Policing and security

Our EventScotland team maintains regular dialogue with Police Scotland representatives in relation to Scotland’s events and festivals. This relationship is coordinated on behalf of our EventScotland team by VisitScotland’s Events Industry Development Manager, Torquil MacLeod. 

Police Scotland’s approach to events has changed in recent years, including, where appropriate, the introduction of cost recovery from event organisers for the deployment of officers and resources in the planning and delivery of their events.

It's important that event organisers engage with Police Scotland in a timely and appropriate manner. Further detail, including contact email addresses and costs, is available on the Police Scotland website.

As part of the organisation’s ongoing Industry Development programme, we've recently provided a number of opportunities for event organisers to engage with Police Scotland locally and nationally. You can subscribe to the EventScotland e-news to be kept up-to-date on dates, times and venues for future engagement opportunities.

National Counter Terrorism police provide advice to Scotland's events industry and the public on the steps they can take to keep themselves safe in the rare event of a terrorism attack. You can find out more by viewing the General Security Advice document.

Police Scotland is developing a counter terrorism security programme to raise awareness on how to respond to threats entitled Project Argus – Stadia. This programme is an opportunity to help event organisers develop a protective security response in the case of a terrorist threat or other security threat.

Project Argus - Stadia is an initiative developed by the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and delivered by Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSAs) throughout the UK. The ARGUS - Stadia events are designed for stadia, arenas, indoor/outdoor venues, concerts, festival sites and in public places.

Following the national Project Argus - Stadia event in June 2016 Police Scotland can develop regional sessions for event organisers.  Please note, these sessions are dependent on attracting sufficient numbers.

If you're interested in a regional session and organise an event that has crowded areas (of 1,000+ people), contact Police Scotland to find out more at:

• [email protected] (for the west of Scotland) 
• [email protected] (for the east of Scotland)
• [email protected] (for the north of Scotland)

View the Stay Safe Film to understand what to do in case of a firearms and weapons attack. 

Familiarise yourself with the Counter Terrorism Protective Security Advice for Major Events.

Further documents providing advice on increasing the protection of crowded places from a terrorist attack can be found on the Government's "Protecting crowded places from terrorism" web page.

National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) is providing advice to the events industry and the public on the steps they can take to keep themselves safe in the rare event of a firearms or weapons attack.