Whether you are organising a festival, a concert, a sporting fixture, a conference or a large private function, security is one of the things that has to be right. In Ireland it is also regulated: the people doing security work at your event, and the company supplying them, must be licensed, and organisers have obligations of their own.

This guide summarises the main points from the Private Security Authority's information note for event promoters and organisers. It is general information; check the PSA's guidance for your event.

Event security must be licensed

Since 1 November 2022, everyone carrying out security work at an event must hold a PSA licence for event security. Contractors supplying event security have needed a licence since 2014. It is an offence to provide event security without a licence, and it is also an offence for an organiser or promoter to engage an unlicensed contractor or individual.

Stewards are not security

Stewards play an important part at most events, but they are not licensed and they must not carry out security tasks. According to the PSA, stewards can:

  • check tickets and direct people;
  • give safety advice and keep exits and passageways clear;
  • report hazards and observe crowd movement;
  • help with traffic management.

Security tasks, which need licensed staff, include preventing unauthorised entry, removing people from the event, protecting people or property, and searching for or controlling prohibited items.

Stewards cannot be counted towards the number of security staff. And if stewards and security staff look the same, the PSA will treat them all as security staff who need a licence, so security uniforms or bibs must be clearly different.

How many security staff?

The PSA's event security standard sets a general minimum of:

  • one security staff member for every 250 people in permanent seats, stands or terraces; and
  • one for every 100 people in all other areas.

If you plan to use fewer, the security contractor must hold a risk assessment that justifies the lower number, and you must provide it to them. In practice, the right number also depends on the venue layout, the audience, alcohol, the time of day and the programme.

Checks every organiser should make

  1. Ask the security contractor for its PSA licence number and expiry date.
  2. Check the licence on the PSA register, and confirm it covers event security.
  3. If the contractor plans to use a subcontractor, get the subcontractor's licence number and the licence numbers of its staff.
  4. Agree the staffing numbers, positions and duties in writing.
  5. Make sure security staff will wear uniforms or bibs that are clearly different from stewards and venue staff.

Plan early

The number of licensed event security staff is limited, and on busy weekends several large events may be competing for the same people. The PSA warns that this can push contractors towards using unlicensed staff. Book early, especially for large events or dates when other major events are on.

Inspections

PSA inspectors can visit events without notice, and obstructing an inspector is an offence. Breaches can cause serious disruption on the day and can affect future events, so it pays to get the paperwork right in advance.

We provide PSA-licensed event security across Ireland, including event security in Dublin. Tell us about your event and we will plan the staffing with you.