Manchester Arena Inquiry: Boss denies security 'penny pinching'

James Allen was responsible for the day-to-day running of Manchester Arena in May 2017

The operators of Manchester Arena where 22 were killed in a terror attack have denied accusations of "penny pinching" and putting people's lives at risk.

And on the night SMG put the arena's terrorism risk level at low despite the national threat level being "severe", the inquiry into the attack heard.

It also heard the firm asked for a threat level review after the 2015 Paris attack in case "the horror... befell one of our venues".

The 2017 suicide bomb killed 22 people.

A lawyer acting on behalf of some of the bereaved families accused SMG of not paying for adequate security.

James Allen, arena manager, told the inquiry into the blast that he did not believe SMG had been "penny-pinching" on security prior to the terror attack.

When asked by John Cooper QC if the arena risk level should have been classed as higher given the national threat being severe, Mr Allen replied "Yes, possibly".

'You skimp'

The arena manager also conceded there would have been cost implications if the venue's risk level had been elevated.

"SMG were far more interested in trying to get efficiency than making sure their security operation was fit for purpose," Mr Cooper said.

"You're penny pinchers, you skimp, you don't pay for security properly and you put people's lives at risk".

Mr Allen rejected the assertions.

Top row (left to right): Alison Howe, Martyn Hett, Lisa Lees, Courtney Boyle, Eilidh MacLeod, Elaine McIver, Georgina Callander, Jane Tweddle - Middle row (left to right): John Atkinson, Kelly Brewster, Liam Curry, Chloe Rutherford, Marcin Klis, Angelika Klis, Megan Hurley, Michelle Kiss - Bottom row (left to right): Nell Jones, Olivia Campbell-Hardy, Philip Tron, Saffie-Rose Roussos, Sorrell Leczkowski, Wendy Fawell

Adam Payter who is also representing some of the bereaved families, asked Mr Allen about documents written by Miriam Stone, the head of events at SMG.

The inquiry heard that due to the introduction of the National Living Wage in April 2016, she was asked by Mr Allen to save a proportion of the rising costs and make savings of £250 per event on staffing costs.

"Rather than considering increasing staff you were considering making budgetary savings?" Mr Payter said.

Mr Allen replied "Yes, potentially yes".

The inquiry was shown an email sent from John Sharkey, the executive vice president of SMG Europe the day after the 2015 Paris Bataclan attack, to the general managers of SMG arenas in the UK.

Mr Allen told the inquiry that since the bombing, the arena appointed its own in-house security adviser who is "one of the best" and is sharing his expertise with other concert arenas.

The inquiry continues.