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The information contained in this publication is intended to provide useful guidance, but is not a definitive statement applicable in all circumstances. Independent professional advice should be obtained before taking any action or refraining from taking any action on the basis of this information.
Table of contents
INTRODUCTION
1.2 Background to the guidance
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF SAFETY CERTIFICATION
2.1 Responsibilities of the local authority
2.2 Consultation and co-ordination
2.4 Safe capacities
2.5 Terms and conditions in the safety certificate
2.6 Coverage of the safety certificate
2.7 External factors
2.8 Policing
2.9 Football Spectators Act 1989
THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS
3.2.Regulated stands
3.3 Applying for a safety certificate
3.4 Temporary demountable structures
3.5 Qualified person
3.6 Notices by the local authority
3.7 General safety certificate
3.8 Review of the general safety certificate
3.9 Amendments to the general safety certificate
3.10 Special safety certificates
3.11 Rights of appeal
3.12 Fees
THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS
4.1 Delegated powers
4.2 Lead department
4.4 Membership of the Safety Advisory Group
4.5 Management of the Safety Advisory Group
4.6 Minutes of the Safety Advisory Group
4.7 Audit trail
4.9 Separate Safety Advisory Groups
4.10 Role of the Football Licensing Authority
CONTENTS OF THE SAFETY CERTIFICATE
5.1 Introduction
5.3 Core section
5.5 Documents to be held with the certificate
MONITORING BY THE LOCAL AUTHORITY
6.3 Responsibility for inspections
ENFORCEMENT
7.1 Initial response
7.2 Reduction in the capacity of a sports ground
7.4 Procedures for issuing prohibition notices
7.5 Appeals against a prohibition notice
7.6 Penalties for contravention of the safety certificate
Annex A Flow charts
Annex B Match day inspection records
SAFETY CERTIFICATION
Introduction
1.1 Purpose of the guidance
This guidance provides a single source of reference on the principles and procedures governing the safety certification of sports grounds. Although it is specifically addressed to the local authorities responsible for the safety certification of sports grounds at which designated football matches are played, it will also be of value to all local authorities that exercise this function under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 ("the 1975 Act") and the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987 ("the 1987 Act). It distils current good practice as developed by local authorities around the country over the past few years. It collates the various interpretations of the legislation and its attendant Circulars given by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport ("DCMS") or by the Football Licensing Authority (" FLA").
The relevant extant Circulars, issued by the Home Office, the former Department for National Heritage and DCMS, which are mentioned in this guidance are reproduced on the FLA web site www.flaweb-dev.org.uk
This document does not cover measures to be taken by the local authority or other agencies under the Fire Precautions Act 1971, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Building Regulations or any other legislation that may affect the safety of spectators.
1.2 Background to the guidance
This document has its origin in the Guidance on Safety Certificates published by the FLA in May 1992. This was issued to the local authorities responsible for the safety certification of sports grounds at which designated football matches are played. That guidance was not only football specific. It also focused on the contents of the safety certificate, which was the particular area of concern at the time. Much of it was subsequently incorporated into the fourth edition of the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds ("the Green Guide"), published in January 1997.
Since 1992 the emphasis has shifted increasingly to the process of certification and to the role of the local authority in issuing, revising, monitoring and enforcing the safety certificate. It is now generally accepted that, while the detailed application of safety requirements may reasonably vary from venue to venue, the fundamental principles of spectator safety apply equally to all sports grounds.
1.3 Need for guidance
Many local authorities have undergone considerable changes in personnel and structure during the past few years. Few now deal with more than one large sports ground. The staff concerned may have a wide portfolio of responsibilities. They may not be aware of the approach being adopted by neighbouring authorities. This is not a criticism of local authorities or their staff. Indeed, in recent years, local authorities in various areas have set up informal regional networks to share experience and develop a common approach. Such initiatives are to be commended.
1.4 Applying the guidance
The legislation and some of the Circulars referred to in this document are binding upon local authorities. The guidance itself provides local authorities with the necessary information to enable them to take reasonable decisions in each individual case having considered the particular facts on their merits. It is given in good faith but does not purport to cover every eventuality.
Nevertheless, any local authority considering adopting an alternative approach should be prepared to justify this. The FLA will use this document as its yardstick when keeping under review local authorities’ oversight of sports grounds at which designated football matches are played.
General Principles of Safety Certification
2.1 Responsibilities of the local authority
Under the 1975 Act, the county council, unitary authority, metropolitan or London borough ("the local authority") is responsible for issuing and enforcing a safety certificate in respect of sports grounds designated by the Secretary of State. These are sports grounds that, in his opinion, have accommodation for more than 10,000 spectators - 5,000 in the case of Premiership or Football League grounds in England and Wales. The designation process is described in detail in section 3.1.
The 1975 Act defines a sports ground as a place where sports or other competitive activities take place in the open air, and where accommodation has been provided for spectators, consisting of artificial structures, or of natural structures artificially modified for the purpose.
The Act did not foresee that a sports ground might be fitted with a roof that could be closed for certain events. However, provided that some sport is played with the roof open, such a venue should still be regarded as a sports ground. The legislation does not apply to indoor arenas. Nevertheless, local authorities may find much of the guidance in this document equally relevant to such venues.
The 1987 Act lays a similar responsibility upon the local authority in relation to regulated stands at non-designated sports grounds. Regulated stands are stands that provide covered accommodation for 500 or more standing or seated spectators, as determined by the local authority under section 26 of the 1987 Act.
A local authority also has responsibilities at other sports grounds, not covered by these categories, by virtue of section 10 of the 1975 Act, as amended by the 1987 Act. These are described in section 7.3.
2.2 Consultation and co-ordination
The safety certificate should be seen as part of a total, integrated system for managing health and safety at the sports ground. While the local authority alone is responsible for issuing the safety certificate, safety cannot be achieved by one agency acting in isolation. The local authority is therefore under a statutory duty to consult with the chief officer of police and, where it is not itself that authority, with the fire authority and the building authority. In practice, it also needs to consult the ambulance authority and to have regard to the views of the certificate holder, any other regular users of the sports ground and, where relevant, representative supporters of the club(s) concerned. This issue is discussed more fully in section 4.4.
The local authority needs to ensure that there is no conflict between its requirements on spectator safety and those relating to the safety of staff and visitors under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 and the Fire Precautions (Workplace) (Amendment) Regulations 1999. It should liaise closely not merely with the fire service but also with the district council whose responsibilities encompass health and safety at work. The same principle applies within a unitary authority, especially if the two functions are exercised by different departments.
2.3 Responsibility for safety
The safety certificate should contain those terms and conditions that the local authority considers necessary or expedient to secure the reasonable safety of spectators at the sports ground when it is being used for the activities specified in the certificate. It may cover all activities for an indefinite period or be limited to one or more specific events. Absolute safety, however desirable in theory, is, in reality, unattainable.
Nevertheless, the primary responsibility for the safety of spectators at the sports ground rests at all times with the sports ground management. This will normally be either the owner or the lessee of the sports ground, who may not necessarily be the promoter of the event. This responsibility should not be assumed by either the local authority or any other authority or agency. Nor should the local authority become involved in the management of events or take any action that could be interpreted as involvement.
Hitherto, the local authority has itself undertaken most of the work involved in formulating the terms and conditions in the safety certificate. This may lead to the management of the sports ground regarding these as measures imposed upon it, to which it is not personally committed. It is recommended that local authorities encourage the certificate holder to carry out risk assessments in respect of spectator safety, as recommended by the Green Guide, and to take the lead in identifying possible improvements in spectator safety. If accepted by the local authority, these could be reflected in changes to the terms and conditions.
2.4 Safe capacities
The most important condition in the safety certificate sets the maximum number of spectators that may be accommodated. At a designated sports ground, the safety certificate should prescribe the capacities for the premises as a whole and for each separate area. Where there are regulated stands, it should set the capacity for each such stand.
Chapter 1 of the Green Guide provides detailed and comprehensive guidance on how to determine the safe capacity within every kind of sports ground. It emphasises that this capacity depends not merely on the available viewing accommodation and the capacities of the entrances and exits, including the emergency exit capacity, but on the physical condition (the ‘P’ Factor) and the quality of the safety management (the ‘S’ Factor) of the sports ground. These latter two elements are defined in paragraph 1.4 of the Green Guide. The safe capacity of a seated stand may be lower than the number of seats within it.
Local authorities should encourage the management of the sports ground to take responsibility for assessing the ‘P’ and ‘S’ Factors and calculating the safe capacity. If the local authority is satisfied that the proposed ‘P’ and ‘S’ Factors are reasonable and that the methodology and calculations are correct, it may accept the recommended capacity and promulgate it in the safety certificate.
In calculating the permitted capacity, the sports ground management or local authority should set a single ‘P’ Factor and a single ‘S’ Factor for each separate area of the sports ground. It should then use whichever is lower to determine the capacity of that area. It should neither multiply the two factors by each other nor adopt the average. Both these approaches would distort the final figure
Capacity calculations should take account of all the recommendations in the Green Guide, not merely those with which the sports ground already complies. Unless, following a risk assessment, the local authority is satisfied, and has recorded in writing, that any deviation from the Green Guide provides an equal or greater degree of safety for spectators, it should reduce whichever of the ‘P’ or ‘S’ Factors applies, and hence the permitted capacity.
2.5 Terms and conditions in the safety certificate
The safety certificate should set out what the holder must do in order to operate the sports ground at its permitted capacity. If the holder is unable to comply with one or more of these terms or conditions, the local authority, using the ‘P’ or ‘S’ Factor, should reduce the capacity to whatever figure it considers necessary to ensure the reasonable safety of spectators. This capacity should always reflect the current circumstances at the sports ground, not those it is planned or hoped to achieve in the future.
The terms and conditions may "involve alterations or additions to the sports ground", in the sense that the certificate holder may need to undertake certain modifications in order to achieve compliance and thereby avoid a cut in capacity. The conditions should not, however, consist of a list of specific improvements or alterations to be implemented at some future date. If these are required in order to secure an increased capacity, the local authority should notify the certificate holder separately.
If a particular sports ground is rarely filled to capacity, the local authority may base its requirements on the actual levels of attendance over a given period. In such cases, the overall permitted capacity and that of each separate area must always be reduced accordingly. These capacities may not be increased unless or until the local authority has promulgated, and the certificate holder has adopted, the conditions necessary to ensure the reasonable safety of a larger number of spectators. A similar approach may be adopted if one area of the sports ground has been taken out of use.
Some sports grounds may regularly host a variety of sports or activities that attract different numbers of spectators. In such cases the local authority could reasonably insert conditions specific to one particular sport or activity in the safety certificate.
2.6 Coverage of the safety certificate
The terms and conditions of the safety certificate should cover all areas to which the spectators have access, including restaurants, licensed bars, and concourses. Staff working under a franchise or agency agreement should be required as a condition of their contract or agreement to comply with the terms of the safety certificate. The certificate holder could be jointly liable for any breach of the safety certificate by franchisees or agency staff.
The safety certificate should also cover any other areas and all matters, over which the management of the sports ground has either direct or indirect control, which may affect the safety of spectators at the sports ground. This could encompass offices or players’ facilities within a stand, media facilities and car parks.
2.7 External factors
The certificate holder cannot be held responsible for circumstances outside his control, for example hazards presented by local industrial premises or restricted access for emergency vehicles because of congestion on the public highway, even if these could adversely affect the safety of spectators at the sports ground. However, the local authority may reasonably take account of any such factors, together with the sports ground management’s plans for responding to them, when setting the permitted capacity. The safety of spectators beyond the curtilage of the sports ground falls outside the scope of the 1975 and 1987 Acts and of the safety certificate.
In similar vein, the permitted capacity of a regulated stand could be reduced because of circumstances in other areas of the sports ground that are not themselves covered by the safety certificate.
2.8 Policing
The local authority has no responsibility for operational policing either inside or outside the sports ground. Both the 1975 and 1987 Acts state explicitly that, where a condition within a safety certificate requires the attendance of police at an event, the number of police deployed is entirely a matter for the chief officer of police. All issues concerning the deployment of police officers within a sports ground are for the police themselves.
The safety certificate may require the certificate holder to notify the police of particular events and to consult them about their attendance in such numbers as the chief officer of police may determine. It may not direct the police to accede to such a request, nor may it prescribe their functions.
The boundary between spectator safety, for which the certificate holder is responsible, and the maintenance of public order, which falls to the police, is not always clear cut. It is important that both parties are agreed on their respective responsibilities. This is normally best achieved through the production of a written statement of intent. The local authority may require the certificate holder to use his best endeavours to agree such a statement with the police. This document should be attached to the safety certificate and may properly be taken into account by the local authority when setting the permitted capacity of the sports ground.
If the chief officer of police decides that police officers need to attend a particular event, but the management of the sports ground disagrees, the local authority must consider whether the absence of police would adversely affect the safety of spectators. If this appears to be the case, the local authority should close part or all of the sports ground or reduce its permitted capacity for the event concerned. The options available to the local authority are described in section 7 below.
2.9 Football Spectators Act 1989
Premier League, Football League and international football grounds in England and Wales must obtain a licence to admit spectators from the Football Licensing Authority under the Football Spectators Act 1989. This licence does not contain any requirements on spectator safety. The local authority therefore remains free to include whatever conditions it considers necessary to secure the reasonable safety of spectators in the safety certificate. Indeed the local authority could close or limit the capacity of a sports ground for safety reasons, notwithstanding that the area in question had been licensed by the Football Licensing Authority.
The Certification Process
3.1 Designated sports grounds
The 1975 Act empowers the Secretary of State to designate any sports ground, which, in his opinion, has accommodation for more than 10,000 spectators, or 5,000 in the case of Premier League and Football League grounds in England and Wales. This function is performed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
The Secretary of State will normally be aware of major new sports grounds under construction but may not always have been informed of developments that might increase the capacity of an existing sports ground above the threshold for designation. It is therefore incumbent upon the local authority to notify the Secretary of State of any sports ground likely to require designation. It should give at least ten weeks' notice, so that the Secretary of State has sufficient time to be satisfied that the sports ground meets the criteria. As part of this process, the Secretary of State will formally consult the local authority, the sports ground owner, the emergency services and, where it will have a statutory role, the FLA.
The notification to the Secretary of State should include the proposed capacity of the sports ground, together with its full postal address as soon as this is known. While this may appear pedantic, and can be difficult to supply for new sports grounds where the precise address has not been fixed, it is the only certain means of identification. While the name of the sports ground may change, the postal address rarely does.
The designation order remains in force unless or until formally revoked by the Secretary of State. If a designated sports ground is demolished or is permanently modified, so as to reduce the capacity below the threshold, the local authority should formally notify the Secretary of State and request that it be de-designated. Should the local authority not do so, the certificate holder may apply directly to the Secretary of State.
3.2. Regulated stands
A regulated stand is any covered stand with accommodation for 500 or more spectators, whether seated or standing. The local authority is required to determine whether any, and if so which, of the stands at sports grounds within its area are regulated stands.
Home Office Circular 97/88 gives detailed statutory guidance on how to determine whether or not a stand provides accommodation for 500 or more spectators. For the precise details local authorities should refer to the Circular. In brief the local authority should count:
It is stressed that this methodology should be used only for determining whether the stand in question should be a regulated stand. Its safe capacity does not depend only on the amount of accommodation available. When calculating the permitted capacity for inclusion in the safety certificate, the local authority should follow the methodology set out in the Green Guide. This may well result in a substantially lower capacity, which may even fall below 500.
The local authority may at any time revoke any determination that a stand is a regulated stand if it no longer provides accommodation for 500 or more spectators, as determined in accordance with the criteria in the Home Office Circular.
3.3 Applying for a safety certificate
Once a sports ground has been designated, it is an offence under section 12 of the 1975 Act to admit spectators until an application has been submitted to the local authority for a safety certificate. The requirements governing the submission and handling of applications are set out in section 3 of the 1975 Act. They are shown in the flow chart in annex A.
An application for a safety certificate for a designated sports ground must be in the form prescribed in the schedule to the Safety of Sports Grounds Regulations 1987 ("the 1987 Regulations") or a form to like effect.
The application should be accompanied by detailed information as to the structure, capacity and safety management systems. The local authority may, by notice in writing, require the applicant to submit within a reasonable period such information and plans as it considers necessary to enable it to determine what terms and conditions to include. Since the safety certificate should relate to the actual condition of the sports ground, local authorities should not be deterred from seeking further information when they consider this necessary in the interests of spectator safety.
The local authority must supply the chief officer of police and, where it is not itself that authority, the fire authority or the building authority, with a copy of the application form. It should also formally consult them about the terms and conditions of the certificate. The normal forum for this consultation will be the Safety Advisory Group ("the SAG"). This is described in section 4.3.
Similar provisions apply to the issue of a safety certificate for a regulated stand and are shown in the flow chart in Annex A. Under section 26 of the 1987 Act, it is an offence to admit spectators until an application has been submitted to the local authority for a safety certificate. The local authority may, and in practice should, issue a single certificate in respect of two or more such stands at the same sports ground. Different conditions may apply to the various stands.
The form of the application is laid down in the Safety of Places of Sport Regulations 1988 ("the 1988 Regulations"). The local authority may require the same information as for a designated sports ground. It is under the same duty to consult the police and other agencies.
3.4 Temporary demountable structures
If a temporary demountable stand of any size is erected at a designated sports ground, the local authority will need to promulgate its safe capacity and to include such terms and conditions in the safety certificate as it considers necessary to ensure the reasonable safety of spectators.
The position is less clear cut where a temporary demountable covered stand with accommodation for 500 or more spectators is erected at a non-designated sports ground. Section 26 (11) of the 1987 Act defines a stand at such a sports ground as "an artificial structure (not merely temporary) which provides accommodation for spectators and is wholly or partly covered by a roof". Home Office Circular 96/1988 explains that, by use of the phrase "not merely temporary", the definition excludes temporary stands from certification.
The term "temporary" has not been further defined. It does not automatically cover all demountable structures. These may remain in place for many years. A stand erected for one or more specific events should clearly be regarded as temporary. However, it would be difficult to argue this in relation to a stand that is to be used for a whole season of the sport in question. The local authority will need to assess every case having regard to its individual circumstances. In this context, it may be relevant that the Building Regulations define a temporary building as one intended to remain in place for less than 28 days. Where the stand is not a regulated stand the local authority may still issue a prohibition notice under section 10 of the 1975 Act. This procedure is described in section 7.3.
Chapter 14 of the Green Guide offers guidance on the safety, design and management of temporary demountable structures. Further detailed advice may be found in the second Edition of ‘Temporary Demountable Structures: Guidance on Procurement, Design and Use’, published by the Institution of Structural Engineers ("ISE") in March 1999. Section 4, addressed to venue owners, event organisers and local authorities, deals specifically with statutory control.
The ISE document emphasises the importance of venue owners and event organisers making early contact with the local authority to establish the procedures for giving notice of temporary demountable structures and the required technical standards. It stresses that it is normally the client, venue owner and / or event organiser, rather than the supplier of the temporary demountable structure, who is legally responsible for complying with public safety legislation while the structure is in use.
Section 14.6 of the Green Guide recommends that, even when not formally required to do so under the terms of a safety certificate, the management of the sports ground should consult the relevant authorities regarding enforcement responsibility and any special local regulations, certificates, licences or permissions. It should also consult the fire authority about access for fire-fighting purposes.
Temporary demountable structures not used as spectator accommodation, such as television gantries, lighting towers, information boards or advertising hoardings may nevertheless affect the safety of spectators. They should be covered by the terms and conditions of the safety certificate, with particular attention being paid to their stability and fire safety.
3.5 Qualified person
Before it may issue a safety certificate for a designated sports ground, the local authority must determine whether the applicant is a "qualified" person. This is defined in the 1975 Act as a person who is likely to be in a position to prevent any contravention of the terms and conditions of a safety certificate. The certificate holder should hold a position of authority within the management of the sports ground. This could include the chairman, chief executive, club secretary, sports ground manager, safety officer or a director, depending upon the sports ground and/or club.
If the local authority determines that the applicant is a qualified person, section 3(2) of the 1975 Act requires it to issue the safety certificate. If it determines to the contrary, it must notify him or her in writing. The applicant may appeal against this determination to the magistrates’ court within 28 days (seven days in the case of a special safety certificate).
The same principles apply if the local authority receives an application to transfer the safety certificate to another holder. If it determines that the applicant is not a qualified person, and therefore that it will not transfer the certificate, it must formally notify both the existing certificate holder and the applicant in writing and give reasons for the refusal.
Under the 1987 Act, the definition of a person qualified to hold the safety certificate for a regulated stand is more tightly drawn. In the case of a general safety certificate, it is the person responsible for the management of the sports ground; for a special safety certificate, it is the person responsible for organising the activity being watched by the spectators. This apart, the procedure mirrors that for the issue of the safety certificate for a designated sports ground.
3.6 Notices by the local authority
The safety certificate is a public document, to which any person who is either responsible for applying it or likely to be affected by it should have access. Both the 1987 and 1988 Regulations require the local authority to notify every interested party, as defined in the Regulations, in writing of its decision to issue, amend or replace, or refuse to amend or replace, a safety certificate. In the case of a refusal, the local authority must give its reasons. This notice must specify that a copy of the safety certificate and any application is available for inspection at a specified time and place. The local authority must also publish a similar notice in a local newspaper.
3.7 General safety certificate
Section 1(3) of the 1975 Act provides that a safety certificate may be issued in respect of the use of the sports ground for an activity or number of activities specified in the certificate
These are known as a general safety certificate and a special safety certificate respectively. Section 26(10) of the 1987 Act contains similar provisions in respect of safety certificates for regulated stands.
There is no provision in the Act for a general safety certificate to be issued for a finite period. It must be assumed, therefore, that such a certificate should run indefinitely, unless or until it is revoked, replaced or surrendered.
Section 4 of the 1975 Act and section 29 of the 1987 Act provide that the local authority may either amend or replace the safety certificate in any case in which this appears appropriate. It may do this either on its own initiative or in response to an application from the certificate holder. Replacing safety certificates can normally only be justified where the change of circumstances or the number and scale of the amendments makes this the most practical option.
3.8 Review of the general safety certificate
The local authority should formally review the general safety certificate as soon as reasonably practicable after any incident in which the safety of the public may have been put at risk or where doubts have been cast on the condition or management of the sports ground. A "near miss" should be always be treated as an incident for these purposes.
This review should not be limited to the circumstances of the incident. It should identify and analyse any underlying safety weaknesses that need to be addressed. These weaknesses and the local authority’s response should be recorded in writing.
The local authority should conduct at least one such a review every year, even if nothing untoward has occurred. Where the sports ground is used on a seasonal basis, this review should take place in sufficient time for any necessary remedial work to be completed during the close season. This would enable the local authority to amend or replace the relevant sections of the certificate before the start of the new season. At those sports grounds where events are held throughout the year, the local authority and certificate holder should liaise about the most sensible time for the annual review.
3.9 Amendments to the general safety certificate
The local authority may need to amend the safety certificate to reflect changes at the sports ground. Planned changes may include improvements or alterations to the physical structure, safety management improvements or changes in the personnel identified in the safety certificate. While these may lead to capacity increases, an interim cut may be required while any construction work is carried out or new systems are tested. Hence section 8 of the 1975 Act and section 32 of the 1987 Act require the certificate holder to notify the local authority of any proposed alterations or extensions that are likely to affect the safety of spectators.
In some cases the local authority may consider it necessary to reduce the permitted capacity of part or all of the sports ground, either following an incident or because of a deterioration in its structure, maintenance or management. This is most easily achieved by decreasing either the ‘P’ or ‘S’ Factor as appropriate. Such decisions should be taken in accordance with laid down procedures and be formally recorded. This is explained further in sections 4.4 & 4.5.
3.10 Special safety certificates
The general safety certificate should cover any event that is held regularly at the sports ground. Where it is intended to hold an event of a type not specified in the general safety certificate, an application should be submitted to the local authority for a special safety certificate. Such applications should normally be made at least three months in advance of the proposed event. However, the local authority may vary this period at its discretion.
The procedure for granting a special safety certificate is slightly different from that for a general safety certificate. The local authority must determine whether to grant a special safety certificate and, if so, subject to what conditions, within 14 days of receiving the application. Unless the applicant is already the holder of a general safety certificate, the local authority must first determine whether he or she is a qualified person. However, whereas it is obliged to grant a general safety certificate provided that the applicant is a qualified person, it has the discretion to refuse to issue a special safety certificate. In reaching its decision, the local authority must act reasonably. The applicant has the right to appeal, within seven days, against any refusal
The local authority should be aware that it may need to set a different capacity in a special safety certificate for certain events compared with that promulgated in the general safety certificate. A pop concert, for example, may have spectator accommodation on the pitch, while a fireworks display may require certain sections of the sports ground to be kept clear of spectators. Some events may give rise to dynamic forces on stands due to rhythmic crowd movements that were not specifically taken into account in the design of the structure. In these cases it may be necessary to restrict the use of the stands concerned.
The applicant may be required to supply whatever information is necessary for the local authority to discharge its functions. This should include details of any proposed changes to the normal accommodation or arrangements, in particular to the safety systems, crowd management and stewarding, toilet and medical provision and fire precautions.
3.11 Rights of appeal
The 1975 and 1987 Acts provide a right of appeal to the magistrates’ court for:
any aggrieved person against a prohibition notice or an amendment to a prohibition notice, as described in section 7.5.
There is no statutory right of appeal against a condition that the Football Licensing Authority has required a local authority to include in a safety certificate under section 13(2) of the 1989 Act.
Appeals must be lodged within 28 days if they relate to a general safety certificate and within seven days if they relate to a special safety certificate. If the appeal is against an amendment to the safety certificate, the original terms and conditions remain in force until the appeal has been determined. By contrast, a prohibition notice continues to apply unless or until overturned by the court.
3.12 Fees
The 1987 and 1988 Regulations empower the local authority to determine the fee to be paid in respect of an application for the issue, amendment, replacement or transfer of a safety certificate, or the cancellation of a certificate for a regulated stand. This fee shall not exceed an amount commensurate with the work actually and reasonably done by or on behalf of a local authority in respect of this application. However, the local authority may only charge for amending the safety certificate in response to an application from the proposed or existing certificate holder.
The Administrative Process
4.1 Delegated powers
In accordance with its standing orders, the local authority may delegate its power to take and implement decisions on safety certification to a committee, sub-committee or to a particular officer(s), most commonly the officer who chairs the authority’s SAG. However, the SAG as such cannot take decisions on behalf of the local authority. Nor may any outside body or other authority exercise the responsibilities of the local authority.
4.2 Lead department
The local authority should determine which of its departments or services should take the lead on safety certification having regard to its particular administrative structure. It is usually advisable that this department should be responsible for some similar or related subject. If the staff concerned do not themselves possess the necessary qualifications, competence and professional experience to perform the function effectively, it is essential that they have ready access to such resources.
The latter might be found either in-house or from an external source on a consultancy basis. In such cases, the local authority may properly obtain such assistance as it may require from another local authority or public body under a service level agreement. However, it remains solely responsible for any decisions on safety certification.
Many local authorities have found it helpful to draw up written policy statements identifying the specific responsibilities of particular individuals or groups of staff.
4.3 Safety Advisory Groups
In the Final Report of the Inquiry into the Hillsborough Stadium Disaster, Lord Taylor recommended that each local authority set up an advisory group (now generally known as the Safety Advisory Group). The SAG exists primarily to provide specialist advice to the local authority so that it may effectively discharge its functions under the 1975 and / or 1987 Acts. In practice, it also provides the vital forum within which the local authority and other agencies may develop a corporate approach to spectator safety at the sports grounds concerned, while each exercising its own responsibilities.
The management of a sports ground may frequently benefit from the expertise of the SAG. However, it is the local authority, not the SAG, that issues the safety certificate and which is responsible for advising and assisting the certificate holder where necessary.
All communication with the certificate holder or management of the sports ground on spectator safety and all requirements relating to the safety certificate should be initiated by or routed through the responsible committee or officers of the local authority. Other individuals or agencies should avoid dealing unilaterally with the certificate holder on such matters, lest this cause confusion or conflict over requirements and thereby undermine the work of the local authority.
4.4 Membership of the Safety Advisory Group
It is for the local authority alone to determine which member or officer shall chair the SAG. This individual should have the status and authority to act quickly where necessary as well as sufficient time to commit to the task. The other local authority staff attending the SAG should likewise be suitably senior, as should the representatives of the participating agencies and bodies. These should be able to speak with knowledge and authority and be empowered to take operational decisions on behalf of their organisations, save where these raise new policy issues.
Lord Taylor recommended that, in addition to appropriate members of local authority staff, the SAG should include representatives of the police, fire service, ambulance service and building authority. In many cases, it may be sensible to invite someone from the relevant first aid agency. SAG Chairmen may also wish to arrange formal regular liaison with the local authority staff responsible for enforcing the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, perhaps to coincide with its inspection of the sports ground.
Experience has shown that it is desirable for the safety certificate holder to attend at least some SAG meetings, particularly those at which, or as a result of which, the local authority may reach any significant decision affecting the sports ground. This should facilitate an informed discussion within the SAG. It should also ensure that the certificate holder is aware of the issues underlying the local authority’s requirements.
Local authorities are encouraged to consult representatives of a recognised supporters’ group where possible. Indeed there are no objections in principle to such a representative attending SAG meetings, if this is considered beneficial. However, it has not always been easy to identify somebody suitable, especially where there are rival supporters’ organisations.
4.5 Management of the Safety Advisory Group
The SAG fulfils an important safety role. This could well come under scrutiny in the event of a serious safety failure at a sports ground. Accordingly the SAG should be properly constituted, have written terms of reference and effective procedures. These terms of reference should encompass all matters falling within the purview of the local authority on spectator safety.
The local authority would also be well advised to identify the responsibilities and potential liability of the SAG and its members. It may wish to lay down written procedures for them to follow if they observe or are alerted to a safety weakness either during an inspection of a sports ground or when they are present in the course of their normal duties. The role of the SAG and its members in inspecting sports grounds and attending events is described in greater detail section 6.
In like manner, the local authority should provide the necessary level of secretarial support to the SAG and should lay down procedures for ensuring that it runs smoothly. The meeting should have a formal agenda with all members being invited to submit agenda items, accompanied, where applicable, by written reports. The secretariat should circulate the agenda, relevant papers and minutes of the previous meeting sufficiently in advance. It should minute the proceedings of the SAG and produce regular written reports for the members’ committee to which it is accountable. These reports should normally include the results of any monitoring visits by members of the SAG and details of any exercises by the certificate holder to test the sports ground’s contingency plans.
4.6 Minutes of the Safety Advisory Group
Accurate minute taking is particularly important when new sports grounds are under construction or existing ones are undergoing a major redevelopment. In such cases, the situation may change on an almost daily basis. The local authority, advised by the SAG, may need to reach decisions at very short notice, often during a visit to the site. Unless all these decisions are recorded at the time and the minutes are agreed as soon as possible thereafter, they risk giving rise to debate and possible recriminations at a later date.
It is also essential to record why the SAG has proposed and / or the local authority has accepted any deviations from the recommendations of the Green Guide when setting the capacity of the sports ground. The onus will be on the local authority to demonstrate that it has acted reasonably.
Similarly, the minutes should record the reasons for any amendments to the terms and conditions in the safety certificate. In the absence of such information, the local authority could be vulnerable to an appeal by the certificate holder. Such minutes do not themselves constitute the amendment to the safety certificate. The local authority must formally issue a written amendment.
4.7 Audit trail
Such minutes constitute an important part of the audit trail that the local authority should establish for the SAG. This should cover the procedures for ensuring that:
4.8 Frequency of meetings
The local authority should always convene a meeting of the SAG as soon as possible after any significant incident or "near miss" at a sports ground in order to ascertain whether there were any breaches of the safety certificate and whether the safety certificate should be reviewed.
Such cases apart, the number of SAG meetings in any year will largely depend upon the particular circumstances of the sports ground concerned. A conscientious local authority is likely to require a minimum of two meetings of the SAG per year to perform effectively, even if the sports ground has an up to date safety certificate and is well managed with no significant problems. By contrast, experience has shown that, during the planning and building stages of a major sports ground redevelopment, the SAG will need to meet much more frequently, perhaps even monthly, to deal with the many issues raised by the contractors, architects and certificate holder.
The local authority should balance the need to retain a sufficient overview against its desire to avoid overburdening a certificate holder who is acting responsibly. In the majority of cases, three or four meetings per year would seem reasonable. These regular meetings should sensibly be scheduled well in advance on a regular basis.
4.9 Separate Safety Advisory Groups
In some circumstances, the local authority may wish to maintain a separate SAG for each sports ground with a safety certificate in its area. Where the membership of these SAGs would substantially overlap, the local authority might sensibly decide that one SAG may cover several sports grounds. Those attending could vary according to the sports ground under discussion. Representatives could arrange to attend as required. Conversely, cases exist of sports grounds that cut across local authority boundaries. The authorities concerned have set up a single SAG. The local authority should formally record these arrangements in the statement of responsibilities.
4.10 Role of the Football Licensing Authority
Inspectors from the FLA are available to attend meetings of the SAG in respect of those football grounds for which it has a statutory responsibility. These are currently the international, Premiership and Football League grounds in England and Wales. The Inspectors are not members of the SAG. They are independent advisers who are present only at the specific invitation of the local authority. This should be made clear in the SAG’s terms of reference.
The FLA has the task of keeping under review the discharge by local authorities of their safety certification functions under the 1975 Act. Under section 13 (2) of the 1989 Act it may require a local authority to include in any safety certificate such terms and conditions as it may specify in its written notice. Before exercising this power, the FLA must consult the local authority, the chief officer of police and, where these are not the local authority, the fire authority or the building authority.
The FLA role goes much wider than ensuring that local authorities set and enforce such terms and conditions as are necessary for the reasonable safety of spectators. It promotes the adoption and maintenance of a safety culture and is a source of advice and good practice. The SAG meeting is often the forum in which the FLA can best engage with and assist the local authority in a proactive and constructive manner.
Contents of the Safety Certificate
5.1 Introduction
The local authority is responsible for determining what terms and conditions should be included in the safety certificate. These should reflect the particular circumstances of the sports ground concerned, having regard to the detailed advice in the Green Guide. By contrast, the general format of the safety certificate can be the same whatever the size of the sports ground or the nature of the event.
The FLA has always declined to issue a model safety certificate with detailed terms and conditions. Such a certificate might not be appropriate in every case and might be seen as a constraint on local authorities. The FLA is aware, however, that many local authorities have based their certificates on the models for designated sports grounds and regulated stands published by the District Surveyors’ Association. These are consistent with the guidance in the Green Guide and this document.
5.2 Format of the certificate
It is recommended that local authorities issue all safety certificates in modular form. Experience has shown this format to be particularly suitable. It is easy to amend and to keep up to date. It avoids the need for amendment sheets or annotations that can cause confusion. The following structure has proved particularly effective, though minor variations, for instance in the allocation of detailed conditions between headings, would be acceptable.
A modular safety certificate should consist of:
The safety certificate needs to spell out the overall responsibility of the certificate holder for spectator safety. This is best achieved through a series of general conditions in the core section. These will apply whatever the state of the sports ground. Indeed, subject to possible variations in terminology, most of these general requirements are likely to be equally valid for all sports grounds, irrespective of size, condition or the types of events staged there. The detailed terms and conditions that relate to the particular circumstances of the sports ground concerned are best set out in a series of schedules, linked to the individual core conditions.
It is essential that a safety certificate is both easy to follow and complete within itself. The terms and conditions with which the certificate holder must comply should be set out in the certificate and not in other documents. General provisions to the effect that tasks must be undertaken to the satisfaction of the local authority, the chief officer of police, the chief fire officer or any other person, should be avoided, not least because the certificate holder should not be deprived of the statutory right of appeal against the contents of the certificate.
In similar vein a safety certificate should not require the holder to comply with a general recommendation in the Green Guide. All terms and conditions should be specific to the sports ground concerned.
5.3 Core section
The core section should begin by identifying the Act under which it is issued; the responsible local authority; the holder of the certificate and the sports ground or regulated stand(s) to which it applies. The activities to which the certificate relates may either be set out in this section or, if this is more convenient, be listed in an appendix.
This section should also require the certificate holder to notify the local authority in advance of any change of circumstances that may affect the certificate, and to supply it with details of all forthcoming events. The local authority should consider how much advance notice it requires and, in the case of forthcoming events, whether the certificate holder needs also to advise the emergency services.
The core section should lay upon the certificate holder the general requirements to:
subject in each case to the detailed requirements of the related schedule.
The core section should also require the holder to:
The local authority needs to be satisfied that the safety policy and contingency plans are sufficiently clear and comprehensive and that the safety officer is competent. If not satisfied in this regard, it should reduce the ‘S Factor’ and hence the capacity of the sports ground. However, it is not up to the local authority to ‘approve’ the safety policy and contingency plans or the employment of the individual concerned. These must remain, and be seen to remain, the responsibility of the certificate holder.
Local authorities may find it helpful to refer to guidance notes on ‘Drawing up a safety policy for spectators’, ‘Contingency Planning’ and 'Exercise Planning' which are available on the Football Licensing Authority web site. Although originally drafted with football in mind, they identify principles which apply equally to all sports.
5.4 Schedules and appendices
The detailed requirements should then be set out in the schedules or appendices. Hitherto these have usually been prescribed in great detail by the local authority. There is no reason, however, why the certificate holder should not produce a detailed operations manual, covering all these matters, or at least draft some or all of the detailed conditions, for promulgation by the local authority. Indeed this approach is to be encouraged since it gives the certificate holder a greater sense of ownership of the safety management of the sports ground.
The local authority should structure the schedules and appendices according to local need. In most cases, the best approach is to include definitions and written requirements as schedules and to attach any plans, tables and lists as appendices. Thus the schedules might cover all requirements relating to:
The appendices should include plans of the sports ground along with:
5.5 Documents to be held with the certificate
The safety certificate is not merely a document of record but a living management tool for use by both the local authority and the certificate holder. It should be kept where it is readily available whenever required.
It makes sense for both the local authority and the certificate holder to attach to the certificate those other documents that, while not part of the certificate, are integral to the safe management of the sports ground. These are likely to include:
Monitoring by the Local Authority
6.1 The need for monitoring
The achievement of reasonable safety is a continuous process that does not end with the issue of the safety certificate. The local authority must monitor the holder’s compliance with the terms and conditions. Under section 10B of the 1975 Act, it is the duty of the local authority to enforce the provisions of the Act and of regulations made under it within its area and, for that purpose, to arrange for the periodical inspection of the designated sports grounds. Section 34 of the 1987 Act imposes a broadly similar duty with regard to sports grounds containing regulated stands. Further statutory guidance is given in Home Office Circulars 72/87 ("the 1987 Circular") and 97/88 ("the 1988 Circular").
The duty in section 34 of the 1987 Act applies to the whole sports ground. It is left to each local authority to determine, in light of its local knowledge, the extent of the inspection. This local knowledge would include not only the general condition of the sports ground but also whether any events were scheduled which might attract unusually large numbers of spectators. This has proved particularly relevant when clubs from divisions below the Football League have reached the latter stages of the various Football Association cup competitions.
6.2 Scope of the inspection
The Home Office Circulars prescribe in considerable detail what is to be examined by or on behalf of the local authority. In summary this should encompass:
6.3 Responsibility for inspections
The physical inspection of the sports ground by the local authority in compliance with the Home Office Circulars is not intended to duplicate work that should be undertaken on behalf of the certificate holder. Instead it is for checking that the sports ground and its fittings have been properly maintained and, ideally, for noting and agreeing remedial action on problems already identified by the certificate holder.
The certificate holder is responsible for appointing suitably qualified persons to undertake the annual structural appraisal and the other inspections or tests required under the safety certificate. The local authority should check that the required inspections have indeed taken place and that the persons concerned were duly qualified. Unless the authority has doubts about the independence, competence or approach of these persons, the submission of a certificate that the structure or fitting meets the appropriate requirements should normally suffice. Nevertheless, the local authority remains free to carry out sample testing if it considers this to be necessary.
6.4 Inspections during events
Since the issue of the statutory guidance, much greater emphasis has been placed on the management of safety at sports grounds. This is now seen as an important factor in determining the safe capacity of a sports ground, through the use of the ‘S Factor’. The local authority should therefore monitor not merely the holder’s general compliance with the terms and conditions of the safety certificate but also other general matters such as:
The scrutiny of records may indicate whether tasks have been performed; it may also give an impression of good or poor management. However, it cannot adequately convey whether the sports ground is being operated safely. Experience has shown that the local authority can only monitor this effectively if it periodically observes the performance of the management immediately before, during, and after the event.
6.5 Frequency of inspections
For designated sports grounds, the 1975 Act defines periodical as "at least once every twelve months". For regulated stands with accommodation for over 2,000 spectators, the 1988 Circular lays down a minimum of one inspection in the calendar year following the issue of the last safety certificate and once in every calendar year thereafter. In all other cases the minimum is once in every two calendar years.
There is nothing to preclude the local authority from inspecting the sports ground more frequently. The number of inspections reasonably required will vary from venue to venue. This will be for the local authority to determine, having regard to its duty to monitor the suitability of the terms and conditions of the certificate and to ensure that these are being observed. Relevant factors will include the capacity, design and layout of the sports ground, the management’s level of commitment to safety, and the quality of the safety staff and safety management procedures. Improvements in safety management should normally lead to a reduction in the number of inspections.
At most designated sports grounds, it will normally be sufficient for the local authority to inspect the structures and fittings once a year while the sports ground is empty. It might be sensible to conduct this inspection at different times each year, so as to observe the sports ground under a variety of conditions. Further inspections are likely to be necessary only in the event of significant structural modifications.
However, the sports ground management’s performance during events will undoubtedly need to be checked more frequently. Without regular checks there is a risk of potentially hazardous situations developing unchallenged. The same considerations apply to the local authority’s checks of the records of attendances, accidents, maintenance, steward training and contingency plans, though some of these could be carried out on non-event days.
In only the most exceptional cases would it be necessary for the local authority to be present at every event staged at the sports ground. Nevertheless the local authority needs to be alerted quickly to anything that may affect spectator safety so that it may take any necessary action as soon as practicable. It should also invite feedback from other sources, in particular from the other agencies represented on the SAG who may attend events in the course of their normal duties. This should be seen as an adjunct to, not a substitute for, inspection by the local authority.
When inspecting the sports ground during an event, the local authority should be sensitive to the operational responsibilities of its management. Any requests for access, in particular to the sports ground control room, must be reasonable and should not distract safety personnel from the performance of their duties.
6.6 Inspection personnel
It is for the local authority to determine how best to structure inspections. It must be satisfied that the inspecting officers are competent for that purpose. There is no legal requirement for inspections to be undertaken by staff from a particular professional discipline. The local authority should consider the potential advantages of a team approach. This might involve the officers who represent the police, fire and building authorities on the SAG.
The inspecting personnel may need to respond immediately if they become aware of a serious safety hazard. The local authority should therefore identify and formally record what enforcement powers it has delegated and to whom. Moreover, under section 11 of the 1975 Act or section 35 of the 1987 Act, any staff who may need to exercise a right of entry to a sports ground must be formally authorised by the local authority. This too should be properly recorded in the minutes of the relevant committee.
6.7 Records of inspections
The local authority should maintain detailed records of all inspections as part of its audit trail. It may wish to consider sending a copy to the certificate holder, if only to ensure that there is no confusion about any need for immediate remedial action.
Staff inspecting all kinds of sports grounds have found written checklists invaluable. The detailed example at annex B is intended to assist not constrain local authorities. Individual authorities are free to modify it to meet their particular needs. They could, for instance, include references to other matters, such as environmental health, for which they may be responsible under other legislation. Staff using it should be encouraged to comment as fully as necessary on each item and not merely to tick entries on a form. This is particularly important where there are any deviations or problems since these will need to be noted in writing and investigated.
Further helpful guidance on "during performance" inspections of specified activities at sports grounds is available from the District Surveyors’ Association.
Enforcement
7.1 Initial response
The local authority may need to respond quickly to any incident that puts the public at risk or any safety weakness identified by its inspecting personnel. This is particularly important if the terms and conditions of the safety certificate appear to have been contravened or if these do not appear adequately to cover the situation that has arisen. The local authority should ensure that it has the necessary powers and procedures in place to enable it to take any necessary action in sufficient time.
The response of the local authority must be proportionate to both the urgency and the seriousness of the case. It may choose between the following options:
7.2 Reduction in the capacity of a sports ground
If an incident suggests that the management of a sports ground is performing poorly, the local authority should review the ‘S Factor’ and hence the capacity of the sports ground. The same applies if there has been no incident but the sports ground management’s overall performance during an event appears deficient and / or it does not appear to be fully in control. Similarly, if the local authority’s inspecting personnel identify any deficiencies in the fabric, equipment, records or management systems, which the authority has not already taken into account when calculating the permitted capacity, it should review either the ‘P’ or ‘S’ Factor as appropriate.
Any new capacity should be properly calculated having regard to the change in circumstances. The local authority should follow the same procedures as during the routine annual review of the safety certificate. It is essential to involve the certificate holder in this process. Wherever possible, a programme of remedial measures or improvements should be agreed. Once these have been implemented, the local authority should consider whether the original capacity might be restored. There is a clear onus on the local authority to act reasonably, not least because the certificate holder has a right of appeal against any reduction in capacity.
7.3 Prohibition notices
A review of the ‘P’ and ‘S’ Factors and a possible cut in capacity is likely to be the appropriate response in the majority of cases. However, section 10 of the 1975 Act empowers the local authority to issue a prohibition notice in respect of all or part of any sports ground if it considers that spectators cannot be accommodated in reasonable safety. The prohibition may be general or may apply to a particular event.
Unlike the other provisions of the 1975 and 1987 Acts, the power to issue a prohibition notice applies to all sports grounds, as defined in section 17 of the 1975 Act, including those that are neither designated nor contain a regulated stand.
Before issuing a prohibition notice, the local authority must consider that "the admission of spectators to a sports ground or any part of a sports ground involves or will involve a risk to them so serious that, until steps have been taken to reduce it to a reasonable level, admission of spectators to the sports ground or that part of the sports ground ought to be prohibited or restricted". A prohibition notice is therefore a measure of last resort. In practice, it is likely to be required only if the problem is urgent or the certificate holder or management of the sports ground appears unable or unwilling to rectify the situation before the next event.
If the local authority considers and states in the notice that the risk to spectators is or may be imminent, the notice takes effect as soon as it is served. In all other cases, it comes into force at the end of the period specified in the notice. The local authority may amend or withdraw the notice at any time. Under the Environment and Safety Information Act 1988 the local authority is required to keep a register of any prohibition notices that it has issued.
For detailed guidance on prohibition notices, local authorities should refer to the DCMS Circular of 16 November 1995.
7.4 Procedures for issuing prohibition notices
The local authority needs to ensure that it can, if necessary, issue a prohibition notice at very short notice and without reference to senior officers or to members. In accordance with its standing orders, it should formally identify the officers who may serve any prohibition notices on its behalf, the extent of their delegated powers and the circumstances in which they may be used. The officers concerned are likely to be those who already conduct inspections on event days.
The system of prohibition notices depends upon the local authority having effective administrative machinery in place. In particular, there is unlikely to be time to locate the required form and prepare a prohibition notice after the problem has arisen. The necessary documentation should be drawn up in advance on a contingency basis. Indeed, it may be advisable for the authorised personnel to carry a blank proforma that can be filled in and signed on the spot.
The local authority must send copies of any prohibition notice to the chief officer of police and, where it is not itself that authority, the fire authority or the building authority. It should be aware that no prohibition notice may include any directions, compliance with which would require the provision of police, unless the chief officer of police has consented to their inclusion. Only the chief officer of police may determine the extent of that provision.
7.5 Appeals against a prohibition notice
An aggrieved person may appeal to the magistrates’ court against a prohibition notice within 21 days of the serving of the notice. However, the bringing of an appeal does not suspend the operation of the notice or of any amendment to it. If the prohibition notice is to apply to a single event, the local authority should, wherever possible, serve it well in advance so that any aggrieved person has a reasonable opportunity to exercise this right of appeal.
7.6 Penalties for contravention of the safety certificate
It is an offence for any responsible person, not merely the certificate holder, to contravene the terms and conditions of a safety certificate or a prohibition notice. These offences, along with the defences of absence of consent and due diligence, are listed in section 12 of the 1975 Act and section 36 of the 1987 Act.
Where it appears to the local authority that an offence, however minor or technical, may have been committed, it should consider its response, having regard to the facts and merits of the case and taking care to apply the normal rules of evidence. In very minor cases, particularly if the certificate holder has immediately taken action to prevent any repetition, the local authority may determine that no further action is warranted, though it may wish to warn those responsible as to their future conduct.
In more serious cases, for example where spectators have been put at risk but the offence appears to be an isolated, the local authority might wish to administer a formal caution. However, in the event of persistent or flagrant breaches of a safety certificate, or those which have seriously prejudiced spectator safety, the local authority should give serious consideration to bringing a prosecution under the 1975 or 1987 Act.
Annex A
Annex B
[Name of certifying authority]
MATCH DAY INSPECTION RECORD
Premises --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fixture -------------------------------------- v ---------------------------------------
Date --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time of kick off --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weather conditions --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Attendance ------------------------ No. of away supporters ---------------------
Duty safety officer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If present -
Crowd doctor -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Match day commander -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Senior Ambulance Officer -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Senior Fire Officer -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Other authorities -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Names of inspecting officers --------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
Please 4 relevant boxes to show which areas have been inspected. Any areas where problems are observed or breaches of the safety certificate noted should be marked * and relevant details included in the comment section.
Pre-match Inspection
Car Parks [ ]
External circulation areas [ ]
Emergency vehicle access [ ]
Stadium Boundaries [ ]
Turnstiles [ ]
Turnstile monitoring equipment [ ]
Exit routes [ ]
Exit gates [ ]
Control room [ ]
PA system [ ]
CCTV system [ ]
Emergency telephones and radios [ ]
First aid equipment [ ]
First aid personnel [ ]
Ambulance provision [ ]
Segregation arrangements [ ]
Concessionaire facilities [ ]
Disabled accommodation [ ]
TV and camera equipment [ ]
During Match Inspection
1 st Half 2 nd Half
North Stand
Seating / Gangways / Exits LOWER TIER [ ] [ ]
Seating / Gangways / Exits MIDDLE TIER [ ] [ ]
Seating / Gangways / Exits UPPER TIER [ ] [ ]
Hospitality boxes [ ] [ ]
Concourse LOWER TIER [ ] [ ]
Concourse MIDDLE TIER [ ] [ ]
Concourse UPPER TIER [ ] [ ]
South Stand
Seating / Gangways / Exits LOWER TIER [ ] [ ]
Seating / Gangways / Exits UPPER TIER [ ] [ ]
Concourse LOWER TIER [ ] [ ]
East Terrace
Terracing / Gangways / Exits [ ] [ ]
West Stand
Seating / Gangways / Exits LOWER TIER [ ] [ ]
Seating / Gangways / Exits UPPER TIER [ ] [ ]
Concourse LOWER TIER [ ] [ ]
Hospitality boxes [ ] [ ]
Post Match Inspection (Location of inspecting officers)
Control Room [ ]
Exits from viewing areas [ ]
Exits from stadium [ ]
Car park [ ]
Other location in stadium (please specify) [ ]
General Areas of Inspection
Records [ ]
Safety Officer [ ]
Stewarding [ ]
Fabric of stadium [ ]
Normal lighting [ ]
Escape lighting [ ]
Fire resisting areas/enclosures [ ]
Fire fighting equipment [ ]
Signage [ ]
Storage areas [ ]
Control of combustible waste [ ]
Comments
(Anything marked * above must be commented upon)
Signed --------------------------------------------
Other FLA Publications
The publications listed below are available for downloading from the FLA web site. Alternatively copies may be purchased from the FLA.
Guidance notes for drawing up a safety
policy for spectators ………………………………………….Priced £5 including p&p.
Briefing and de-briefing ………………………………………Priced £5 including p&p.
Contingency planning ………………………………………..Priced £5 including p&p.
Exercise planning ……………………………………………..Priced £5 including p&p.
The above guidance documents contain the distillation of good practise, experience and knowledge gained over many years by the Football Licensing Authority. Although primarily aimed at football the advice complements that contained in the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds and is therefore equally relevant to any other sports grounds to which the Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975 and the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act apply.
If you wish to purchase any of the above publications please write, enclosing a cheque made payable to the Football Licensing Authority, to :-
Football Licensing Authority
27 Harcourt House
19 Cavendish Square
London
W1G 0PL
Copyright © The Football Licensing Authority 2007
