Events safety information for organisers
We advise anyone planning an event to consult with our County Durham Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which offers advice and support to ensure your event is a safe event.
Covid-19 information
Outdoor events
All event plans must now include consideration of Covid-19 and include any associated restrictions. If the event is to take place on our land, you need to take into account Government guidance to allow discussions on whether your event can take place. You should also follow this guidance for any events taking place on private land.
Government guidance states that some events can not take place at this time. We will continue to follow Government guidance and put into place any changes they ask for. Applications to use our land will not be considered until we are sure this guidance has been followed.
You must carry out a Covid-19 risk assessment and operate a Test and Trace scheme for your event.
Useful links
The following links may help you make sure your event is Covid secure:
National Government guidance
- Gov.uk: Government guidance for outdoor events
- Gov.uk: Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do
- Gov.uk: Staying alert and safe (social distancing) after 4 July
- Gov.uk: Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) - shops and branches
- Gov.uk: Working safely during coronavirus - Food service
- Gov.uk: Working safely during coronavirus - Performing-arts
- HSE: Working safely during the coronavirus outbreak
- NHS: Test and trace guidance
Guidance from National Bodies
- Local Government Association
- Events Industry Forum
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE): event safety
- Purple Guide
Tell us about your event
If you notify us of your proposed event, SAG will provide relevant guidance and feedback. For large events (more than 500 people), please contact us with your event details at least six months before the event takes place. For smaller events (less than 500 people), this should be at least three months before the event takes place.
About SAG
SAG is made up of members from Durham County Council, the police, the fire and rescue service and the ambulance service. SAG's role is to promote and encourage high standards of public safety and wellbeing at events held in County Durham.
SAG has an additional duty on our behalf to ensure that any event which is to be held on our land has all appropriate safety measures and legal certification in place before permission is granted to use the land for the event. A minimum of £5million public liability insurance is required for all events, except for fireworks events which require a minimum of £10million.
Events on council land
If your event is to be held on council land you must contact us at Asset Management - events and we will assist you in gaining permission. A minimum of six weeks advance notice is required to arrange a Licence to Occupy and a minimum fee of £50 will be charged to cover some of the cost in producing this. The Licence to Occupy application can only be processed following Health and Safety approval.
National Counter Terrorism Security Office guidance
As part of organising your event it's important to consider security. To help event/ security managers, the National Counter Terrorism Security Office have issued guidance on increasing the protection of crowded places from a terrorist attack:
- Event safety
- Event safety
- 03000 261016
-
Our address is:
- Safety Advisory Group
- Community Protection
- PO Box 617
- Durham
- County Durham
- United Kingdom
- DH1 9HZ
- Asset Management - events
- Asset Management - events
-
Our address is:
- Asset Management - events
- County Hall
- Durham
- County Durham
- United Kingdom
- DH1 5UL
- Association of British Insurers guide to planning an event
- Events Industry Forum
- Security Industry Authority: events and security
- Gov.uk: fire safety risk assessment for open-air events and venues
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE): event safety publications
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE): managing crowds safely - a guide for organisers at events and venues
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE): managing crowds safely
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE): health and safety at motor sport events - a guide for employers and organisers
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE): a guide to safety for firework display organisers and operators
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE): how to run a firework display