Events and processions

Responsibility for an event

It is often thought the police are the lead agency when it comes to approving all public events. This is not the case.

The organiser and/or landowner is responsible for safety at public events for event personnel, volunteers and members of the public. It is a legal requirement that appropriate insurance cover is provided for the event, in respect of public and employers liability.

Copies of insurance certificates will have to be validated and your local authority can advise on this matter.

You should ensure any safety documentation is easily available for examination so you can show you have planned your event safely before the event takes place, including any necessary plans, calculations and drawings.

The role of the police when supporting events is:
• To prevent or stop a breach of the peace
• To prevent and detect crime
• To work within traffic regulations with legal powers
• Activation and co-ordination of contingency plans.

Things to consider

There are quite a few points you need to think about when planning an event. These include:
• Do you need any special licences or permissions?
• Is the site suitable for your event?
• Have you carried out a risk assessment to make sure you have all the necessary health and safety measures in place?
• Have you decided who should be responsible for the safety of your event?
• Have you provided necessary information, for example, maps and site/route plans?
• Do you know how many people you are expecting?
• If your event takes place on public highways, then have you applied for temporary road closures, if necessary (via your local authority)?
• Have you considered any traffic management arrangements – barriers/coning/sterile areas
• Do you know where the entrances and exits on your site are?
• Are the entrances and exits controlled, signed and suitable for disabled people?
• Do you have trained and briefed stewards/marshals?
• Have you set up a good system of communication between key people?
• Have you set up a good system of communications with the audience/crowd/ participants?
• Are crowd control barriers necessary?
• Are emergency procedures in place and have these been agreed with the emergency services?
• Can emergency vehicles get on and off site/onto route easily?
• Do you have effective fire control measures in place?
• Do you have adequate first aid facilities?
• Do you need any other special arrangements – for example, for lost children, lost property, drinking water, toilets, noise control or parking?
• Have you produced an Event Safety Plan/Operating Procedure to include all information about the event, as well as contingency arrangements?