Event management
Managing sporting or recreational events requires a lot of planning. Some require a permit.
Obtaining a permit
As a critical part of the risk management process, obtaining the correct permit for your event is essential. In order to understand the process and have all the information at your fingertips, we have developed a kit including all the Police Permit application forms.
Police permit kit
This guide has been prepared to allow people involved in community organisations to conduct their activities legally.
Many organisations require the use of public roads to conduct their activities. To use these roads permits are required by law. The type of permit required is dictated by the nature of the activity proposed.
The following Acts govern the permit type:
- The Public Meetings and Processions Act 1984.
- The Road Traffic Act 1974.
- The Acts Amendment [Events on Roads] Act 1988.
The following agencies are involved in gaining a permit:
- The Western Australian Police Service.
- Main Roads Western Australia (On highways and main roads).
- The Local Government Authority in which the activity is to take place.
What is a permit?
Basically a permit is proof of permission to conduct an activity in a certain place and in a defined time period subject to certain conditions.
The types of permits issued in relation to public roads are:
- A permit to hold a public meeting and/or conduct a procession - Public Meetings and Processions Act 1984.
- A temporary suspension of the Road Traffic Act Regulations - Section 83 Road Traffic Act 1974.
- A road closure - Acts Amendment [Events on Roads] Act 1988.
Why a permit?
Activities that involve physical competition or challenge usually involve a degree of risk.
The risk can be both to the competitor or participant and/or the general public. For example, a cycle race inherently means that cycles and their riders will be travelling at a faster speed and in bigger groups than normal. The risk of an accident is therefore increased and thus the risk of injury to both riders and the general public is increased.
Any form of competition, for example running or cycling, on our roads is not permitted by law. Without use of public roads some of our recreational pursuits and traditional sporting activities such as cycling, foot racing and triathlons would be severely curtailed, if not cancelled.
Permits allow for these roads to be used for these activities and assist the local government and Police in their duties surrounding the protection and care of the general public.
What permit do I require?
There is a basic determinant in deciding what permit is required.
The question to be asked is: are participants in the activity engaging in a “race”, either between themselves or against the clock?
If your answer is no, then:
A permit under the Public Meetings and Procession Act 1984 needs to be applied for.
Examples of when this permit is required are:
- When a pony club wants to present their young riders to a dignitary – in a public place.
- When a BMX Association holding a major competition in their home town, wants to parade all the young competitors and visiting teams along the “main” street of town.
If your answer is yes, then:
Permits under The Road Traffic Act need to be applied for.
If you want to hold an event without having to close the road/s you apply for a Temporary Suspension of the Road Traffic Act under Section 83.
An example of the use of this permit is:
- A running or cycling club holding an event for club members utilising only the extreme left hand side of the road.
If the event you want to hold necessitates that roads must be closed to all traffic you would apply for an order for a road closure under the Road Traffic Act 1974.
An example of the use of this permit is:
- A car or motorbike race where other users would be in extreme danger.
There are many occasions where one event would necessitate a combination of both these permits. That is a suspension of regulations and a road closure.
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