Safety at major sporting events

Culture, Media and Sport Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 8 Jul 2022 Closed: 8 Mar 2024 Parliament page
MPs are to examine issues around the safety of spectators at football matches and other major sporting events following the scenes and problems experienced by crowds at recent high-profile games. The DCMS Committee inquiry will consider whether crowd management policies at stadiums in the UK are sufficient to maintain spectator … Read more
14 Recommendations
9 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
1 Letter
4 Events
Activity timeline 7 events
8 Mar
2024
Report published
29 Dec
2023
Report published
14 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
19 Jan
2023
Oral evidence
22 Nov
2022
Correspondence
8 Nov
2022
Oral evidence
25 Oct
2022
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
14 Mar 2023
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Adam Conant · Department for Culture, Media and Sport Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP · Department for Culture, Media and Sport
19 Jan 2023
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Bob Eastwood · English Football League David Armstrong · Racecourse Association Liam Boylan · Wembley Stadium Phil Davies · England and Wales Cricket Board
8 Nov 2022
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Chief Constable Mark Roberts · National Police Chiefs' Council Martyn Henderson OBE · Sports Grounds Safety Authority Michelle Russell · Security Industry Authority Peter Houghton · Football Safety Officers Association
25 Oct 2022
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Dr Stacey Pope Kevin Miles · Football Supporters' Association Owain Davies · Level Playing Field Professor Clifford Stott MBE Professor Geoff Pearson Tony Burnett · Kick It Out
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Safety at major sporting events HC 174 29 Dec 2023 23 Response document linked
Recommendations & Conclusions
23 results
1 Conclusion
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Disgraceful treatment of Liverpool fans by French authorities demonstrates failing fan safety approaches.
The treatment of Liverpool fans by French authorities at the 2022 UEFA Champions League final was disgraceful, worsened by the attempts of authorities and UEFA to blame Liverpool fans. Evidence we have received suggests that the attitude of foreign police … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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2 Recommendation
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Work to foster improved relationships with other governments for policing sporting events.
We recommend that the Government should work to foster improved relationships with other governments on policing sporting events, in order to bolster the role of British police travelling with UK teams and their collaboration with local forces. (Paragraph 20) Policing Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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3 Recommendation
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Ensure passage of the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Bill this parliamentary session.
The unauthorised entry of ticketless individuals at football matches creates a risk to their safety and the safety of legitimate, paying fans. While such acts are likely already illegal, the lack of a distinct criminal penalty that includes the use … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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4 Conclusion
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Sporting bodies' financial contributions to fan safety outside stadiums remain inadequate.
We echo calls for sporting bodies to increase their contribution to the safety of fans outside of the stadium. While direct responsibility, in line with the recommendations of the Casey Review, would require significant changes in policing and event management, … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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5 Recommendation
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Work with football authorities on fairer distribution of policing Zone Ex costs.
We recommend that the Government work with football authorities on fairer distribution the cost of policing Zone Ex. This should include consideration of mandatory contributions from leagues or clubs.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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6 Conclusion
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Inadequate reported data hinders tackling discrimination and antisocial behaviour at sporting events.
We have repeatedly heard of the discrimination, anti-social behaviour and hate crime that occur at sporting events, particularly football. However, the lack of reported data on this topic makes it difficult to assess the scale of the problem, and for … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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7 Recommendation
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Work with police and sporting bodies to introduce centralised reporting for discrimination at events.
We recommend that the Government work with police and sporting bodies to introduce on a centralised system to report and record discrimination and antisocial behaviour at sporting events. (Paragraph 40) Safety at major sporting events 33 Alcohol and drug use … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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8 Conclusion
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Evidence on alcohol's impact at sporting events inconclusive for legislative changes
The evidence available on the impact of alcohol on disorder at football matches and for fans travelling on chartered services does not provide a compelling case either for the status quo or for a significant relaxation of the current legislation. … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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9 Recommendation
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Confirm timing of Sporting Events Act 1985 review and alcohol sale pilot scheme plans
We recommend that, in its response to this report, the Government confirm the timing of its review of the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985 and its plans for an alcohol sale pilot scheme.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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10 Recommendation
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Consult other major sporting bodies and fan groups on alcohol's role at all events
As part of its review into the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985, we recommend that the Government should consult with representatives of other major sporting bodies and fan groups beyond football to examine the role of alcohol … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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11 Conclusion
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Undertake alcohol sale pilots alongside improved hate crime and antisocial behaviour reporting
The Government’s alcohol sale pilots should be undertaken alongside our recommended improved reporting of hate crime and antisocial behaviour at matches to ensure that the impacts are fully understood before any further decisions are taken on alcohol sales. It should … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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12 Conclusion
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Increasing Class A drug use at sporting events undermines accessibility; deterrents unclear
The increasing use of Class A drugs at sporting events is something that police and clubs should both be taking more seriously. Although a direct link between drug use and violence has not been proven, widespread drug taking is anti-social … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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13 Recommendation
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Undertake police work to understand drug prevalence and deterrence effectiveness at sporting events
We recommend that further work is undertaken by the police to understand the prevalence of drug supply and possession at sporting events. Such work should take account of the arrest and Football Banning Order data following the conclusion of the … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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14 Recommendation
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Include guidance in Green Guide on measures to discourage drug use at sporting events
Alongside legal deterrents to drug taking at sporting events, we recommend that the Sports Ground Safety Authority includes guidance in the next edition of its Green Guide on measures to discourage drug use at sporting events. (Paragraph 65) Stewarding Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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15 Conclusion
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Stewards are crucial for safety and require better treatment and appropriate wages
Stewards should not be seen merely as volunteers or fans who get to see the game for free. They are crucial to the safety of all sporting events and their responsibilities have grown over the years. The resources available to … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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16 Recommendation
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Develop and publish minimum stewarding standards in consultation with major sporting events stakeholders
Stewards, employers and fans would all benefit from clarity on the roles, responsibilities and standards for stewards. We recommend that the Sports Ground Safety Authority should develop and publish minimum expectations for stewarding standards in consultation with all those involved … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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17 Recommendation
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Establish a central training fund for stewards, funded by sporting leagues' revenues
Despite efforts at self-regulation, clubs and governing bodies have failed to set and enforce coherent minimum stewarding standards, to the detriment of the experiences of stewards and the safety of attendees. We recommend that the Government and SGSA should work … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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18 Recommendation
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Mandate local authorities to include diverse perspectives at Safety Advisory Groups.
Safety Advisory Groups are the one major opportunity for sport stakeholders to voice their priorities and concerns for safety at events. It is wrong that any group should have its input restricted, but this too often seems to be the … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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19 Recommendation
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Update Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 to mandate wider fan perspectives in SAGs.
We recommend that the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 be updated to require local authorities to include a wider variety of perspectives in Safety Advisory Groups. This should include requirements to assess the needs to existing fan groups in … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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20 Conclusion
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Expand safe standing pilots to larger audiences with comprehensive stewarding and SGSA consultation.
Safe standing pilots have, to date, been successful with no significant evidence of the kind of dangerous behaviour that some safe standing sceptics have warned of. However, the pilots have been limited and it is prudent to expand them and … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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21 Recommendation
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Encourage further safe standing pilots by willing clubs meeting stewarding and SGSA criteria.
As long as football clubs can prove that they have a comprehensive stewarding plan for safe standing and follow the licenced standing criteria from the SGSA, we recommend that further pilots by willing clubs should be encouraged. (Paragraph 97) Safety … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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22 Conclusion
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Poor stadium design fails to adequately accommodate women and disabled fans.
Poor stadium design raises fundamental issues around equality, diversity and inclusion that are not being fulfilled to an acceptable level by the design of spaces intended for use by fans. Being unable to accommodate women and disabled fans in an … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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23 Recommendation
First Report - Safety at major spo…
Update SGSA Green Guide to require better accessibility and inclusion in stadium design.
The Sports Ground Safety Authority, as the safety regulator of sports grounds in the UK, must do more promote the widening of accessibility and inclusion in stadium design. The SGSA’s current Green Guide, does not fairly promote accessibility and inclusion … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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Correspondence 1 letter
22 Nov 2022 To committee Letter from Martyn Henderson OBE, Chief Executive, Sports Grounds Safety Authority, relating to oral evidence follow-up, 11 November 2022
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