Hampshire Constabulary

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Low crime and good atmosphere at Bestival 2010

Press Releases

Published: 17/09/2010

The good natured and responsible behaviour among the vast majority of people at this year’s larger Bestival music festival is being praised by the police.

50,000 people enjoyed four days of live music and entertainment at Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle of Wight between September 9 and September 12, 2010.

Organisations from the island’s Community Safety Partnership, including Hampshire Constabulary, Isle of Wight Council and NHS Isle of Wight worked closely alongside Bestival event organisers and their security staff.

Hampshire Constabulary Isle of Wight Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector Terry Clawson said:  “Months of planning and joint working with event organisers and other agencies go into this operation. Our approach is based on tried and tested principles of neighbourhood policing as the Bestival forms a temporary community, which presents similar challenges to policing any town or village.”

Extra police officers and staff were on duty between Thursday and Monday to provide reassurance and support to event organisers if required.

Uniform police officers from Hampshire Constabulary and other police forces worked at the Bestival campsite entrances to stop supplies of illegal drugs at the event.

There were 36 investigations into the supply of drugs, an increase compared to the 24 investigations at the Bestival in 2009. 79 people were arrested and street bailed for the possession of drugs in 2010, and 71 people received cannabis warnings. The total value of drugs seized for all four days was in the region of £102,000. This was a reduction on the £157,941 seized at the Bestival in 2009. The overall number of drug related crimes fell from 292 in 2009 to 186 in 2010. 52 people were seen by counsellors from the independent drugs treatment charity ‘Cranstoun’ who were part of the police operation to prevent the risks of drugs use at the Bestival.

Inspector Terry Clawson said:  “We’re pleased that crime levels remained low among an audience that was 10 per cent larger than last year. The good atmosphere within the event is as a result of the planning and co-operation that takes place between organisers and partner agencies. Every year we have visitors from other police forces who see Bestival as a real example of good practice in the policing of festivals.”

Security stewards and police carried out joint patrols on the campsites where crime prevention advice and lanyards were given to Bestival goers.


Inspector Clawson said:  “Our crime prevention lanyards again proved popular in response to national warnings about pick pockets at festivals across the UK. Bestival goers visited the police’s campsite office to ask for extra lanyards during the weekend. The numbers of thefts from people reported so far is 13, which is in line with last year’s numbers. Thefts from tents reported so far have risen slightly from 63 in 2009 to 84 in 2010, but these levels are still low when you consider the campsite was at least 20 per cent larger this year."


Inspector Terry Clawson said:  “Joint working between security and police to prevent sexual offences worked well, in particular the use of the Isle of Wight Youth Trust welfare tent where volunteers helped people who felt or were deemed vulnerable. Four people were taken to hospital over the whole of Bestival because of overdoses. This is the same figure as 2009.

“Issues surrounding’ legal highs’ were managed effectively with only one seizure of substances during the event. Police welcome the zero tolerance attitude of Bestival organisers towards ‘legal highs’, which were prohibited at the event again this year, with anyone found in possession being asked to leave if they did not hand over the substances voluntarily. We are pleased that the majority of people appear to have taken notice of the health warnings during fresh national concerns about these substances.”

Inspector Martin Goodall of Hampshire Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit (RPU) said:  “Police are continuing to investigate the fatal road collision near the Bestival production entrance on Mersley Down Road shortly after midnight on Sunday morning. We would like to thank event organisers and security staff for their considerable co-operation and support. We are also grateful to members of the public who assisted with looking after the injured at the collision scene, and those have come forward with information so far.”

For more information about the fatal road traffic collision, go online to: http://www.hampshire.police.uk/Internet/news/releases/Op+Baize+Fresh+appeal+to+trace+witnesses+after+fatal+road+traffic+collision+on+the+Isle+of+Wight.htm

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