Birmingham Event Security Plan Requirements
Birmingham, England requires organisers of large public events to submit thorough safety and security plans to local authorities and partners early in the planning process. This guide summarises municipal expectations for security planning, the enforcing departments, typical application routes and practical steps organisers must follow to reduce risk, co-ordinate with the Events Safety Advisory Group and meet licensing duties. Use this as a checklist alongside the official council guidance and national permitting rules when planning crowd management, stewarding, licensed activity and on-site security services.[1]
Security plan essentials
Large events should produce a security plan that is scalable to crowd size and venue layout, and that interfaces with stewarding, medical provision, policing, transport and venue operations. Key components include:
- Risk assessment and control measures identifying likely hazards and mitigations.
- Stewarding and crowd-management strategy, including training levels and deployment plans.
- Security staffing details, including SIA-licensed personnel where private security guards will perform licensable activity.
- Timings, ingress/egress routes, and contingency timings for phased arrival or dispersal.
- Site layout, fencing, barriers, and any temporary works or structures.
- Communications plan covering radio, incident reporting and liaison with emergency services.
- Incident management plan, including roles, escalation, evacuation routes and muster points.
Coordination and advisory bodies
Large events will be reviewed by the council and partner agencies via an Events Safety Advisory Group (ESAG) or similar forum to co-ordinate policing, licensing, highways and emergency services. Expect requests for written plans, meetings and operational amendments before approval or licensing decisions.
Penalties & Enforcement
Enforcement is typically led by Birmingham City Council departments (licensing, environmental health, events safety) in coordination with West Midlands Police and other partners. The council reviews compliance with licence conditions, public-safety requirements and any planning or highways permissions. Where a statutory licence is required but not in place, enforcement action may follow.
- Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page.
- Escalation: first, repeat and continuing offence ranges are not specified on the cited page.
- Non-monetary sanctions: orders to stop an activity, suspension of licences, seizure of equipment and court prosecutions may be used.
- Enforcers and inspections: Birmingham City Council licensing and environmental health teams, plus West Midlands Police for public-safety enforcement and advice.
- Appeals and reviews: appeal routes depend on the statutory regime applied to the licence or enforcement notice; specific time limits are not specified on the cited page.
- Defences and discretion: defences such as "reasonable excuse" or reliance on a licence/permit may apply where set out in the controlling legislation or licence conditions; specifics are not specified on the cited page.
Applications & Forms
Common application routes and documents for events include:
- Premises Licence (Licensing Act 2003) for regulated entertainment, sale of alcohol or late-night refreshment where applicable; local application forms and process are managed by Birmingham City Council, and specific local forms or fee schedules may be published on the council site (not specified on the cited page).
- Temporary Event Notice (TEN) for short, small-scale licensable activities — apply via the national GOV.UK process for TENs and local notification to the council.[2]
- Event safety plan templates or ESAG notification forms where required by the council; specific form names, fees and submission deadlines may be published by the council and are not specified on the cited page.
Practical action steps
- Start planning and submit initial event notification to the council and ESAG as early as possible.
- Prepare a documented security plan and risk assessment and share with licensing, police and medical providers before the first planning meeting.
- Confirm licence requirements (premises licence or TEN) and pay any required fees through the council or GOV.UK route.
- Book SIA-licensed security where appropriate and ensure steward training records are available for inspection.
- Maintain an incident log and post-event report to feed into continuous improvement and any follow-up with the council.
FAQ
- Do all large public events need a security plan?
- Yes, organisers should produce a proportionate security plan; larger or higher-risk events will be required to provide detailed plans to the council and partners.
- Who reviews my security plan?
- The council-led Events Safety Advisory Group, licensing officers and partner agencies such as the police and environmental health will review plans.
- Can I use private security firms?
- Yes; where private security performs licensable activities you must use SIA-licensed staff and document their roles and numbers in your plan.
How-To
- Confirm event scope, estimated attendance and site layout, and identify licensable activities.
- Prepare a proportionate security plan, stewarding plan and risk assessment addressing crowd control and emergencies.
- Notify Birmingham City Council and submit any required licence applications or TENs within statutory deadlines.
- Engage with the Events Safety Advisory Group and provide requested documentation for review.
- Implement agreed control measures, train staff and maintain communications with on-site partners on event day.
- Submit post-event reports and remedy any compliance issues identified by inspectors.
Key Takeaways
- Start security planning early and share plans with the council and police.
- Verify whether you need a Premises Licence or a Temporary Event Notice and apply in good time.
- Document stewarding, SIA security and incident procedures for inspection.
Help and Support / Resources
- Birmingham City Council - Events and festivals
- Birmingham City Council - Licensing
- West Midlands Police - Events safety advice