18/09/2026
Is 'proportionate protection' an industry buzzword?
When you hear that phrase a lot it can start to lose its meaning. So, lets cut through the noise.
Proportionality runs through national protective security guidance, and it means taking genuine risks seriously and reducing them appropriately whilst also recognising that security can never eliminate risk entirely. It also shouldn't become so excessive or impractical that the event, venue or public space can no longer work as intended.
Take what we did at the 45th anniversary of the Great North Run in Newcastle as an example of what proportionate protection can look like.
Roads needed to be closed and reopened quickly, meaning whatever HVM solution used would need to be rapidly deployable. With 63,000 runners and more than 200,000 spectators on the Sunday, HVM also needed to be pedestrian permeable, which meant we could not specify a heavier-duty HVM solution than the assessed risk required, as this could impede the flow of the crowd.
For these reasons we specified the Husson International H Stop as the right HVM solution for this event. As HVM specialists choosing a proportionate solution is fundamental to what we do. It’s why we tailor every solution to the event, rather than simply turning up and deploying barriers.
