Safety Advisory Group (SAG)

The Oxford City Safety Advisory Group (SAG) plays a crucial role in advising individuals and organisations planning public events, ranging from fun runs to major public gatherings.

Our advice is in addition to any legal requirements and government guidance. While the recommendations from Oxford City SAG are advisory, event organisers are responsible for ensuring their events are conducted safely. However, individual Oxford City SAG members possess legal powers over specific aspects of events, such as noise control and traffic management.

The core members of Oxford City SAG include officers from emergency services (police, fire and rescue service, and the ambulance NHS trust) and council services (highways, traffic management, building control, environmental health, and licensing) operating in Oxford.

The Group meets at regular intervals throughout the year.

Main objectives of the Oxford City SAG

Key objectives of the Oxford City SAG include:

• advising on safety and welfare at events to promote high standards
• encouraging good practice in safety and welfare planning for events
• minimising adverse impacts of events
• ensuring events with licensable activities have the necessary permissions
• guiding event organisers on event controls and risk assessments

Examples of relevant events

Events typically requiring Oxford City SAG input include:

• outdoor concerts and music festivals
• trade shows
• sporting events
• horse shows, agricultural shows, dog shows, car shows, caravan shows, and similar
• outdoor entertainment, including theatre, opera, and historical re-enactments
• firework displays
• large company parties
• processions, marches, and carnivals
• religious events

In exceptional cases, the Oxford City SAG may consider indoor events with unusual hazards or risks.

Download the Oxford City SAG constitution and guidelines

For more information about events on Council-owned land and organising an event, visit our events pages.