Sports Grounds Safety Authority Conference

WHUST was in attendance at this year’s Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) Conference held at Silverstone Racecourse in May.

The keynote presentation was about Martyn’s law (Terrorism Protection of Premises Act 2025) - the new focus on preventing and dealing with terrorism. Crucially this is not just about preventing terrorism but both evacuation and lockdown procedures (sometimes it may be necessary to lock in fans from a terrorist threat outside).

Breakout sessions attended:

New guidance for SAGs and new training for SAG chairs
National Guidance Framework for Safety Advisory Groups (SAGs): Principles, Roles and Practice to be published in September. No fans were consulted because the chair believed fans were already an integral part of SAGs. He was staggered when explained that we weren’t. He promised to raise this matter.

Shaping the new Green Guide
Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds. Informal research is happening now - fans should be involved. The formal consultation will be in 2028 but, in our opinion, that will be too late for fans to start looking at it.

Licensed standing.
49 clubs have safe standing infrastructure with just under 200,000 seats. Feedback from clubs that have implemented it include positive impact on fan behaviour and safer egress, however disabled access seat holders being unable to see over those standing; people move within the railed areas and that has to be tackled.