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.
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 Corporate Property and Land who 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 £65 will be charged to cover some of the cost in producing this.
Risk assessment information
Health and safety risk assessment
By law, you must protect workers and others you employ (including contractors, volunteers, customers and other users) from risks to their health and safety
The Health and Safety Executive has produced detailed information that will help you ensure that your event is safe for you, your staff and your customers: Health and Safety Executive (HSE): event safety
Useful links
The following links may help you make sure your event is as safe as possible:
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE): event safety
- Gov.uk: Organising a street party
- Gov.uk: Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace
- Events Industry Forum
- Purple Guide
If you have any further questions on planning your event, please Contact Corporate Property and Land.
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.
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:
Document downloads
Related information
- ABI: Public liability insurance
- County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service: Guidance Documents
- County Durham Community Foundation
- Food Standards Agency: Food safety at community or charity events
- Gov.uk: fire safety risk assessment for open-air events and venues
- Gov.uk: Providing food at community and charity events
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE): event safety publications
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE): first aid
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE): health and safety at motor sport events - a guide for employers and organisers
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE): managing crowds safely
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE): managing crowds safely - a guide for organisers at events and venues
- Safe Durham Partnership: Prevent Strategy: Countering Terrorism, Radicalisation and Violent Extremism
- Security Industry Authority: events and security