Safety at Sports Grounds

Public Safety / Safety at Sports Grounds / Licensing

Premises or places to which people gather together to participate in or enjoy some form of entertainment function, can vary considerably. They may range from the small village or school hall, through to the public house or club, or leisure/sports centres or sports stadia. An entertainment may even take place in a temporary structure such as a marquee or in the open air. The number of persons attending an entertainment function may vary from a few dozen to tens of thousands.

Safety at Sports Grounds

The Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975, The Fire Safety and Safety at Places of Sport Act 1987 and various regulations came into force following problems with public safety at large sports stadia. The legislation requires Ground Management to obtain safety certificates for "designated grounds" (e.g. Derby County F.C.) and for "regulated stands" at sports grounds such as racecourses. The Ground Management has the ultimate responsibility for spectator safety and we would advise that it is an offence, to hold an event, without a safety certificate (where required) or in contravention of the terms of any safety certificate or prohibition notice.

Indoor sports events require an Entertainment Licence under Section 1 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.

When issuing a safety certificate, serving a prohibition notice or granting a licence, the Local Authority may impose any condition that they consider reasonable in the interests of public health and safety.

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