This pillar of the Secur'Cities project, coordinated by the city of Lyon, aims to improve protection at events of this kind through the following actions:

• Creation of a security risk assessment methodology for public events to help identify possible attacks.
• Deployment of protection protocols at iconic landmarks and locations in Barcelona and Lyon.
• Testing, procurement and installation of space protection and crisis response equipment.

In the case of Barcelona, the protection protocol and the acquisition of protection and crisis management equipment was carried out Maria Cristina Avenue, an area with a large number of visitors during the Magic Fountain shows and when various festivities are held.

Barcelona has also used the risk assessment methodology agreed by the project’s technical teams to conduct a study of the city’s sensitive areas.

The sharing of experiences between the two cities has enabled the proposed working procedures to be validated and the different types of protective equipment to be tested, measuring their efficiency, transport and assembly, as well as public and technical staff satisfaction.

The development of new technologies enables the surveillance of people and territories to be increased. The incorporation of this technology into existing security mechanisms is essential. However, its use must be reconciled with respect for individual freedoms.

The Secur’Cities project, led by Barcelona City Council, aims to modernise the video surveillance system in the field of urban security to guarantee the rapid detection of incidents and the equally rapid identification of people, objects or vehicles that could represent a security risk. The city of Barcelona has carried out the following actions:

• Transition of the city’s 24 security cameras from the current analogue system to a new digital system.
• Development of software for image analysis and automatic detection of security anomalies and risks.
• Incorporation of automatic number plate readers in Guàrdia Urbana city police patrol cars and improved consultation with police databases to identify vehicles that may pose a risk.
• Encouraging reflection on the integration of dynamic video surveillance to make cities more secure.

To this end, three main activities have been carried out:

• Hosting delegations. Barcelona and Lyon have regularly hosted delegations from other European cities with a view to presenting their activities.
• Exchanging knowledge and experiences with other projects in the same field.
• Organising a final conference to offer a platform of discussion, exchange and cooperation between European cities.