by Josh Dean, CEO, Audiebant
The zombie knife ban that came into force in September has removed tens of thousands of weapons from sale in England and Wales, even if there is controversy about its cost.
The fact that one wholesaler surrendered more than 35,000 such knives gives an indication of the scale of the problem.
As welcome as the new legislation is, it can only go so far in keeping the public safe and reducing potential harm. Many knives are still in circulation. The twice-yearly Sceptre week of anti-knife crime action in November yielded nearly 10,000 knives across England and Wales, for example.
The Home Office faces a tough challenge in meeting its aim to halve knife crime and serious violence within a decade, considering that the number of offences involving a knife or sharp instrument increased by seven per cent last year.
Events in public spaces present their own challenges, attracting large crowds in what are often loosely defined areas. The 2024 Christmas market attack in the German city of Magdeburg, although involving a vehicle, reveals the significant threat facing the public during seasonal and one-off events with high footfall.
Here in the UK, there are definite steps we should take to improve security at events in public spaces where policing is often stretched and the movement of crowds unpredictable. We need a fresh approach to emergency response plans, including lockdown procedures. Counter Terrorism Policing has rightly warned the public to be vigilant and offers risk assessment tools for businesses, but these measures can only go so far.
It would be good practice for the Home Office to increase collaboration with technology partners and those in charge of large public spaces to combat the threats, especially in relation to knife crime.
We need thoroughly planned procedures to be placed based on previous experience, intelligence and local knowledge. Knife crime comes in different forms including robbery and gang violence as well as terror and lone-wolf incidents. Authorities need to think through each case and train staff appropriately, ensuring they are properly located and connected.
Part of the planning should include deployment of technology such as a mass communication system that can provide instant, concise instructions to the public during an incident when people are looking for immediate guidance.
Authorised personnel can use a software-based app to initiate an instant broadcast via all available channels, covering audio, screen and mobile, from any portable communication device. The latest communication technology enables use of live AI-driven text-to-speech to be broadcast instantaneously to multiple zoned areas.
Full coverage utilising clear, concise and calm emergency messages ensures everyone is made aware of a threat. Different messages or instructions sent immediately and simultaneously to different areas ensure people are directed to the closest exits or safe areas.
This is a major gain when public events can involve the attendance of families with small children. These groups will quickly take their own course of action when there is messaging vacuum, or a public address system is broadcasting undifferentiated warnings. A single inflexible message that does not differ between floors and areas may inadvertently direct people towards threats and away from safe exits.
It is a major advantage to have these advanced and highly responsive zoned communication systems that can quickly disseminate different messages advising people in each zone on the safest course of action. This accords with guidance from the National Protective Security Authority and Counter Terrorism Policing about the ability to deliver different messages to different zones.
Knife threats, sad to say, are not going to disappear instantaneously. Zoned mass communication systems accompanied by thorough planning and preparation, offer a flexible, reliable and effective way to protect the public at events and similar gatherings.
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