Service, safety & security with a focus on stewarding at Feyenoord Rotterdam
Bernard Gerritsma - Safety & Security Manager at Feyenoord Rotterdam - gave insights on Security Management Group, Feyenoord’s own security company, and the stewarding procedures at De Kuip during the ESSMA Summit in Porto.
Security Management Group
In 2003, Feyenoord set-up its own security department named Kuip Safety & Security. In 2011, they further professionalised the company and changed its name to Security Management Group (SMG), a 100% subsidiary company of Stadium Feijenoord. SMG is an allround security and service company with four disciplines: Event Security & Services, Traffic, Corporate Security and Education. They handle all safety and security assignments at Feyenoord as well as other (non-)football events such as festivals, concerts at Ziggo Dome and the start of the Giro.
SMG offers lots of educational opportunities towards its stewards including:
- General Steward Course (UEFA and KNVB)
- Event Security Officer (ESO)
- Search Detect React Certification (SDR)
- Spotter Certification
- Pit training (body search)
- CCTV training
- First Aid Response Certification
Stewarding at De Kuip
On matchdays, the stewarding responsibilities consists of:
- Crowd Management
- Damage control of away section
- Stewards in away section (line formation)
- Access control system (ticketing, bag control and body search)
- Mandatory supporter transport (auto, coach and train)
The stadium is divided into four main sectors to ensure a smooth organisation. Each sector has one main supervisor and a deputy supervisor to monitor and assist all stewards of that specific sector.
What we can learn from Bernard Gerritsma's presentation:
- Constantly improve and further develop the training and certification opportunities for your stewards
- Make sure all stewards are aware of their own tasks and responsibilities
- Divide the stadium into sections for a smooth organisation
- Incidents will occur, try to learn from them and to avoid them in the future
Go to our ESSMA Flickr account for more pictures.