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 11 events
8 Mar
2024
Report published
29 Dec
2023
Report published
14 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
14 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
19 Jan
2023
Oral evidence
19 Jan
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
22 Nov
2022
Correspondence
8 Nov
2022
Oral evidence
8 Nov
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
25 Oct
2022
Oral evidence
25 Oct
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
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 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
8 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Acknowledged
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
Government Response
The government acknowledged the issues by stating it is closely examining lessons from previous UEFA Champions League finals and collaborating with German counterparts to inform preparations for future events.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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8 Conclusion Acknowledged
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
Government Response
The government acknowledged the complexity of the issue, stating it will continue to engage stakeholders and keep alcohol controls under review, balancing commercial benefits with safety and disorder concerns.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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9 Recommendation Acknowledged
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.
Government Response
The government did not confirm the timing of its review or plans for a pilot scheme, stating it will continue to engage stakeholders and keep alcohol controls under review, balancing commercial benefits with safety concerns.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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13 Recommendation Acknowledged
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
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of data analysis on safety incidents and notes that a subgroup of the Sports Grounds Safety Authority Safety Committee and a Working Group have met in 2023 and 2024 to discuss these issues.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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14 Recommendation Acknowledged
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
Government Response
The government recognizes the importance of data on safety incidents and notes that an SGSA subgroup and working group have met to discuss these issues, but it does not commit to including specific guidance on discouraging drug use in the next edition of the Green Guide.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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15 Conclusion Acknowledged
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
Government Response
The government acknowledged the importance of steward training and spectator safety, outlining existing standards and a comprehensive plan by SGSA's Working Group to raise stewarding standards in football, focusing on training, professional development, and a national register.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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19 Recommendation Acknowledged
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
Government Response
The government states it will continue to engage stakeholders on the issue of wider representation in Safety Advisory Groups, citing policing authorities' concerns about increased football-related arrests and disorder.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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20 Conclusion Acknowledged
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
Government Response
The government states it will continue to engage stakeholders on the issue of safe standing, especially considering representations from policing authorities regarding increased football-related arrests and disorder post-COVID.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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Government Response AI assessment · 23 of 14 classified
Accepted 6
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 8
Deferred 7
Total 14 recs + 9 conclusions
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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