Event security isn't something you sort out on the morning of the event. Whether you're running a community festival at a Campbelltown park, a corporate function at a Narellan venue or a Saturday market at the Ingleburn town centre, the planning decisions you make weeks before the doors open will shape how safe, smooth and successful the day is.
At Davlin Security, we work with event organisers across the Campbelltown and Macarthur region to plan and deliver security for events of all sizes. Here are the key things every organiser should consider before the day.
1. Understand Your Event's Risk Profile
The first step in event security planning is understanding what could go wrong. Different events have very different risk profiles:
- A community market in Camden has different risks to a late-night music event at a Campbelltown venue
- A school fete in Minto has different risks to a corporate function at a Narellan hotel
- A ticketed festival in Leumeah has different risks to a trade show at an Ingleburn conference centre
A pre-event risk assessment takes into account crowd size, venue type, time of day, alcohol service, ticketing, cash handling, parking and any recent incidents in the area. The output is a security plan that addresses your event's actual risks — not a generic template.
2. Crowd Size Determines Staffing Levels
Under NSW event security regulations, crowd-to-guard ratios are guided by the size, layout and risk profile of the event. As a general rule:
- Small events (under 200 attendees): 2-3 licensed crowd controllers
- Medium events (200-500 attendees): 4-6 licensed crowd controllers, with a dedicated supervisor
- Large events (500+ attendees): a comprehensive team including entry control, roaming officers and a control point supervisor
For events in Campbelltown where attendance may fluctuate — community days, markets, family fun days — we recommend planning for the upper end of expected attendance, not the lower. It's easier to scale down than it is to add staff on the day.
3. Plan Entry and Exit Points
The entry point is where most incident risk clusters. Poorly managed entries lead to queue congestion, ticket confusion, alcohol-related behaviour and unauthorised access.
Your event security plan should include:
- A clearly marked entry with bag checks where applicable
- Ticket scanning and a wristband or stamp system
- A separate exit to prevent bottlenecks
- Clear signage directing attendees to the right lane or gate
For larger events at venues like Campbelltown Sports Stadium or Gordon Squibb Reserve, we'll work with the venue to identify the most effective entry and exit configuration.
4. Alcohol Service and RSA Considerations
If your event serves alcohol, your security plan needs to align with your Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) procedures. This means:
- Security officers trained in the venue's RSA policy
- Clear communication between security, bar staff and event management
- Procedures for managing intoxicated or disorderly patrons
- An agreed removal or denial-of-entry process for non-compliant attendees
All Davlin Security event officers hold a current NSW security licence with crowd control endorsement. You can confirm any licence through the NSW Police SLED public register.
5. Emergency Access and Evacuation Planning
Event security isn't just about preventing incidents during the event — it's about ensuring safe evacuation if something goes wrong.
Your security plan needs to identify:
- Emergency vehicle access routes (for ambulance, fire, police)
- Evacuation assembly points
- Fire exit signage and lighting
- Communication procedures between security, event staff and emergency services
For outdoor events across Springwood, Camden, Ingleburn and other Macarthur locations, weather-related evacuation (thunderstorms, high winds, extreme heat) also needs to be considered.
6. Cash Handling and High-Value Asset Protection
For events with cash transactions — market stalls, ticketed gate entries, food and beverage vendors — cash handling is a real risk. Opportunistic theft from event staff is more common than organisers expect.
Consider:
- Secure cash collection points
- Regular cash drops to a locked location
- A patrol or guard dedicated to cash-in-transit between stalls and the event safe
- Visible security presence at high-traffic entry and exit points
7. Communication Channels
Communication failures are a common cause of event security incidents. Decide in advance:
- Will security officers use radios, phones or both?
- Who is the single point of contact for security incidents?
- What's the escalation tree if an incident becomes serious?
- How will security communicate with event organisers and emergency services?
Every Davlin Security event team has a designated team leader who coordinates on the ground and is the single point of contact for the organiser.
8. Insurance and Licensing Compliance
Any security provider you engage should hold:
- A current NSW Master Security Licence (Class 2)
- Public liability insurance (minimum $10 million recommended for events)
- Workers compensation insurance covering all deployed officers
- SLED-licensed individual officers with appropriate endorsements
Before you sign with a security provider, ask for copies of all of these. Any reputable security company will provide them without question — Davlin Security certainly does.
Planning Your Next Event
The best time to engage a security provider is 4-6 weeks before your event. That gives us time to:
- Complete a site visit
- Conduct a risk assessment
- Recommend staffing levels and positioning
- Confirm licensing and insurance requirements
- Prepare a written security plan you can share with the venue, insurers and local council
For events in the Campbelltown and Macarthur region — from Narellan to Ingleburn, Leumeah to Minto, and right across to Camden and Picton — get in touch with Davlin Security to arrange a pre-event security consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many security guards do I need for my Campbelltown event?
It depends on crowd size, venue type, time of day and whether alcohol is served. As a general rule, plan for 1 security officer per 100 attendees for low-risk events, and 1 per 50 for high-risk or licensed events.
Do Davlin Security guards hold NSW SLED licences?
Yes. Every Davlin Security officer deployed to an event holds a current NSW security licence with the appropriate endorsement (such as crowd controller). Our Master Security Licence number is 000102543.
When should I start planning event security?
Ideally 4-6 weeks before your event. This allows time for a site visit, risk assessment, staffing confirmation and a written security plan. For larger events (500+ attendees), start 8-12 weeks ahead.
What happens if an incident occurs during my event?
Your Davlin Security team leader manages the incident, coordinates with event staff and emergency services as needed, and provides a written incident report after the event. Serious incidents may require NSW Police involvement, which we coordinate on your behalf.