Latest news with #festivalsafety
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Yahoo
Police issue statement after reports of stolen phones at Kendal Calling
Cumbria Police have issued a statement following reports of stolen phones at Kendal Calling. The festival took place at Lowther Deer Park over the weekend of July 31 to August 4, and celebrated the event's 20th birthday. Headliners included the Courteeners, Fatboy Slim and the Prodigy and the festival was a huge success. But police have since received multiple reports of stolen phones following the weekend. A spokesperson for Cumbria Police said: "Following Kendal Calling Festival on the weekend, Cumbria Police have received multiple reports of mobile phones stolen. READ MORE: "These reports are currently being investigated. "Anyone with any information, or anyone who suspects their phone may have been stolen, is asked to contact police on . You can also call via 101. "Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111." Cumbria Police made 10 arrests over the four-day weekend of Kendal Calling this year. The arrests relate to drugs offences, assaults, driving offences and one for public order.
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
East Lothian toddler 'mauled by dog' in front of horrified families at festival
A toddler was bitten by a dog at an East Lothian festival venue with organisers now issuing advice. The child was with their parents at Fringe By The Sea in North Berwick on Wednesday, before being treated by medics after the incident. Organisers have been in contact with the parents since, and have asked dog owners to keep animals on leads at all time and 'keep them under control'. They've also requested that if a dog is uncomfortable with crowds, young children or other dogs, they are kept away from the venue. The festival runs from August 1 to 10, and provides an alternative to Edinburgh's Fringe. READ MORE: Edinburgh Fringe performer fights back tears as 'a third of her audience walk out' READ MORE: Edinburgh police lock down residential street in ongoing 'incident' From Rory Steel, Director of Fringe By The Sea, told Edinburgh Live: "Our first aid tended to the little girl who was bitten by a dog on Wednesday, and we have been in contact with the parents since. "While we welcome well-behaved dogs to Fringe By The Sea, they must be on leads and under the owner's control at all times. If dogs are uncomfortable with crowds, young children or other dogs, we request that owners do not bring them onto site." Fringe by the Sea dates back to 2008, and 'celebrates the people, businesses and organisations that make East Lothian unique. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Their website states: "In 2024, over 86,000 visitors flocked to Fringe by the Sea over 10 incredible days, making it one of Scotland's most vibrant and diverse festivals. Recognised as the National Winner of the Outstanding Cultural Festival at the 2023 Scottish Thistle Awards, it continues to grow as a must-visit celebration of arts and culture. "Unlike many events that focus solely on headline acts, we embrace all forms of art—from music and comedy to literature, theatre, film, and beyond. Our festival is a celebration of creativity in all its forms." Police Scotland have been approached for comment. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages
BBC News
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Boardmasters sees new area launched as Newquay festival begins
A new area has been set up at Boardmasters where young people can go if they have concerns or need a festival-goers feel like something "is not right" or they have concerns about an incident they can head to Young People Cornwall's centre on Whitegate Road in charity's safe space is open from 10:00 to 14:00 BST each day from Thursday to Monday to provide support for 11 to 25 year Verran, participation manager at the charity, said the trial had been set up following feedback from previous festivals. Ms Verran said the space could be used by young people who wanted to take a break from Boardmasters and talk about any worries they have."As an organisation, we already run support hubs where young people are able to drop in and those operate across the county," she added."So we know having that support at the right time without having to wait or just having someone to check in with to say 'this doesn't feel right' or 'I'm not really sure about this' in that moment can be massively beneficial to young people." Organisers of the festival, which runs until Sunday, and emergency service crews who are manning the site said one of their priorities was to make sure people felt Ben Asprey, from Devon and Cornwall Police, added: "We are committed to ensuring that everyone attending the festival can enjoy themselves in a safe and secure environment."Acts performing at this year's event include Raye, Central Cee, The Prodigy, Nelly Furtado, London Grammar and The Wombats.
BBC News
05-08-2025
- 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.
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."
