Wednesday, 1 October 2025

SCHOLAR: THE NEGLIGENCE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY

 


SAFETY AND SECURITY DURING PERFORMANCES

Negligence can be defined as the inability for a person to act where as that inaction results in harm.  In order for a case of negligence to occur, there are certain elements that must be present.  First the person did not act when they should have.  Second, a standard must have been broken.  And third the harm.  Negligence can occur in many contexts.  As it pertains to public presentations the host must safeguard the security of the vicinity to protect not only the presenter but the audience.  There have been several main and attempted assassinations that have caused contention in multiple countries.  In Charlie Kirks assassination as well as Donald Trumps attempted assassination, it caused a massive awareness.  In the case of Arianna Grandes performance in the UK, she still suffers post traumatic stress disorder.  While in Ninoy Aquino’s assassination it occurred during a public display.  As for John F Kennedy like Ninoy Aquino it also occurred publicly.  The main question in these circumstances is could more have been done to prevent the event. 

During a presentation at the University of Utah Valley a sniper bearing a Mauser 98 sniper gun caused a bullet to penetrate the proximal part of Charlie Kirks left neck (FOX LA 2025).  This wound was fatal and it evidently caused his death as the jugular was affected preventing tissue perfusion to the rest of the body from the aorta.  The sniper was situated in a building nearby and commanded his position prone on its roof in order to fire the shot.  The shot was quick however when people noticed, a massive uproar occurred causing hysteria.  As for the sniper, he left the scene by removing himself from the building and throwing the weapon nearby.  Details about this incident are still ongoing. As for Donald Trump’s attempted assassination in Pennsylvania where he was presenting to an audience regarding his campaign he was shot with a sniper weapon where the bullet skid through a part of his superior right ear (CBS News 2025).  In the case of Arianna Grande she had a concert in the UK where she was met with terrorists who bombed the venue in Manchester (AP News 2024).  Twenty two people died.  In John F Kennedys situation, he along with his wife were situated on a manned vehicle driving through Texas on a strip while on the back seats along with his wife where a sniper took aim from a distance in a near by building where a shot caused a fatal murder (Texas State Library 2025).  As for Ninoy Aquino he was assassinated at a Philippine airport – Manila International Airport as he removed himself from the plane (Sinaunangpanahon 2025).  The shot came from someone inside the airport some distance away.  With all of these attempts in recent history and as it pertains to the current situation negligence is a question of concern as mentioned above noted.  It is the year 2025 and still yet not enough security measures are being implemented for public events such as campaign rally’s and concerns with respect to those involved mentioned herein.  Some measures can be taken to separate these people (presenters) from the civilian people (audience) in a bid to protect them via adequate security measures preventing death.   

CPTED Crime Prevention via Environmental Design can be implemented to prevent assaults and or batteries.  The preceding methods are going to explain how CPTED can be utilized to protect a venue. 

Dead zones can be implemented to prevent cellular communication from taking place.  Telecommunication dead zones are a new form of protection.  It prevents telecommunication from occurring during large events.  This means that if there is a plot against the venue, it would be increasingly challenging to communicate to fulfill the plot.  Dead zones have been utilized in several municipal events in surrey such as the Vaisakhi events.  These telecommunication dead zones have been very effective however, it shouldn’t be the only means of protection. 

Bullet proof cages can be utilized to prevent long distance shots from guns.  In the case of political presentations or musical concerts or plays the use of bullet proof cages is a necessity in the modern day as evidence from the above explained.  In Donald Trumps most recent presentations, security was increased where bullet proof dividers were put up before presentations.  This is the right move in the separation of the performer from the audience.  There are various types of bullet proof dividers that work on different bullets.  There is a scale of protection where bullet proof dividers are measured.  On the scale, 1 means the least effective and 8 (withstands some rifles) the most (Armour Core 2025).  The most appropriate protection for presenters of politics and or entertainment such as in a concert are glass clad polycarbonate glazing.  This type of protection charts at an 8 on the scale.  It contains multiple layers of glass and polycarbonate.  The dividers must be situated on a 360 degree basis where all angles protect the performer. 

Bullet proof clothing consist of padding that prevents a bullet from penetrating its layers.  Bullet proof clothing often comes in the form of bullet proof vests.    This type of protection is effective on various hand guns.  The drawback of bullet proof clothing is that it are bulk.  In the case of a concert performance such as Miss Grande’s performance such protection is not an option.  Hence people often forego such option in favor of making the performance more attractive. 

Security checks can identify placement of weapons.  These security checks can be conducted when people enter the venue.  A simple pat down on the body can reveal whether a person bears a weapon.  Such security checks can also be conducted to compliment a metal detector which are also utilized to identify if a person carries a weapon.  Both these methods are conducted upon entrance to the venue.  Next, security rounds can identify unusual behavior.  Having security guards do rounds around the venue can help determine if there is inappropriate behavior.  Security rounds with multiple guards can make the difference of life and death.  Along with security, adequate use of handlers can keep safety.  A Handler is a person that is assigned to a performer to ensure that they are safe.  The Handler often has to make communication with the rest of the security team to ensure that the person that is being protected is safe and secure.  Having a good Handler can increase the speed of getting the performer to safety during times of peril. 

A medical unit on stand by in the premises can promote health.  Having a medical unit on standby ensures that if there is an injury during the duration of the performance, health care can be administered.  First Aid CPR is usually the type of health care that is provided in such venues and not all venues and performances have a medical unit on stand by.  The medical unit should be trained in all types of injuries up to and including gun shots and poisons. 

Next, CCTV can log the premises.  The surveillance footage is utilized after the performance however, it has been proven that if people are monitored via surveillance, they will refrain from acting in ways that are inappropriate.  Having CCTV ensures that there is evidence, supporting evidence and proofs if in the event of a disaster. 

SWOT units.  For larger events SWOT units can be on stand by during the performance.  The reason for this is because the amount of people.  If the event becomes uncontrollable, the SWOT un it could neutralize the threat immediately ensuring the safety of the performer and the team as well as the other people in the audience. 

Ensuring adequate lighting.  Lighting itself makes visible things that people usually would like to conceal.  Pathways should be mapped and security and or safety exits identified.  All pathways should have adequate lighting and it should be free of blockages.   

As it pertains to the recent events of assassination on those performing be it for politics or entertainment more can be done to prevent crime.  The industry needs to change its method of delivery as noted above.  The current situations depict a nation or nations still learning and thus they may not be fully aware of how to properly protect or separate individual performers from the audience.  In their learning fatalities are likely as negligence persists.  Crime Prevention through Environmental Design can aid in keeping performers safe from the civilian people preventing potential injury to that person.  With these methods of safety and security, the question must be asked, have people been negligent in protecting performers in the modern age? 

 

WORK CITED

AP News.  (2024).  Survivors of 2017 Ariana Grande concert bombing take legal action against UK intelligence agency.  Retrieved from:  apnews.com/article/manchester-ariana-grande-concert-bombing-lawsuit-f2e8298cb045501eff5245392522d29c

Armourcore.  (2025).  Bullet Resistant Panels.  Retrieved from:  Top Bullet Resistant Panels for Safety | Armorcore

CBS News.  (2025).  Ryan Routh convicted of 2024 Trump assassination attempt, attempts to stab himself with pen after verdict.  Retrieved from:  Ryan Routh convicted of 2024 Trump assassination attempt, attempts to stab himself with pen after verdict - CBS News

FOX LA.  (2025).  Video shows moment Charlie Kirk shot during university event.  Retrieved from:  foxla.com/news/video-shows-moment-charlie-kirk-shot-during-university-event

Sinaunangpanahon.  (2025).  The Assassination of Opposition Leader Ninoy Aquino.  Retrieved from:  The Assassination of Opposition Leader Ninoy Aquino

Texas State Library.  (2025).  Three Shots Fired at President Kennedy’s Motorcade...  Retrieved from:  Texas Investigates: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy and Wounding of Governor John B. Connally | Texas State Library

 

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