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Safer events

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Dated: 24 Oct 2018

POLICY TITLE: Safer Events

OWNING DIRECTORATE: Force Resilience Unit

AUTHOR: Superintendent, Force Resilience Unit

CONTACT DETAILS: 101

EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT: Complete
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AIM OF POLICY: To provide an outline of the objectives of the Local Resilience Forum, an inter-agency partnership formed to ensure safety at public events.

BENEFIT OF POLICY: To provide a corporate and consistent approach to the maintenance of public safety at events held in the Force area.

REASON FOR POLICY: Article 2 of the Human Rights Act 1998. The rights conferred by articles 8, 9, 10, 11 and 14 of the Convention - right to respect for private and family life, freedom to manifest individual beliefs, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and prohibition of discrimination are also acknowledged.

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This policy statement has been drawn up following consultation between representatives of the following agencies:

  • Local Authorities of Northumberland and Tyne & Wear
  • Northumbria Police
  • North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust
  • Tyne & Wear Fire and Rescue Service
  • Northumberland Fire & Rescue Service
  • National Health Service

The overall objective this policy is, so far as reasonably practicable, to ensure that all events are organised with the safety of the participants, spectators and officials foremost in the planning process. More specifically, the aims of the policy are to:

i) minimise any adverse impact from events;
ii) provide a framework for event organisers and statutory bodies to work in partnership to promote event safety;
iii) promote good practice in safety and welfare planning;
iv) allow all Safety Advisory Group (SAG) partners and the event organisers to give appropriate and timely consideration to the need for staffing and other resources;
v) identify the need for adequate and appropriate controls to effectively manage health and safety risks;
vi) identify the need for appropriate contingency arrangements.

All of the named statutory agencies and those who may be involved in the Safety Advisory Group process, will use their best endeavours to minimise public safety risks arising from an event, but ultimately event safety is the responsibility of the event organiser and/or landowner.

The members of the Local Resilience Forum, in making this policy, acknowledge:

Absolute Right

1) the positive duty to protect life incorporated in article 2 of the Human Rights Act 1998. 
Qualified Rights
2) The rights conferred by articles 8, 9, 10, 11 and 14 of the Convention - right to respect for private and family life, freedom to manifest individual beliefs, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and prohibition of discrimination are also acknowledged.

It is the intention of the partner bodies that these rights will be respected and balanced in a way which ensures that all events are planned and managed with safety as a priority.

The partner bodies will only impinge upon the above qualified rights where there is lawful authority to do so and it is necessary in the interests of public safety, to protect health, to protect the rights and freedoms of others, or to prevent disorder or crime. This will only be done to an extent which is proportional in the circumstances and in a manner which represents the least intrusive action which will achieve the stated aim.

Safety Advisory Process

On receipt of notification of a proposed event by any of the core constituent body members, they will notify other core members. Consultation will then take place at a local level to determine the need or otherwise for holding a SAG. There is no minimum size of event that may warrant a SAG, but in all instances, public safety risks posed by the event must be the primary reason for doing so.
There will be a number of small scale events that may not warrant consideration by a SAG where there are no anticipated significant public safety risks and/or the event is routine in relation to the activities normally carried out at the site.

Co-ordination of views will normally be undertaken by the Local Authority in whose area the event takes place. If an event transcends more than one Local Authority area, the Local Authority which is affected the most by the event will normally chair, coordinate and administer the SAG, ensuring that all discussions and advice are documented and communicated in writing to all SAG members and the event organiser.

Review Procedure

The Safer Events Working Group will reconvene on an annual basis (or earlier as required) to review this policy and other related documents. The member organisation who will host the review meeting will be determined as part of the review process. 
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SOURCE DOCUMENT: The Human Rights Act

GROUPS AFFECTED: All police officers and police staff

ACCESS AND DISCLOSURE RESTRICTIONS: None

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