No Brighton-style chaos for Panoramic , pledge police

Sector commander Inspector Max Mosley has undertaken security and crowd control planning from the outset for the De La Warr Pavilion's Panoramic spectacular next weekend.

He said on Tuesday that plans were not being changed as a result of lessons learned by the massive estimated 250,000 crowd which swamped Brighton as a result of the weekend's free beach party.

He predicted: "You won't have any problems with an all-ticket event."

Paying tribute to the work of Graham Naylor, event production manager for Panoramic, he said: "Of all the people I have dealt with over the years, he is the most organised person I have encountered.

"If all people were as professional as this guy it would make my life and the life of the police force much easier.

"Every time I have spoken to him he is on the same level if not one jump ahead with his planning.

"He is so well organised. He has even got 'red routes' mapped out to get any casualty to hospital, should it be necessary. For him this is a quite standard procedure in planning these events.

"In contrast, Brighton hospital was swamped and they were saying they had not been informed beforehand."

A special stage will be set up on the south side of the De La Warr Pavilion. The pavilion lawns will form a huge open-air auditorium.

The laser images will be projected on to the west end of the pavilion.

The setting ensures five different means of exit for concert-goers who will be paying 16 a head to take part in the event.

Inspector Mosley said: "I would think that you could probably get 4,500 people in that area but the final number depends on the fire brigade and they don't have a problem because of the number of means of exit.

"The basics of crowd dynamics are largely dependent on body chemicals. These can be a product of alcohol and other factors. If you are drunk your body is full of adrenalin and chemicals and people tend to behave differently from normal.

"But with concerts such as these this is not necessarily going to be the case.

"This is not Fat Boy Slim.

"What have here is very nice music tailored to the expected audience and in a very nice area which will be safe, secure and well-lit.

"It is in a comfortable environment which has a 'shell' all around which acts as a barrier. A barrier is a control mechanism which enables you to control the people coming in so that at that stage you can actually vet the people coming in and ensure that they are conducive to the environment which you want inside.

"That and the ticket price will prevent any unruly element and will promote a sense of security for the people inside because they have paid for a controlled, professionally-run event.

"This to my mind is going to be a first-class event and ideal for Bexhill. I hope that people do support it. It will set the scene for the De La Warr Pavilion as the venue for quality events for years to come."