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Unlicensed Music Event

Public Order Public Safety — Authorised Professional Practice

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Summary

This page provides guidance for police forces on responding to unlicensed music events (UMEs) to ensure a consistent approach across the UK. It emphasizes the importance of referring to the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) Unlicensed Music Event and Rave Operational Advice, which outlines strategic considerations and operational tactics. The document may include recommendations on planning, community engagement, and intelligence gathering to manage potential public order incidents effectively. Officers are encouraged to assess risks and engage with local communities to mitigate issues arising from UMEs.

Key principles

  • 1Ensure a consistent approach when responding to UMEs.
  • 2Refer to NPCC operational guidance for best practices.
  • 3Focus on community engagement and effective planning.
  • 4Assess risks associated with unlicensed events.

This is a brief, factual summary. The full APP guidance — including operational detail, statutory references and case studies — lives on the College of Policing website. APP is the authoritative source for UK policing practice.

Read the full APP guidance

Source: College of Policing — Authorised Professional Practice · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-27.