Prior to holding a major event on the Premises Sixfields Stadium shall agree an event plan with Northamptonshire Police. Sixfields Stadium will ensure compliance with such an agreed event plan during the event in question.
Definition of a major event: “An event which has the potential for significant public nuisance to the wider community, increased risk of crime and disorder and carries a risk to public safety”
For each major event an Event Safety Plan (ESP) will be produced prior to the event. This plan will contain details relevant to the event with regards to the health and safety arrangements in place ie:
Venue plan, identifying all site services and access points, location of event and areas that sell alcohol.
Management Structure
A contact sheet, including emergency contacts, on-duty staff etc
Nature and styles of the event including crowd profile
Capacity and expected attendance
Event program - this will include how the show is stopped if there is a problem within the crowd.
Crowd Management including security and stewarding plan indicating skill base and distribution of staff. Any reduction in the stewarding numbers following the event plan being published and or the event has started will only be with the consent of the police
Emergency evacuation plan
Extreme weather plan
Fire risk assessment
Risk Assessments
Emergency procedures
Medical plan
Traffic Management
Welfare and sanitation plan
Entry, search and eviction policy
Alcohol and drugs policy
Lost child procedure
The ESP is a work in progress document and will be updated regularly right up to and including the event. The plan will be available on request.
For major events, local Council licensing officers and Northamptonshire Police will be given earliest notification of any major event. Where possible this will be 3 months notice. The major incident plan will be submitted to Northants Police 3 months prior to the event.
Prior to any major event there will be a planning meeting held. Crowd safety, medical arrangements and emergency procedures are discussed. Minutes of these meetings are available to the emergency services and the local authorities on request.
Door Supervisors, Security and Stewarding
During events, there are SIA registered door staff located at each of the gates and where licensable activities are taking place. The number and location of these personnel is based on crowd numbers, activity areas and crowd profile.
All those who enter the estate have to pass through security. If there are any problems, security would be available to rapidly attend any incident to deal with the situation, or where applicable detain any person until the police arrive.
For major events Sixfields Stadium will provide a comprehensive security and stewarding plan detailing numbers of trained, SIA trained and competent security staff to manage public safety/order/drug/security/licensing/traffic issues/ejection.
The plan will also include supervision and management arrangements in respect of the SIA licensed security staff in licensed areas. This plan shall be agreed with the Northants Police.
Sixfields Stadium will appoint a Head of Security to be responsible for the effective security and stewarding of the event for licensed events. This person will be SIA trained.
SIA licensed security staff duties shall include:
•Extraction of injured/distressed persons from any barrier arrangement or other part of the licensed area.
•Initially dealing with any incident of alleged or witnessed child abuse and lost or stranded children or young persons within the licensed area.
•Ensuring security at entrances or exits.
•Carrying out fire patrols and extinguishing small fires as per the requirements of the fire risk assessment.
•Controlling vehicle parking and marshalling traffic/pedestrians.
•Investigate immediately any disturbance or incident, and take such action as deemed necessary.
•Undertake checks/searches for offensive weapons and illegal substances on entry, in accordance with the venues policies of zero tolerance and stop and search. Any illegal drugs or offensive weapons will be logged and taken to a secure location together with the alleged offender. There will be honesty boxes and public will first get the opportunity to dispose of any illegal substances or offensive weapons in that way first.
•Undertake patrols to deal with the unauthorised sale of alcohol within the licensed area. These guards will also be SIA trained.
• SIA registered security will carry out effective management of any disorder and/or public order issue by attempting to calm the situation down or by deployment of SIA trained staff to assist in breaking the situation up and removing the main sources of aggravation.
All stewards will be at least 18 years of age and shall wear high visibility work wear and shall be easily identifiable.
The Head of Security and the Sixfields Stadium Duty Manager will ensure that a senior supervisor is positioned adjacent to the performance stage for the entire duration of any live entertainment with the power to require the performer(s) to stop their performance forthwith. The performer or their representative shall be briefed on this requirement prior to the performance.
SIA licensed security staff shall receive suitable and sufficient training so they can efficiently and effectively ensure that public order/safety, including fire safety, is maintained so far as is reasonably practicable. These personnel shall be disciplined and be able to respond to volatile situations and be further trained in the extraction of persons from dense crowds.
SIA licensed security staff whose duties include the security and supervision of those areas of the venue that include access/exit gates, bars or the ejection of any individual from within the venue shall hold a Door Supervisors license issued by the SIA.
Any serious disturbance or other emergency within the licensed area, which cannot be dealt with by the Head of Security and SIA trained staff shall be reported at once to the Police.
At the request of a police officer of rank not less than inspector where it appears to him that the sale or supply of intoxicating liquor within the grounds is detrimental to the orderly conduct or safety of spectators, the licensees will agree not to open specified licensed areas at specified events at specified times.
Sufficient car parking Stewards will be available to supervise on site car/coach parking in order that all access roads within the licensed area are kept clear at all times.
CCTV and Communication
CCTV will be installed at the premises. This will be in accordance with an Operational Requirement Assessment made in consultation with Northamptonshire Police
We will put up notices advising that CCTV is installed on the premises so that they are clearly visible to the public within the Licensed Premises.
The CCTV data will be kept for at least 31 days following any licensable activity.
Security staff and Sixfields Stadium staff have radio communication at all times in all parts of the venue communications and all operators shall be competent in radio procedure. They also have mobile phone and landline phones available at all times.
Bottles and Glasses
For events that do not carry a degree of risk, glassware is provided but only in hospitality areas and never outside.
We discourage any consumption from glass bottles and where they are used, they are retained or disposed of within the premises.
No customers are admitted or permitted to leave the hospitality areas when carrying open or sealed bottles or glasses.
For outdoor bar units plastic cups are used to minimise any potential risk from possible broken glass.
For hospitality areas located within the main public concert areas then glass receptacles are not permitted.
Persons entering the large concert areas will not be permitted to bring any glass in to that area and a stop and search procedure is operated in that area.
Persons shall be prevented from leaving the premises with alcohol supplied in open containers.
Capacity Limits
We will ensure that the maximum occupancy of the Licensed Premises is agreed with Northamptonshire Police for every major event. Any promoter will also strictly adhere to this figure when the venue is hired out.
For all large events there will be additional toilets brought in to or near that area.
Sixfields Stadium will ensure that the maximum audience within the perimeter fence of the site at no times exceeds the agreed capacity.
Proof of Age Cards
All staff shall be aware of the law regarding the refusal of service to any person who is drunk or is underage. We ensure that any person selling or supplying alcoholic drinks under the authority of the personal license holder asks for photo ID proof of age where they have reason to suspect that the individual may be under the age of 21 years of age. Only photographic based forms of identification will be accepted as proof of age in respect of age restricted sales. These must be accredited to the PASS scheme or subsequent equivalent or passport, HM Forces ID card, driving license, national ID card.
As all events are ticketed, children under the age of 16 will be accompanied by adults.
Drinks Promotion
We do not promote any 2 for 1 or similar promotions or have any "Happy Hour" promotions on site.
Alcoholic drinks shall not be supplied in such a way that will enable persons to consume unlimited quantities of alcoholic drinks on payment of a single payment.
Prohibited Substances
Sixfields Stadium has a public Drugs policy that will deal with any drug related issues at the event.
The policy will reflect a zero tolerance to the criminal use of controlled drugs and drug related crime and will include all areas of the event.
There will be a positive intervention using a range of tactics, such as covert and overt patrols.
SIA staff will be trained in respect of drug recognition and effects in individuals and in dealing with drug related offences/incidents.
Prior to actually entering through the gates into the premises, ticket holders may be subject to a “stop and search” policy that will be implemented by SIA Licensed Door Supervisors.
Based on the crowd profile for a licensed event Sixfields Stadium will provide “honesty boxes” on the approach to the main entrance that will offer individuals the opportunity to voluntarily surrender any illegal substance they may be carrying. Sixfields Stadium will make the necessary arrangements to transfer the contents of the “honesty boxes” to the Police as per an agreed protocol.
Notices
We will ensure that any public information about crime and disorder issued are displayed at the request of the Local Authority or Northamptonshire Police
Sixfields Stadium will facilitate crime reduction initiatives as proposed by the police
Prohibited Items
No person in possession of a ticket or a pass will be allowed to bring inside the perimeter fence the following items:
•Personal fireworks/pyrotechnics/Class 1 laser equipment (pens).
•Offensive weapons.
Illegal Drugs
No animals shall be admitted unless they are “guide/assistance” dogs or dogs used by the Head of Security or any police dog searches.
The public’s safety is the priority of the venue and as such we abide by Health & Safety legislation specifically related to Venues and Events as a minimum. Sixfields Stadium employs a full time Health and Safety Manager.
The emergency services are notified about the events and if applicable as identified as part of a risk assessment attend in order to maintain public safety as a priority.
Risk assessments are carried out to ensure the safety of the public and to ensure that staff and contractors are operating in a safe way. The venue’s representatives also have regular contact with the emergency services/ Local Authority in order to review any structure and fire procedures to ensure that all safety is constantly reviewed and checked.
Additionally the prevention methods on the original methods are still applicable:
Escape Routes
We will ensure that escape routes and exits, including external exits, are maintained to ensure that are not obstructed, in good order, non-slippery and even surfaces, free of trip hazards and clearly defined. Health and Safety staff are on call 24 hours a day during all events and there is always a Sixfield Stadium duty manager on site during any event.
We ensure where chairs and tables are provided internal gangways are kept unobstructed.
We ensure that all edges of the treads of steps and stairways are maintained so as to be conspicuous.
Where events are outside we will ensure that no vehicles block the entrances/exits to the concert sites. We will also ensure that there is access at all times to all areas for emergency vehicles.
There will be a 'blue route' so that emergency vehicles can access all parts of the venue. On arrival at the venue any emergency vehicle will be escorted to the required location.
Safety Checks
Safety checks are carried out by the Sixfield Stadium Duty Manager and also the event Health and Safety staff before admission to the public, member or guests to ensure that the building/structure and anything installed for the function, present no hazard.
Fire Action Notices
The event and Safety staff ensure that in all buildings/structures that there are notices dealing the action to be taken in event of fire or other emergencies prominently displayed and protected from damage and deterioration.
Outbreaks of Fire
All the large hospitality structures on site have a fire risk assessment carried out on an annual basis. All permanent buildings are fitted with a fire alarm and automatic fire detection where identified as part of a fire risk assessment for raising the alarm.
Access for Emergency Vehicles
An emergency access route will be identified for all licensable events and this will be included in the ESP. Access for Emergency Vehicles is kept clear and free from obstruction.
Disabled People
We ensure that when disabled people are present, adequate arrangements exist to enable a safe evacuation in the event of an emergency and that patrons are made aware of these arrangements. In the concert areas there will be a separate viewing area set aside for wheelchair guests.
First Aid
For our large scale events there will be a medical plan in place. This is completed prior to the event by Sixfield Stadium medical and safety staff. Any medical team will be located across the venue and in particular higher risk areas ie where there are large numbers of the public ie the concert areas and where quick access/egress could be difficult.
Lighting
In the absence of adequate daylight we ensure that lighting in any area is accessible to the public and fully operational.
Floodlights cover the main internal areas of the event arena and car parking facilities. If there is concern about safety i.e. the event runs in to the hours of darkness then additional lighting will be bought in to make sure that people can move around the venue safely and return to either the campsites or their vehicle.
Any fire safety signs will be adequately illuminated and that where applicable emergency lighting is checked before admission to the public.
Traffic Management
Due to the size and design of the venue Sixfields Stadium will prepare and implement a comprehensive traffic management plan that addresses the following when the expected attendance for a licensable activity exceeds 10,000:
•Access, egress and parking of public vehicles to the site
•Use and management of public transport, including taxis and coaches
•Pedestrian access and egress
•Emergency access route, both on and off site (blue route)
•All road closures / temporary traffic lights / signage / etc.
•Footpath and bridle path closures
•Stewarding and Marshalling arrangements
•Arrangements for the management of vehicles such as visitors, artists, staff, local residents
•Contingency arrangements e.g. breakdowns
The contents of the Traffic Management Plan shall be agreed with the Police prior to the event and any changes to the plan made following it's submission to the Police shall be agreed with them.
Litter and Waste
Sixfield Stadium Staff take responsibility for the disposal of waste around the premises and make provision for the emptying of litterbins and removal of all waste. The car parks and exterior land is also regularly checked to make sure litter is not an issue in these areas.
The venue has a lost child procedure that is followed at public events in order to maintain the safety of children and vulnerable people on site. This procedure has been devised in conjunction with the emergency services and best practice. Additionally the staff who look after lost children are all CRB checked. All security staff in licensed areas are CRB checked to the SIA requirement and hold SIA badges.
Additionally the venue has secure fencing around it's perimeter which enables security to respond immediately should a child become separate from it's family.
Access of Children to areas licensed for the sale of alcohol
We will require that children under the age of 16 are accompanied by adults. Unaccompanied children under the age of 16 will not be allowed in the bar areas.
Under no circumstances will children have access to any adult entertainment on site. Where there is any doubt, proof of age will be required for such entertainment.