Christopher BarrettIt is a question of when, not if, public safety at a festival will go wrong, according to a new report by the policing inspectorate.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found that while there has been progress in safety arrangements at sports grounds since the 1990s, the safety framework for other public events is insufficient.
In October 2025, the Home Secretary commissioned the inspectorate to look at the contributions police forces make to safety advisory groups (SAGs) and other bodies responsible for public safety. HMICFRS said it found an absence of legislation, statutory guidance and regulation for many public events, including music festivals and cultural celebrations, is leaving the police wrestling with widespread inconsistency. It said the inconsistency extends to police funding for public events, and as a result it has become more difficult to keep the public safe.
Other findings in the report include that the Purple Guide, which sets out the roles and responsibilities for event safety, overstates the legal responsibilities of event organisers while downplaying the important role of the police and other emergency services.
The report also states that the way SAGs across the country operate varies significantly, while some local authorities are not operating SAGs at all.
HMICFRS said it frequently found that the way that police forces and SAGs planned public safety operations was inconsistent and lacked clarity about the roles and responsibilities different organisations take in keeping the public safe.
As well as calling for a government review, HMICFRS has made 36 recommendations; including the need to improve the training for police officers and staff involved with planning for public events and working with SAGs.
“The warning we heard from too many people on this inspection is that it is a question of when, not if, public safety at an event will go wrong,” said His Majesty’s chief inspector of Constabulary Michelle Skeer OBE QPM.
“We are concerned that the lack of legislation and statutory guidance for non-sporting events is leading to widespread inconsistencies in the police’s public safety operations. They, and the public, deserve clarity so that police forces can work with local authorities and event organisers to protect the public.
“That is why we are calling for the government to carry out a review of public safety arrangements at events and the wider issues our inspection raises. This review, alongside the wider recommendations we make, will help make vital improvements to event safety.”