Select committee: Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Recommendation 16
First Report - Safety at major sporting events
Published 29 Dec 2023
Paragraph 74
Addressed to Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee Safety at major sporting events All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
Stewards, employers and fans would all benefit from clarity on the roles, responsibilities and standards for stewards. We recommend that the Sports Ground Safety Authority should develop and publish minimum expectations for stewarding standards in consultation with all those involved in major sporting events.
From: Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, First Report - Safety at major sporting events (HC 174), paragraph 74, 29 December 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 8 March 2024 (deadline 29 February 2024).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the Committee's report and says it will, "where appropriate", take concrete steps on many of its suggestions, while noting existing measures and in places pointing to the limits of what it can change.
- On police costs for Zone Ex, the government "understands" that forces cannot recover full costs, and says a return to pre-Ipswich levels "would require changes to primary legislation".
- On alcohol controls, it will "continue to keep alcohol controls under review" with the UKFPU, SGSA and The FA, and does not give a timing for a review of the 1985 Act.
- On stewarding, it "welcome[s]" the Committee's emphasis on training and "agree[s]" it is crucial. The Premier League and English Football League have agreed to fund a reform package of c. £1.5 million over three years.
- On Safety Advisory Groups, it points to existing guidance and says the absence of legislation allows flexibility, which it "believes" strikes a balance. It does not commit to updating the 1975 Act.