Regulation of Safety certificate - sports grounds
Licence summary
Under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975, if you operate a
sports ground in England, that holds more than 5,000 for
football or 10,000 spectators for other sports, you may be required
to hold a safety certificate.
A sports ground is defined as a place where sports or other
competitive activities take place in the open air, and where
accommodation is provided for spectators including artificial
structures, or natural structures artificially modified.
A safety certificate may be either:
- a general safety certificate issued for the use of a sports
ground for a specified activity, or activities, during an
indefinite period
- a special safety certificate for the use of a sports ground for
a specified activity or activities on a specified occasion or
occasions
Safety certificates are obtained from the local authority in
which the sports ground is located. You must comply with any terms
or conditions attached to a certificate. These legislative
provisions do not apply to indoor arenas, however, a sports ground
with a retractable roof that is open for some sport being played
will fall under the definition of a sports ground.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for a safety certificate, you must be likely to
be in a position to prevent contravention of the terms and
conditions of a certificate.
Regulation summary
Safety of Sports Ground Certificates are issued under
The Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 (as amended) and
Safety of
Sports Grounds Regulations 1987.
Application evaluation process
Applicants must provide requested information and plans
to us within the time specified. If the applicant fails to
provide the requested information within the specified time the
application will be deemed to have been withdrawn.
We will consider if the applicant is in a position to
prevent any breach of the terms and conditions of a
certificate.
We, as the local authority must send a copy of an application
for a safety certificate to the chief police officer of the area,
the fire and rescue authority if they are not that authority and
the building authority if they are not that authority in England
and Wales.
If an application is made to transfer a certificate, the local
authority must determine if the person to whom the certificate is
to be transferred would qualify for the issue of a certificate. The
applicant may be the current holder of the certificate or the
person to whom the certificate is to be transferred.
The local authority must send a copy of a transfer application
to the chief police officer of the area, the fire and rescue
authority if they are not that authority and the building authority
if they are not that authority in England and Wales. They
shall consult them about any proposed amendment, replacement or
transfer.
Plans and attached documents submitted by the applicant should
be clear and legible in all material respects, capable of being
read, reproduced in written form and used for subsequent reference
by our inspectors and responsible authorities. Where this is not
the case the applicant / agent will be contacted to resubmit the
plans.
Apply for a safety certificate
Telephone or email us to ask for an application form. You should
be able to apply for the following certificates online in early
2010:
Application to certify a regulated stand at a sports
ground.
Application to change a safety certificate for a regulated stand at
a sports ground.
Tacit consent
No, due to reasons of public safety. It is in the public
interest that the authority must process your application before it
can be granted. If you have not heard from this authority within a
reasonable period, please contact us on the details provided.
Licence holder redress
Any Certificate holder who wishes to appeal against a condition
attached to, or the omission of anything from, their safety
certificate, or against the refusal to amend or replace a safety
certificate, or the service of a prohibition notice may appeal to
the Magistrates court. They may also appeal to the county court
against an order of the Magistrate's court.
Consumer complaint
We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the
first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the
form of a letter (with proof of delivery). if that has not worked,
if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give
you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.
Other redress
Any person (interested party) concerned in ensuring compliance
with the terms and conditions of the safety certificate may appeal
to the Magistrate's court against any condition attached to, or the
omission of anything from, a safety certificate, or against the
refusal to amend or replace a safety certificate.
Trade associations
Federation of Sports and Play
Associations (FSPA).