Safety of Sports Grounds

'Sport Matters: The Northern Ireland Strategy for Sport and Physical Recreation, 2009-2019' commits Government to ensuring that spectator provision at major sports stadiums  in Northern Ireland meets legislative requirements in terms of safety, accessibility and comfort. DCAL with the support of a range of stakeholders, is  taking forward a Safety of Sports Grounds initiative which is designed to encourage and assist venue owners in enhancing safety and spectator management arrangements at larger sports grounds.

The primary legislation governing spectator safety at major stadiums in Northern Ireland is the Safety of Sports Grounds (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.  

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/2006/313/contents

There is also a range of Northern Ireland Statutory Rules on safety of sports grounds dealing with related areas of commencement ,www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2009/287/contents/made  

designation www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2009/295/contents/made

and fees and appeals www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2009/289/contents/made

DCAL has published a guide to safety at sports grounds, entitled "The Northern Ireland Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds" (commonly known as "the Red Guide").  This is available to buy from The Stationery Office  www.tsoshop.co.uk. This link opens a new window to the Stationery Office website.  

The Safety of Sports Gounds Order, Statutory Rules and the Red Guide are complemented by related public order laws in Part 4 of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2011/24/contents

On-going advice and guidance on sports grounds safety matters is available from Sport Northern Ireland (SNI) which is responsible for discharging overseeing functions in respect to safety at sports grounds. Requests for advice and guidance can be directed to Sport Northern Ireland at e-mail: safetyofsportsgrounds@sportni.net   Tel: 02890 383842. Sport Northern Ireland is also responsible for the distribution of any available funding for safety at sports grounds.

DCAL has produced the attached general information on the Safety of Sports Grounds (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.  safety_at_sports_grounds_-_general_information_2_-_clubs_and_governing_bodies.doc The Department of Justice (DOJ) has also published guidance for sports authorities and bus companies on Part 4 of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. These may be accessed on the DOJ website at http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/publications/publication-categories/pubs-legislation/justice-act-_ni_-2011-sports-provisions-guidance-for-sports-authorities.pdf  and http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/publications/publication-categories/pubs-legislation/justice-act-_ni_-2011-alcohol-on-buses-to-sports-events-guidence-for-bus-operators.pdf

In accordance with its guidance making powers under Article 13(7) and Article 22(2) of the Safety of Sports Grounds (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, DCAL routinely issues Information Circulars to District Councils in respect to sports grounds safety matters. Links to DCAL circulars are attached below.