Concert promoters to pay more for policing

THE Government is to force organisers of events such as this weekend’s U2 concerts to pay more towards policing costs.

At present, organisers of major sporting events and concerts pay only for gardaí deployed inside the event location. The State meets the cost of the gardaí on patrol outside.

But the forthcoming Garda Bill provides for a new statutory basis for the Garda Commissioner to charge for all services for such events.