Currently sitting second in the engage Super League competition, Hull KR regularly accommodates thousands of spectators at New Craven Park ground for the team’s home fixtures. Rugby crowds have a reputation for being boisterous but good-natured, and it is the latter quality which is to the fore in AP’s crowd management style.

“We’re focused on customer service rather than what you’d call the ‘security’ aspect,” says Simon Miller, AP’s Northern Operations Manager

“Our policy is to liaise and negotiate in a friendly way with the spectators to ensure they have an enjoyable and safe match experience, not to order them about. Of course there is a line which they cannot cross, but we go out of our way to adopt a low key, friendly approach.”

AP regularly deploys over 90 staff at the home matches, covering all of the club’s stewarding requirements, together with response teams, supervisors and a chief steward.

“Hull KR provide assistant safety officers and the turnstile operators, but we cover all the other requirements,” says Simon. “We are responsible for everything, including checking passes, etc.

“We enjoy a very close, integrated working relationship with Rovers and we have a debriefing session with them after every match. We also attend disability forums to keep us abreast of any issues that disabled supporters of club may have.

“In addition, all our staff on site are working towards at least NVQ Level 2 in spectator safety, supervisors are working towards Level 3 and the chief steward towards Level 4.”

Further proof of the good relations between AP and the club is that AP has been happy to sponsor its base at the ground, Simon recently handing over a cheque to Hull KR’s Chairman Neil Hudgell and naming it the AP Security Suite.

“We believe it’s very important to maintain a two-way relationship with our clients,” says Simon. “They are happy to invest in our crowd management skills and, in return, we are more than happy to invest in the club to ensure that we have the best facilities to provide them with the best possible service.”

Hull KR Assistant Stadium Manager George Kelly added, “As a club we receive a fantastic service from AP Security. We are always looking at ways to enhance the match day safety for supporters and working with such a proactive security company enables us to do so.”