Hackney has experienced a significant rise in Temporary Event Notices (TENs) being issued, reporting the second-highest number in London, trailing only Westminster. This surge in TENs reflects a trend of stabilising numbers since the end of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
The findings were detailed in an annual performance report for the Noise Service presented to Hackney's Corporate Committee on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, covering the period from January to December 2025. The report, titled 'Corporate Committee Annual Performance Report of the Noise Service 2025', can be found here.
According to the report, a total of 1,932 temporary event notices were received during 2025. TENs are seen as a barometer of activity, with their numbers generally mirroring the level of activity in the night-time economy.
Legislative changes have expanded the scope for objections to TENs, allowing environmental health services, in addition to the police, to raise concerns based on licensing objectives such as the prevention of public nuisance. However, the legislation is described as permissive for premises users, with rigid timescales for response that can lead to automatic acknowledgement if not met.
For a Standard TEN, 10 working days' notice is required before the event. For a Late TEN, a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 9 working days' notice is required. The consequence of not meeting these timescales is the automatic acknowledgement of the TEN, meaning the council loses the opportunity to object.
To manage the volume of TENs, Hackney has dedicated an officer within Environmental Protection to assess which notices warrant objection. This assessment involves researching the past history of the premises' user and the premises itself to identify any risks. The dedicated TENs officer targets TENs that stand out due to risk, enforcement issues, evidence, or historical problems. Potential events requiring attention from a noise or anti-social behaviour (ASB) perspective are also flagged by the Intelligence Hub and scrutinised at weekly tasking meetings.
The Corporate Committee noted the contents of the annual performance report for the Noise Service. The committee's agenda frontsheet for the meeting can be found here.
