Large outdoor events and festivals are complex environments where safety relies on multiple agencies working together. Security teams, event organisers, medical providers, local authorities, police, and fire services must all operate in sync — especially within the event control room, the operational heart of any major event.

To support this joined-up working, the UK developed the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles (JESIP). These principles ensure that when incidents occur, all parties can communicate, coordinate, and respond effectively. At SecurePro, we not only understand the importance of JESIP — we embed it fully into our planning, briefings, and operational delivery.

This blog explores why JESIP is crucial for festival safety and how SecurePro champions interagency collaboration to keep attendees, staff, and stakeholders safe.

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What Are the JESIP Principles — and Why Do They Matter for Festivals?

JESIP was created to help emergency services work better together during major or multi-agency incidents. Over time, these principles have become equally relevant to festival security, where cooperation between agencies is essential for smooth operations.

The five core JESIP principles are:

1. Co-locate – Work together in the same place to improve communication.
2. Communicate – Share clear, concise, and relevant information.
3. Coordinate – Align priorities and make joint decisions.
4. Jointly Understand Risk – Create a common view of threats and issues.
5. Shared Situational Awareness – Ensure everyone understands what is happening and what actions are required.

More details and guidance can be found on the official JESIP website.

In a festival environment — where tens of thousands of people may be present — these principles can be the difference between a smooth, well-managed event and a chaotic, unsafe one.

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How SecurePro Implements JESIP Across Festivals and Outdoor Events

SecurePro has built a strong reputation for delivering professional, collaborative event security. Our team understands that an isolated approach to safety is no longer fit for purpose. Instead, interoperability must be embedded in every decision, plan, and action.

Below are seven key ways SecurePro brings JESIP to life within event planning and on-site operations.

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1. Co-Locating With Key Partners in the Event Control Room

The event control room (ECR) is the central hub of communication during an event. SecurePro ensures that senior supervisors and commanders are positioned within ECR throughout the festival.

This allows us to:

• Share real-time updates with emergency services
• Respond quickly to emerging concerns
• Maintain consistent communication with entry gates, pits, response teams, campsites, and backstage
• Support clear and coordinated decision-making

By co-locating with partners, we reduce delays, minimise miscommunication, and improve response agility.

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2. Clear, Consistent, JESIP-Aligned Communication

Communication is at the core of JESIP — and at the core of SecurePro’s operations.

We ensure:

• Standardised radio protocols
• Structured incident reporting formats
• Accurate message relaying between field teams and ECR
• Seamless communication with medical teams, fire officers, police, and traffic management

This clarity reduces confusion during live operations and ensures the right information reaches the right people quickly.

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3. Coordinated Pre-Planning and Multi-Agency Preparation

Before an event even opens, SecurePro works closely with all stakeholders to align safety strategies.

This includes contributing to:

• Safety Advisory Group (SAG) meetings
• Emergency response and contingency planning
• Evacuation strategies
• Crowd flow and site design assessments
• Badging, accreditation, and perimeter security coordination

Coordinated planning ensures that every agency is working from the same foundations.

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4. Building a Joint Understanding of Risk

Festivals present a mix of predictable and unpredictable risks:

• Crowd surges
• Intoxication and disorder
• Extreme weather
• Medical incidents
• Fire hazards
• Lost children and safeguarding concerns
• Perimeter breaches or unauthorised entry

SecurePro works with emergency services, medics, and event managers to share risk intelligence and operational observations from the event control room.

This joint understanding supports:

• Better allocation of resources
• Prioritised patrols
• Targeted response deployment
• Reduced overall risk to the public

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5. Maintaining Shared Situational Awareness Throughout the Event

SecurePro supervisors provide continuous updates into the event control room, ensuring that all partners share the same understanding of developing situations.

This includes:

• Real-time incident logging
• Crowd density monitoring
• Weather-related updates
• Intelligence passed from covert teams or gates
• Welfare and safeguarding information
• Updates from response units and pit teams

This shared picture allows agencies to make informed, aligned decisions quickly and confidently.

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6. Supporting Unified Command and Decision-Making

SecurePro recognises the importance of multi-agency command structures. Our experienced event control room managers work within existing decision-making frameworks and support unified command through:

• Clear chain-of-command structures
• Liaison officers for emergency services
• Consistent, transparent decision-making processes
• ECR coordination during major incidents or escalations

This unity ensures safer, more effective event management.

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7. Training, Culture, and Professionalism Aligned With JESIP

JESIP is not just a framework — it’s a mindset. SecurePro trains operational staff and event control staff to understand:

• Multi-agency working
• Clear communication under pressure
• Risk awareness
• Crowd behaviour and emergency response
• The role of ECR in safety governance

By embedding JESIP into our culture, event organisers benefit from a team that naturally supports partnership working.

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SecurePro: Your Interagency Festival Safety Partner

At SecurePro, we take pride in being a trusted partner for festival organisers, emergency services, and local authorities. Our teams integrate seamlessly into multi-agency environments, supporting compliance, enhancing communication, and strengthening on-site resilience.

To learn more about how we support festival safety, visit our SecurePro Event Services page.