Enhancing Security at the St Leger Festival
A Drone Services Case Study
This case study examines the pivotal role played by Swallow Sky Tech, a drone services company based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, in bolstering security measures for the St Leger Festival, one of the oldest and most prestigious events in the flat horse racing season calendar held at Doncaster Racecourse. The event draws a substantial audience and significant attention from the horse racing world and the wider public. Ensuring the safety and security of attendees, participants, and the overall infrastructure is paramount. Of particular significance to this year’s event was the attendance of their majesties the King and Queen, who had one of their horses participating in the main event.
The company’s founder, a former police officer with nearly 3 decades of policing experience, applied his expertise to provide a comprehensive aerial surveillance solution to support the venue management and security teams.
Client Profile
The client, the ARC Racing Group, is a leading racecourse operator in the UK. With 16 horse racing courses, including Doncaster and 5 dog racing tracks their focus on innovation and cutting-edge technology in racecourse management led them to seek the services of Swallow Sky Tech to augment their existing security provisions.
Challenges
Vast Area Coverage:
The expansive racecourse grounds presented a challenge in terms of comprehensive surveillance. As with most racecourse around the country, the track forms part of Common Land, meaning the public could wander from nearby woodland and estates to the side of the racecourse.
Potential Protestors:
Recent sporting events throughout the UK have been subjected to a variety of protests and demonstrations, which have caused significant disruption to the events and impacted on public safety. There was concern this event may have been subjected to such activity.
Crowd Management:
Ensuring the safety of a large and diverse crowd while maintaining a seamless experience for attendees.
Timely Response:
Swift identification and response to any security concerns or incidents.
Minimising Disruption:
Implementing security measures without disrupting the event’s flow and enjoyment for attendees.
Solution
Swallow Sky Tech deployed a fleet of advanced drones equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance technology to address the challenges.
Aerial Surveillance:
Drones were used to conduct regular aerial patrols, providing a bird’s-eye view of the entire racecourse, adjourning woodland, and open land, as well as neighboring estates enabling rapid detection of any suspicious activity or potential security breaches.
Collaboration with Ground Personnel:
Swallow Sky Tech established a high quality live-link feed from the drone into the venue control room, collaborating closely with the management and on-ground security teams. This provided situational awareness, allowing dynamic risk assessments based on threat, harm and risk and enabling the seamless deployment of resources as appropriate.
Data Analysis:
Footage collected by the drones was analysed post-event to identify patterns, evaluate security protocols, and make recommendations for future improvements.
Results
Enhanced Situational Awareness:
The aerial perspective provided by the drones significantly expanded the reach of the security team, allowing for early detection of potential security threats.
Rapid Response Times:
Drones facilitated swift responses to incidents, ensuring that any security concerns were addressed promptly and efficiently. In particular, the drone was instrumental in assisting the local police in locating a vulnerable high-risk elderly missing person.
Post-Event Analysis:
Data collected by the drones was instrumental in evaluating the effectiveness of security measures and identifying areas for further improvement.
Conclusion:
Swallow Sky Tech’s innovative use of drone technology proved to be a game-changer in bolstering security provisions for the St Leger Festival. The combination of extensive experience in law enforcement, a deep understanding of security protocols, and cutting-edge drone technology resulted in a seamless and effective solution. This success not only underscored the value of drone technology in event security but also solidified Swallow Sky Tech’s reputation as a leader in the field.
