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BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Anti-social incidents down and 'no spiking' at Boardmasters
Anti-social behaviour was "significantly" down at the Boardmasters music festival this year and there were no confirmed spiking incidents, according to said police had confirmed drug-related medical incidents were also down with no festival-goers hospitalised across the five-day festival said it was "encouraging" that sexual assaults were down but "even one incident is too many". Boardmasters CEO Andrew Topham said the figures proved organisers and welfare partners were "making a real difference" and were "committed to creating a space where everyone, of all ages, can enjoy the festival safely". A spokesperson said there were 14 suspected spiking incidents this year compared to 55 in 2024 but nobody had tested positive to having drugs in their system over the past two said 1.79% of Boardmasters' 58,000 attendees were seen by its on-site medical centres, compared to 2.65% last figures come after a difficult year for organisers in 2025 with a series of incidents, including a crowd surge.
BBC News
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Boardmasters team unveil enhanced safety measures
The organisers of this year's Boardmasters festival have unveiled safety improvements after seven people were taken to hospital following a crowd surge at last year's also investigated allegations of a sexual assault at the 2024 five-day music and surfing festival, which is set to feature The Prodigy, Raye and rapper Central Cee, will be held in Newquay from Wednesday to founder and CEO Andrew Topham said the team "remain saddened by the isolated incident in 2024". He added: "Delivering a safe and well-organised festival is our highest priority."Mr Topham said the team had spent months planning this year's event alongside Devon and Cornwall Police, Cornwall Council and other authorities to ensure the event "meets the highest standards". Crowd management Festival-goers will see enhanced 24/7 security, more high viz patrols both day and night, more search lanes to keep queues moving and 24-hour would also be a renewed focus on the cultural heritage of the event which started in 1981 as an international surfing Topham said the management team included crowd management had also been made to the layout and signage at the festival as well as the confidential welfare provision, Mr Topham main arena and campsite medical points would be staffed around the clock to reduce pressure on local services, organisers said. 'Welfare team' Ashley Mann, from the South Western Ambulance Service, said: "Enhanced safety measures mean our crews will be ready to respond quickly and effectively should the need arise, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone attending."Boardmasters safeguarding lead Dawn Grant said young people often picked the event as their first festival experience."We want their experience to be a positive one," she said. "We have a robust safeguarding framework in place at the festival, including a welfare team with extensive experience of supporting young people and a dedicated safeguarding team consisting of trained safeguarding officers accessible via any service on-site."
