No extra police at 10/11 UK festivals this summer

Only one out of the 11 constabularies tasked with policing major British music festivals have increased their presences at this summer’s events, despite warnings they could be terror targets.

Neil Basu, deputy assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan police, said late last month that his force is on “high alert” for potential attacks at large public events this summer, and warned that large concerts and festivals, “where you put a small town into a small area for a couple of hours”, are “right at the top of the agenda”.

An investigation by Sky News’s Lucy Cotter revealed that Cambridgeshire constabulary, which will police the Secret Garden Party near Huntington, is the only police force confirmed to be beefing up the number of officers on duty. The force also revealed that it has sought advice from “counter-terrorism security advisors in relation to the event and the policing of it”.

Cambridgeshire constabulary, which will police the Secret Garden Party near Huntington, is the only police force confirmed to be beefing up the number of officers on duty

Hampshire constabulary declined to comment on the number of police who would be at Bestival and the Isle of Wight Festival, but said it was working together with promoters and local authorities to “prepare for a range of scenarios, including terrorist-related acts”.

Writing for IQ, Ian Carr of Intermedix said earlier this month that many event organisers and venue owners in the UK are unprepared for a major disaster like a terrorist attack, with some still using an archaic “‘post-it note and courier’ system to communicate with key internal and external audiences during emergencies”.

 

---

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.