Committee publication · Correspondence · 8 July 2026
Letter from Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State for Policing and Crime, regarding Major events evidence follow-up, 30 June 2026
From: Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Inquiry: Major events
Summary
Minister Sarah Jones responds to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's April evidence session on special police services for major events. She acknowledges a departmental miscommunication about her attendance, then outlines the Home Office's review of whether police forces and taxpayers bear too much of event-related policing costs. The government is consulting stakeholders across sports, events, and venues to examine whether the current cost-sharing framework remains appropriate, with a decision expected by autumn.
Key findings
- The Home Office is reviewing whether the current special police services framework strikes the right balance between costs met by policing/taxpayers and those recovered from event organisers.
- Targeted stakeholder engagement has included the London Marathon Group, Football Association, Lawn Tennis Association, venue operators, and representatives of commercial, not-for-profit, and community-linked events.
- Consultation responses are being reviewed, with consideration of proportionality, consistency, transparency, event footprint definitions, and impacts on non-profit or community-facing events.
- The government is working closely with DCMS and policing partners to understand potential impacts of any changes.
- No final decisions have been taken; a further update is expected by autumn 2026.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Sarah Jones MP, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Home Office, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), London Marathon Group, Football Association, Lawn Tennis Association
Notable line
“… the Home Office is examining whether the current framework continues to strike the right balance between costs met by policing and the taxpayer …”
Key Quotes
“I am concerned that an excessive proportion of event related policing costs is currently being borne by police forces and, ultimately, the taxpayer.”
“We recognise the strength of feeling across the sports and events sector. That is why the Home Office has undertaken targeted engagement with stakeholders across football, wider sport and the events sectors.”
“No final decisions have been taken by government on changes to Special Police Services.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗