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
7 results
Clear
5 Recommendation Deferred
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.
Government Response
The government's response describes the function of the National Football Information Point (NFIP) and its role in intelligence sharing to prevent crime and disorder, but it does not address the recommendation regarding fairer cost distribution for policing Zone Ex or mandatory contributions from football authorities.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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10 Recommendation Deferred
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
Government Response
The government's response discusses the inability of police forces to recover the full cost of policing football matches due to the Ipswich ruling and the need for primary legislation, rather than addressing the recommendation to consult on alcohol's role at sporting events.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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11 Conclusion Deferred
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
Government Response
The government's response discusses the inability of police forces to recover the full cost of policing football matches and the legislative changes required for full cost recovery, which does not address the committee's conclusion about alcohol sale pilots, improved reporting, or the risks at smaller events.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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12 Conclusion Deferred
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
Government Response
The government's response discusses the inability of police forces to recover the full cost of policing football matches and the legislative changes required for full cost recovery, which does not address the committee's conclusion regarding increasing Class A drug use at sporting events or their deterrence.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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21 Recommendation Deferred
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
Government Response
The government's response details the November 2022 addition of Class A drug offences to the Football Banning Order regime and explains the purpose of FBOs, completely failing to address the recommendation regarding safe standing pilots.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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22 Conclusion Deferred
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
Government Response
The government's response is irrelevant to the committee's conclusion on stadium design and accessibility for women and disabled fans, discussing drug offences and Football Banning Orders instead.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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23 Recommendation Deferred
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
Government Response
The government stated that any changes to the Green Guide or its update schedule, including promoting accessibility in stadium design, are matters for the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA).
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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