Plans for a safe and trouble-free atmosphere at this year’s V Festival are well under way, say organisers. Acts including The Stone Roses, The Killers, Snow Patrol and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds will take to the stage at Weston Park on 18 and 19 August. There will be 90,000 people at the festival each day – including 85,000 ticket holders of which 75,000 are campers.
The local authority has granted a premise licence for the site to cover the event between August 17 and 20. This means that anyone involved in violence, disorder or any other crime faces immediate ejection from the event; with criminal prosecution.
Officers will be on hand to target known offenders or people linked to crime as they enter the site – ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras, which scan car registration numbers, will be in operation to alert officers to intelligence. The site, including car parks, is also covered by numerous CCTV cameras which will be used to target offenders and anyone acting suspiciously.
Supt Dave Holdway, one of the event commanders, said: “Staffordshire Police has a proven track record in policing the V Festival and other major events in our county. V has earned a national reputation for its trouble-free, low-crime atmosphere and is rightly regarded as one of the UK’s safest festivals. A robust policing plan is drawn up months before the event as part of detailed organisational work with the promoters.
“We want to offer reassurance to residents who live in the locality that we are doing everything we can to minimise disruption and tackle anyone who travels to the area with plans to commit crime or anti-social behaviour.
“Our officers will be onsite working together with colleagues from the organiser, and partners, to ensure the weekend is a safe and enjoyable event for all.”
Dawn Woodhouse, V Festival organiser, added: “The safety of everyone who attends V Festival is of the highest priority for us as organisers, and as a result of our efforts we’re proud to be known as one of the country’s safest festivals. However it’s not just our hard work, we work closely with Staffordshire Police and all the agencies involved in the festival to help us host not only a great weekend, but also a safe one.”
There will be a significant uniformed police presence at Weston Park, with under-cover officers.
Anyone who witnesses crime at the festival can ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or text the information to 60066, prefixing their message with “vfest”. Visit www.staffordshire.police.uk/vfestival
