03/08/2026
A first-hand off duty security professionals experience of Reggaeland...
On Friday, my family, friends and I attended Reggae Fest in Milton Keynes to watch an artist I've followed for many years. Like anyone else, I wanted to switch off, enjoy the music and spend quality time with those closest to me.
Unfortunately, when you've spent years in policing and professional security, you don't get to switch that mindset off.
From the moment we arrived, I found myself constantly assessing risk.
Parking in the Shenleys was straightforward enough. The marshals were friendly and clearly doing the best they could with the limited powers available to them. They asked for identification to verify local access, but as expected, there was little they could legally do if someone couldn't provide it. That's not a criticism of the individuals on the ground—it's simply the reality of the role.
The traffic management around the area was actually impressive. The extensive use of barriers, cones and enforcement against illegal parking was a noticeable improvement and should be applauded. Protecting local residents and preventing damage to verges is exactly the sort of planning that makes a difference.
As we approached the venue, however, I began noticing issues that immediately raised concern.
The entrance layout funnelled thousands of people into confined queueing lanes. From a crowd management perspective, these are naturally high-risk areas. Within minutes, I watched people simply push through side barriers to bypass those waiting patiently in line. There was only one member of security overseeing the area, making it virtually impossible to prevent queue jumping or monitor behaviour effectively.
We also encountered an individual who appeared to be suffering the effects of drugs, highlighting the reality that security teams were already dealing with vulnerable or impaired attendees before many had even entered the venue.
At the entrance itself, there were multiple search lanes attempting to process huge volumes of people.
This is where my concerns really began.
I was carrying two folding chairs inside a zipped carry case large enough to conceal prohibited items. I wore a cap, shorts and a vest.
I wasn't asked to remove my hat.
My chair bag wasn't searched.
My pockets weren't searched.
The handheld metal detector repeatedly alerted near my pockets and bag, yet no further checks were carried out.
The only item questioned was what appeared to be a drink inside the chair bag. The security officer assumed it was water, I nodded, and I was waved straight through.
That is the point where I stopped thinking like a festival-goer and started thinking like a security professional. If I had been carrying a knife, machete, sword or other prohibited weapon inside my chair bag, I genuinely questioned whether it would have been detected. Equally, repeated alerts from the metal detector were ignored without any follow-up search. Those aren't minor oversights—they represent failures in basic search procedures that exist to protect thousands of innocent people attending the event.
I'm not suggesting weapons were present inside the venue. What I am saying is that, based solely on my observations, I left with little confidence that the search process would have consistently prevented prohibited weapons or other dangerous items from entering. For an event attracting many thousands of people, that's a concern that should be taken seriously.
As someone responsible for protecting people for a living, that is not a reassuring feeling.
Throughout the event there was a persistent smell of cannabis across large areas of the venue. While many attendees were polite, friendly and simply there to enjoy the music, it was difficult not to question how much had entered unchecked.
The atmosphere itself remained largely positive, and our group enjoyed the evening from a quieter location on the hillside. However, during the headline performance, the show had to be stopped after a fight broke out near the front of the stage. Credit should go to the artist for handling the situation calmly and professionally while security responded.
Leaving the venue was thankfully much smoother than I had anticipated. People were generally patient and worked together despite the large crowds.
Driving back through the Shenleys was another reminder that event safety doesn't end at the gates.
Within minutes, we witnessed a vehicle dangerously overtaking at excessive speed through a busy residential estate, including overtaking on a blind bend. Thankfully nobody was injured, but it reinforced how important traffic management and visible policing remain after major events.
So what's my overall view?
This festival has operated for years and attracts tens of thousands of people. The risks associated with events of this scale are well understood.
The vast majority of people attended simply to enjoy themselves.
The issue isn't the crowd per se.
The issue is whether the security provision is robust enough to manage the minority of urban-attitude people who don't follow the rules.
From my perspective, there appeared to be significant gaps in searching procedures, queue management and deterrence. Those are areas where a stronger, more experienced security operation could make a real difference.
To be fair, I also recognise the challenges organisers face. Recruiting hundreds of licensed staff for events of this size is incredibly difficult, and balancing budgets against operational requirements is no easy task.
But there is a difference between providing security and providing the appearance of security.
Too many of the personnel I observed appeared to be there simply to satisfy contractual staffing numbers rather than provide effective security. They looked more like "shirt fillers" than security professionals entrusted with protecting thousands of members of the public.
Our industry is increasingly seeing procurement driven by the lowest quote rather than competence, experience and operational capability. Unfortunately, genuine security isn't measured by how many high-visibility jackets are on site—it's measured by how effectively risks are identified, managed and reduced.
At The Security Squad, we know we won't always be the cheapest provider.
Nor do we aim to be.
Our team is carefully selected from experienced professionals with backgrounds across policing, the military and specialist security environments. We invest in training, standards and operational excellence because when people trust you with their safety, "good enough" simply isn't good enough.
Event organisers often don't fully appreciate the value of quality security until something goes wrong.
By then, it's already too late.
Security should never become the line item that's sacrificed to maximise profit. If my observations are representative of the wider operation, then commercial pressures appear to have taken precedence over robust public safety measures.
Security should never be viewed as a box-ticking exercise.
It should be viewed as an investment in protecting lives, safeguarding reputations and giving every genuine attendee the confidence to enjoy their day safely.
