Randomization to Reduce Terror Threats at Large Venues

Can randomness be better than scheduled practices, for securing an event at a large venue such as a stadium or entertainment arena? Perhaps surprisingly, from several perspectives the answer is "yes." This note examines findings from an extensive study of the problem, including interviews and a survey of selected venue security directors. That research indicates that: randomness has several goals; many security directors recognize its potential; but very few have used it much, if at all. Some fear they will not be able to defend using random methods if an adversary does slip through security. Others are concerned that staff may not be able to perform effectively. We discuss ways in which it appears that randomness can improve effectiveness, ways it can be effectively justified to those who must approve security processes, and some potential research or regulatory advances.