Police recover €7.6 million from concerts and sporting events
In Ireland, the cost of policing various events is shouldered by the organisers of these gatherings. This arrangement is based on the discretionary charges for "Special Police Services" (SPS) requested by event organisers. These charges cover roles beyond general duty, such as crime prevention, traffic regulation related to the event, emergency response coordination, and maintaining order at commercially organised events.
According to recent data, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) paid €296,997 for various rugby games. Aiken Promotions, known for organising Garth Brooks' concerts, paid €731,047 for policing duties at their events last year, including €380,000 for policing duties at Garth Brooks' concerts at Croke Park last September.
Music festivals also contribute significantly to these costs. For instance, All Together Now festival in Waterford paid €117,000 for policing duties, while Festival Republic paid €349,000 for policing services at Electric Picnic in September. MCD, another major player in the event organising scene, paid approximately one-sixth of the total, €1.23m, for garda assistance over the past year. This amount includes around €80,000 for concerts at Croke Park and the Aviva, €207,000 for the Harry Styles concert at Slane Castle last month, and €254,000 for the Longitude Festival in Dublin's Marlay Park last July.
The Irish Open Golf tournament at Mount Juliet paid €147,000 for policing services, and the GAA paid €35,000 for the All-Ireland football final between Kerry and Galway last July. Mar-Train Heavy Haulage paid €1,132,000 for policing duties.
It's worth noting that while event organisers bear the cost of policing inside events, duties outside an event like traffic control, beat patrol, and other public policing are usually paid from Garda funds. At some specific larger events, Gardaí seek a contribution from the promoters to overall policing costs.
However, detailed information on the largest paying event organisers in Ireland is not readily available. This lack of transparency has led to some controversy, as the high hourly rates for officers compared to other festival or event staff are often a point of contention.
This system of policing costs for events closely aligns with similar arrangements in the UK under Section 25 of the Police Act 1996, influencing policing cost structures in Ireland. Yet, further transparency regarding the top paying event organisers in Ireland could provide a clearer understanding of this financial aspect of Ireland's event industry.
References:
[1] Source 1 [2] Source 2
Sports events, such as concerts organized by Aiken Promotions and music festivals like All Together Now and Electric Picnic, contribute significantly to the costs of policing in Ireland. For instance, Aiken Promotions paid €731,047 last year, including charges for Garth Brooks' concerts, while All Together Now festival paid €117,000 and Festival Republic paid €349,000 for policing duties at their events. Similarly, the Irish Open Golf tournament at Mount Juliet paid €147,000 for policing services.
