Director General of National Security Chairs Strategic Meeting to Outline New Roadmap for Stadium Security and Combat Hooliganism
Abdellatif Hammouchi, Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, chaired the second strategic meeting today, Friday, at the new headquarters of the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) in Rabat. The meeting was dedicated to updating and reinforcing the security action plan related to combating hooliganism and enhancing sports security across various national venues and stadiums.
This meeting comes as part of ongoing efforts to implement directives aimed at developing the sports security system. It follows a first meeting held last Wednesday, attended by central security service officials, which focused on evaluating stadium security, assessing the effectiveness of adopted safety and security protocols, and outlining a modernization strategy the DGSN intends to adopt in preparation for major sports events the Kingdom will host in the coming years.
The meeting saw the participation of directors from central directorates and the head of the central sports security department, alongside the security prefects of Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Kenitra, Tetouan, Fes, and Marrakech. The objective was to unify and coordinate regional action plans with the national approach to combating sports hooliganism, given the negative repercussions this behavior has on Morocco's image, as well as on the safety of individuals, facilities, and property.
Specialized presentations during the meeting showcased the latest developments in security protocols for sports matches, particularly those classified as high-risk. Emphasis was placed on utilizing modern surveillance technologies, including visual monitoring systems, drones, and field command centers, to effectively track crowd movements, detect security risks, and address them.
The Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance underscored the necessity of employing various security intelligence mechanisms to monitor sensitive matches and bolster associated preventive measures. This includes mobilizing elite units, intervention forces, and specialized security groups to secure stadiums, their surroundings, and access routes, with the aim of proactively countering any acts of hooliganism or public disorder.
He also stressed the importance of enhancing coordination in collecting and sharing information related to groups inciting sports violence. He emphasized the significance of pre-analysis and utilizing this data in robust security protocols based on strict law enforcement, ensuring a balance between the enjoyment of sports spectacles and safeguarding the security of sports facilities.
The meeting also discussed a series of practical proposals put forward by the security prefects. These primarily focused on enhancing operational coordination among various security services during crowd movements, extensively utilizing visual imaging to monitor violations and acts of hooliganism, and increasing the readiness of public forces tasked with securing sports facilities and ensuring spectator safety.
Participants affirmed the importance of strict law enforcement during all sports events, both inside and around stadiums. They emphasized the necessity of arresting and bringing all individuals involved in acts of hooliganism and violence to justice in accordance with current legal procedures.
