Latest news with #BenjaminBuckfield
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Telegraph
‘Unchecked' drug trade at festival could lead to more deaths, coroner warns
A coroner has highlighted concerns over an 'unchecked, open, and free trade' of drugs at a music festival after a 22-year-old bought MDMA at the event and died. Benjamin Buckfield became the fifth person to die at Boomtown festival since it started when he took four ecstasy pills at the event outside Winchester last year. He collapsed at the festival and was taken to hospital, where he died on Aug 11 'due to the toxic effects of the drugs', an inquest found. Nicholas Walker, area coroner for Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton, called on Boomtown, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Constabulary to take action to prevent more deaths. He noted in his report that Mr Buckfield's friends described that drug dealers would walk through crowds 'every 20 minutes' and they would shout 'the names of the drugs' they were selling. Mr Walker said: 'I heard evidence that illegal drugs were freely available to purchase at the festival. 'I am concerned that an unchecked, open, and free trade in unlawful drugs will create a risk of future deaths.' The coroner was also concerned that Boomtown's policy of confiscating drugs before people enter the festival simply made them want to replace their stash once they got in. He continued: 'I heard evidence that those found bringing unlawful drugs in to Boomtown are not ejected from the site unless they are considered to be carrying quantities that are consistent with being a drug dealer, or they have associated dealer paraphernalia. 'Those who are found in possession of unlawful drugs who are not considered to be dealers have their drugs confiscated and are allowed entry on to site. 'I am concerned that as a consequence there is no disincentive for festival-goers who attempt to take drugs into Boomtown, and that the policy gives rise to a situation where those who have had drugs taken from them will want to replace them.' At the inquest, Mr Buckfield's parents, Georgina and David Buckfield, said the Hampshire festival is a 'dangerous, enabling environment' for young people and 'it's only a matter of time before there's another death'. Mr Walker said in his report that he has 'taken into account' the changes made by the festival and the police force for Boomtown 2025, which is due to kick off on Wednesday. Boomtown, held at Matterley Estate near Winchester, is a festival that is known for incorporating rave culture into its production. The coroner's court previously heard that Mr Buckfield arrived at the festival on Aug 8 with a group of friends from school and university. He was seen taking cocaine, ketamine and drinking alcohol, but his friends said this was not 'out of the ordinary' at a social event. They said you could hear people shouting 'ket (ketamine), coke, pills' every 20 minutes or so in the tent area of the festival. Mr Buckfield had brought some drugs into the festival with him and is believed to have bought some more from vendors in the two days prior to his death. On the Saturday evening he arrived in a crowd with his friends and was 'profusely sweating'. He tried to get out of the crowd and then started suffering from seizures, being put into the recovery position by medics. He was later taken to the festival's medical tent, before being taken off to hospital, where he passed away at 3:45am the next day after repeated attempts to save him. His cause of death was later confirmed as methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) toxicity. The festival and police, who must respond to the report by Sept 26, have been approached for comment.
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Coroner concerned with Boomtown festival's 'open' drug trade
A coroner has highlighted concerns over an "unchecked, open and free trade" of drugs at a festival after the death of a 22-year-old Buckfield died after he took MDMA he had bought at Boomtown festival near Winchester in August last year, an inquest Nicholas Walker has called on Boomtown and Hampshire police to take action to prevent more deaths at the event, which starts on said it would now "work with the police to respond to the coroner's report". The police also acknowledged the concerns in the report and said it would "continue to discuss these with the event organisers before providing a response".The festival and the police must respond to the report by 26 Walker, area coroner for Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton, said he had taken into account the changes made by the festival and the police for Boomtown 2025 before making his comments."I heard evidence that illegal drugs were freely available to purchase at the festival," he said."One of Ben's friends described how dealers would walk through the campsites shouting the names of the drugs they were offering to supply."I was told this took place as regularly as every 20 minutes and that they saw nothing done to try and disrupt this trade."I am concerned that an unchecked, open and free trade in unlawful drugs will create a risk of future deaths."Mr Walker said he had heard evidence that people carrying drugs on the site were only ejected if they were quantities "consistent with being a drug dealer".He said he was concerned about that police adding that there is "no disincentive" for festival-goers who attempt to bring drugs into the event and could "give rise to risk of future death". 'Acknowledge the concerns' More than 60,000 people are expected to attend the sold out event at Matterley Estate in the South Downs National Park, which runs until Chief Constable for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, Tony Rowlinson said: "Public safety is our absolute priority. "We work to national guidance around policing large festivals and events, and do so in close collaboration with key partners, including the event organiser."We acknowledge the concerns raised in the coroner's Prevention of Future Deaths report, and will continue to discuss these with the event organisers before providing a response to the coroner within the required timeframe."As part of our forward planning for this year's event, we had reviewed last year's plans and worked with the organisers to implement measures which strengthen the event partnership's ability to disrupt anyone suspected to be involved in supplying drugs."A Boomtown statement said: "We thank the coroner for his thorough investigation, which highlights the ongoing and very real risks posed by drugs – even where strong harm reduction measures are in place. "We will now work with the police to respond to the coroner's report." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
ITV News
6 days ago
- ITV News
Coroner voices fears over 'open and free trade' of drugs at Boomtown after death of man at festival
A coroner has highlighted concerns over an "unchecked, open and free trade" of drugs at Boomtown after a 22-year-old bought MDMA at the festival and died. Benjamin Buckfield took the drug in powder and pill form at the music event outside Winchester last summer. He collapsed at the festival and was taken to hospital where he died on August 11 "due to the toxic effects of the drugs", an inquest found. A coroner has called on Boomtown and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary to take action to prevent more deaths. Nicholas Walker, area coroner for Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton, said in his report that he has "taken into account" the changes made by the festival and the police force for Boomtown 2025, which is due to kick off on Wednesday. Mr Walker said: "I heard evidence that illegal drugs were freely available to purchase at the festival. "One of Ben's friends described how dealers would walk through the campsites shouting the names of the drugs they were offering to supply. "I was told this took place as regularly as every 20 minutes and that they saw nothing done to try and disrupt this trade. "I am concerned that an unchecked, open and free trade in unlawful drugs will create a risk of future deaths." He continued: "I heard evidence that those found bringing unlawful drugs in to Boomtown are not ejected from the site unless they are considered to be carrying quantities that are consistent with being a drug dealer, or they have associated dealer paraphernalia. "Those who are found in possession of unlawful drugs who are not considered to be dealers have their drugs confiscated and are allowed entry on to site. "I am concerned that as a consequence there is no disincentive for festival-goers who attempt to take drugs in to Boomtown and that the policy gives rise to a situation where those who have had drugs taken from them will want to replace them. "I am concerned that these factors give rise to a demand for, and a market in, the sale of illegal drugs at Boomtown.
The Independent
6 days ago
- The Independent
‘Unchecked free trade' of drugs at Boomtown could lead to more deaths, coroner warns
A coroner has highlighted concerns over an "unchecked, open and free trade" of drugs at a music festival after a a 22-year-old bought MDMA at the festival and died. Benjamin Buckfield, 22, took MDMA at Boomtown last summer, both in powder and pill form. He collapsed at the festival, near Winchester, and was taken to hospital where he died on August 11 "due to the toxic effects of the drugs", an inquest found. Now, a coroner has called on Boomtown and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary to take action to prevent more deaths. Nicholas Walker, area coroner for Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton, said in his report that he has "taken into account" the changes made by the festival and the police force for Boomtown 2025, which is due to kick off on Wednesday. Mr Walker said: "I heard evidence that illegal drugs were freely available to purchase at the festival. "One of Ben's friends described how dealers would walk through the campsites shouting the names of the drugs they were offering to supply. "I was told this took place as regularly as every 20 minutes and that they saw nothing done to try and disrupt this trade. "I am concerned that an unchecked, open and free trade in unlawful drugs will create a risk of future deaths." He continued: "I heard evidence that those found bringing unlawful drugs in to Boomtown are not ejected from the site unless they are considered to be carrying quantities that are consistent with being a drug dealer, or they have associated dealer paraphernalia. "Those who are found in possession of unlawful drugs who are not considered to be dealers have their drugs confiscated and are allowed entry on to site. "I am concerned that as a consequence there is no disincentive for festival-goers who attempt to take drugs in to Boomtown and that the policy gives rise to a situation where those who have had drugs taken from them will want to replace them. "I am concerned that these factors give rise to a demand for, and a market in, the sale of illegal drugs at Boomtown. "I heard evidence from a senior officer of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary who was Gold Commander for Boomtown who also expressed a concerned about this policy. "I am concerned that this, combined, with the first concern, give rise to risk of future death." The festival and police, who must respond to the report by September 26, have been approached for comment.
