partner by integrating multiple services in this way.
