The UK government has been urged to conduct a comprehensive review of public safety arrangements at events after a new report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) identified significant inconsistencies in how public events are planned and managed.
The inspection found that although safety arrangements at sports grounds have improved considerably since the 1990s, the framework governing safety at many other public events remains insufficient. Inspectors warned that the absence of clear legislation, statutory guidance and regulation for non-sporting events could make it more difficult for police forces and other organisations to protect the public effectively.
HMICFRS Highlights Gaps in Event Safety Framework
The inspection was commissioned by the Home Secretary to examine the role played by police forces in Safety Advisory Groups (SAGs) and other organisations responsible for public safety at events.
SAGs bring together representatives from local authorities, event organisers, emergency services and other relevant organisations. Their role is to discuss potential risks and provide advice on measures that can help ensure public safety during events.
However, HMICFRS found that the way SAGs operate varies significantly across the country. In some areas, local authorities do not operate SAGs at all, creating differences in how events are assessed, planned and managed.
Inconsistent Planning Creates Public Safety Concerns
According to the report, public safety planning at events is often inconsistent and lacks clarity over the responsibilities of different organisations.
The inspectorate highlighted concerns surrounding music festivals, cultural celebrations and other non-sporting events, where there is no consistent statutory framework comparable to the arrangements used for many sports grounds.
This lack of consistency can make it difficult for police forces, local authorities and event organisers to understand exactly what is expected of them when preparing for large public gatherings.
HMICFRS also identified inconsistencies in the way police forces are funded for public safety operations at events. The inspectorate said greater clarity is needed to ensure police forces have appropriate resources to support safety operations.
Michelle Skeer Warns of Potential Event Safety Failures
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary Michelle Skeer OBE QPM said the inspection raised serious concerns about the current approach to public safety.
She warned that feedback received during the inspection suggested that, in some circumstances, the question may be “when, not if” public safety arrangements at an event fail.
Skeer said the absence of legislation and statutory guidance for non-sporting events is contributing to widespread differences in police public safety operations. She stressed that police forces, local authorities and event organisers need greater clarity to work together effectively.
The inspectorate believes a government-led review, combined with wider improvements to existing arrangements, could help strengthen public safety at events across the UK.
Safety Advisory Groups Face Significant Variation
One of the major findings of the report concerns the inconsistent operation of Safety Advisory Groups.
While SAGs are designed to provide a coordinated forum for discussing event safety, their structure, operation and effectiveness can differ considerably between local authorities.
The absence of SAGs in some areas further adds to the variation in how event safety is managed. HMICFRS believes clearer national guidance could help establish more consistent approaches while allowing local organisations to respond to the specific risks associated with individual events.
Improving coordination between police forces, councils, event organisers and emergency services is expected to be an important part of any future reforms.
Police Training and Guidance Need Improvement
HMICFRS also found that existing training and guidance do not always adequately prepare police commanders for working with Safety Advisory Groups.
Effective event safety requires commanders and planning teams to understand the risks associated with large gatherings, communicate effectively with partner organisations and respond appropriately when circumstances change.
The inspectorate has therefore recommended improvements to training for police officers and staff involved in public event planning and SAG operations.
The recommendations are intended to help police forces develop stronger expertise and establish clearer processes for managing complex public events.
Concerns Over Event Safety Certification
Another issue highlighted by HMICFRS is the absence of a consistent safety certification regime or regulatory framework for most public events.
Inspectors believe this gap contributes to differences in how events are assessed and managed across the country.
Unlike some sports venues, many public events do not operate under a consistent certification system covering safety arrangements. HMICFRS believes the government should consider how regulation and certification could provide greater consistency without creating unnecessary barriers for event organisers.
Review of the Purple Guide Recommended
The report also raises concerns about the way responsibilities are presented in the Purple Guide, an important reference document used by the events industry to support event safety planning.
HMICFRS believes the Purple Guide places too much emphasis on the legal responsibilities of event organisers while not sufficiently recognising the important role played by police forces and other emergency services.
The inspectorate has called for clearer guidance that reflects the shared responsibilities of event organisers, police, local authorities and emergency services.
Stronger Guidance Needed for Critical Incidents
HMICFRS is also calling for stronger guidance for police forces, SAG chairs and other participants, particularly regarding the management of critical incidents.
Large-scale public events can involve a wide range of risks, from crowd management challenges and severe weather to medical emergencies and other unexpected incidents. Clear procedures and well-defined responsibilities can help organisations respond more effectively when serious situations occur.
The inspectorate believes improved national guidance would provide police commanders and partner organisations with greater confidence when dealing with complex or rapidly developing incidents.
AI Risk Assessments Require Robust Quality Controls
Artificial intelligence is also addressed in the recommendations, with HMICFRS calling for robust quality assurance processes around the use of AI in risk assessments.
As technology becomes increasingly involved in event planning and risk management, the inspectorate believes police forces must ensure that AI-supported assessments are appropriately reviewed and governed.
Human oversight, accountability and quality assurance will remain important when technology is used to identify or assess potential risks associated with public events.
Greater Clarity Needed on Police Event Funding
Funding for police operations at public events is another area identified for improvement.
HMICFRS found inconsistencies in how police forces access funding for safety operations. The inspectorate believes clearer arrangements could help forces plan their resources more effectively and provide appropriate support for events.
A more consistent funding framework could also provide greater transparency for event organisers and other organisations involved in planning public safety.
National Event Support Function Proposed
Among its recommendations, HMICFRS has called for the development of a national police support function for events.
Such a function could provide specialist knowledge, advice and support to police forces dealing with major or complex public events. It could also help share best practices and improve consistency between different regions.
The inspectorate has additionally recommended the introduction of a national risk assessment matrix covering all public events. A common framework could help organisations assess risks more consistently while still allowing local factors to be considered.
HMICFRS Makes 36 Additional Recommendations
Alongside its call for a government-led review, HMICFRS has made 36 further recommendations aimed at improving public safety arrangements.
These recommendations focus on areas including police training, event planning, Safety Advisory Group guidance, critical incident management, AI-based risk assessments, police funding and national support mechanisms.
The overall objective is to create greater clarity around the roles and responsibilities of police forces, local authorities, event organisers and other emergency services.
Government Review Could Reshape Event Safety
The findings could have significant implications for the UK events industry, particularly organisers of festivals, cultural celebrations, concerts and other large public gatherings.
A government review could examine whether existing legislation and guidance remain suitable for the changing nature of public events and whether additional regulation or national standards are required.
For event organisers, clearer national expectations could help improve planning and coordination. For police forces and local authorities, a more consistent framework could provide greater certainty about responsibilities, resources and decision-making.
Public Safety Remains a Key Priority for the Events Industry
The HMICFRS report highlights the importance of collaboration between all organisations involved in event planning and public safety.
As the UK continues to host major concerts, festivals, sporting events, cultural celebrations and business gatherings, effective safety planning remains essential. The inspectorate’s findings suggest that greater consistency, stronger guidance and clearer responsibilities could help improve the safety of both event attendees and those working at events.
The proposed government review could therefore become an important step towards establishing a more consistent and effective public safety framework for events across the UK.
For the events industry, the recommendations also underline the importance of early risk assessment, strong communication between stakeholders, appropriate police coordination and robust emergency planning. A clearer national approach could ultimately help create safer and better-prepared events across the country.
