Recurring concern
Inadequate regulatory oversight of organised public events
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Request correctionFirst reported 26 Jan 2016•Latest report 10 Apr 2025
What this concern includes
Includes deficiencies in the dedicated regulatory and governance arrangements for organised public events, including powers or processes to require an accountable organiser, establish safety responsibilities, require competent event management, and enforce appropriate risk assessment, briefing, emergency planning or participant-control measures.
Not included
- Excludes generic legal or regulatory gaps that are not specifically connected to safety governance of organised public events.
- Excludes operational safety failures at a particular event where no deficiency in event-level regulatory oversight or governance is identified.
- Excludes ordinary event staffing, training, risk-assessment or emergency-planning deficiencies unless they are explicitly linked to the absence or inadequacy of the organised-event oversight framework.
- Excludes regulation of products, vehicles, premises or other activities where an organised public event is not the bounded safety concern.
- Reports
- 7
- Individual concerns
- 12
- Date range
- 2016–2025
- Stated actions
- 5
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised4
Lack of emergency plans for organised open water swimming events
Lack of specific health and safety guidance and compliance requirements for event risk assessments
Lack of regulatory licensing and oversight for organised open water swimming events
Lack of training requirements for open water swimming event organisers
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Continue supporting and liaising with local-authority regulatory partners on enforcement of work-related health and safety legislation.
Stated by Health and Safety Executive
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
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Position
Existing regulations and guidance provide a suitable basis for safe public open water swimming, so HSE will not publish specific guidance.
Stated by Health and Safety Executive
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Position
Enforcement responsibility lies with HSE or the relevant local authority, with local authorities predominantly enforcing work-related health and safety legislation in this area.
Stated by Health and Safety Executive -
Position
An AALA licence is not relevant because the licensing scheme concerns specified tuition for children, not adult swimming events.
Stated by Health and Safety Executive
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Concerns raised1
Absence of mandatory minimum safety and risk-management standards for motocross venues
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
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Position
Responsibility for concerns about a racetrack bike crash lies with DCMS rather than the Department for Transport.
Stated by Department for Transport
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Position
Practice tracks are not legally required to obtain authorisation to operate under the cited regulations.
Stated by Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
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Concerns raised1
Lack of a requirement for a recorded event-specific safety plan at National and Club events
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Require a documented Safety Plan for all ACU-permitted events from the start of the 2025 season.
Stated by Auto Cycle Union Limited
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Concerns raised1
Lack of governing oversight of music festivals
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Write to the Secretary of State supporting a national music-festival oversight body and the availability of national drug-related casualty data.
Stated by Leeds City Council
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
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Position
Approval of event licences and any additional conditions is a matter for local authorities.
Stated by Home Office
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Position
Existing local licensing, enforcement, safety-advisory and industry arrangements provide sufficient oversight, making a governing body unnecessary.
Stated by Festival Republic Limited
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Concerns raised3
Lack of legal powers to require appointment of an Event Organiser
Lack of legal powers to grant or refuse permission for events with significant public safety concerns
Failure to appoint an Event Organiser responsible for whole-event public safety coordination
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Amending the law would not necessarily prevent rare event tragedies, so further legislation is not considered necessary.
Stated by Home Office
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Concerns raised1
Lack of nationally replicated site visits for large events
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of regulation of medical assistance at events
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Consult on whether established year-round event medical providers should be brought within CQC regulation.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care -
Action
Raise concerns with the Care Quality Commission about regulation of private ambulance providers’ event medical care.
Stated by Association of Ambulance Chief Executives
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
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Position
Temporary-event providers remain outside CQC regulation because regulation is ineffective for short events and would impose disproportionate burdens.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
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Position
The Care Quality Commission should address regulatory oversight of private ambulance medical care provided at events.
Stated by Association of Ambulance Chief Executives
Data last updated 7 September 2026