How to Tackle Reading Festival Crime

One of the first major tasks facing Reading's new police chief will be darkness time commander at the Reading Festival next month.
Superintendent Stuart Greenfield said: “Last year saw an escalation in violence on the Sunday night where too many people had drink too much, they were lighting fires which presented a very real safety risk to other campers on that site.
“Most people go to the site and are there purely to see the music for a good time – 95 per cent, it’s the small minority.
“However the issues that presented themselves last year on the Sunday darkness quite significant and presented a real risk to public safety, to the other festival-goers, staff on the site, to my officers and to the fire service.
“We can’t ignore that and have worked very hard in the planning stages for this year’s festival with the organisers themselves, Festival Republic and partners in the community safety team and licensing at the council.

Supt Greenfield added: “This year, for me, is about having a more proactive response.
“I want my officers to be engaged with the festival-goers selling crime prevention messages.
“It’s a test year almost, a lot more policing, a lot more stewards, we will watch what effect that has and that will dictate our resourcing coming year.”

Reading Festival Tackling Crime

One of the first major tasks facing Reading's new police chief will be night time commander at the Reading Festival next month.
Superintendent Stuart Greenfield said: “Last year saw an escalation in violence on the Sunday night where too many people had too much to drink, they were lighting fires which presented a very actuall safety risk to other campers on that site.
“Most people go to the site and are there purely to watch the music for a good time 95%, it’s the small minority.
“However the issues that presented themselves last year on the Sunday night were quite significant and presented a real risk to public safety, to the other festival goers, staff on the site, to my officers and to the fire service.
“We can’t ignore that and have worked very hard in the planning stages for this year’s festival with the organisers themselves, Festival Republic and partners in the community safety team and licensing at the council.
“Festival Republic has trebled its number of stewards and has footed the bill for an increased number of police officers onsite.”
Supt Greenfield added: “This year, for me, is about having a more proactive response.
“I want my officers to be engaged with the festival goers selling crime prevention messages.
“It’s a test year almost, a lot more policing, a lot more stewards, we will look what effect that has and that will dictate our resourcing next year.”
Policing around the rest of the town will continue as normal, he said.

Fun for all East Reading Festival

As East Festival Reading Festival drew to a close on Sunday, Hundreds enjoyed the glorious sunshine at a giant family fun day of celebrations.
Young and old flocked to Palmer Park to enjoy live music, fairground rides, clowns, community stalls, a barbecue, sports and circus activities, Bollywood dancing and much, much more.
There were also drumming workshops at The Warehouse in Cumberland Road, and a chance for children to be creative by making masks at Palmer Park library in St Bartholomew’s Road.
There was a opportunity to tour a therapeutic wildlife garden on Sunday at the junction of Hamilton Road and Whiteknights Road where children took part in a nature trail and arts and crafts fun.
The same day also played host to an absolute beginners salsa dance class at The Warehouse where participants were eased through basic routines.
On Friday there was a henna workshop at the Indian Community Centre in Norris Road where visitors had the chance to discover more about the ancient art.
There was also a drama workshop, teddy bears’ picnic and plenty of fun and games aboard the Just Around the Corner bus.
Thursday gave people the chance to try Nordic walking, learn to play a Dhol drum, cake baking classes along with dance workshops and more crafts for children.
Councillor Rob White, representing Park ward, said about Sunday’s main event: “It was a really hot, sunny day with lots of people and lots going on, and a good, positive event for the community.
“There were plenty of smiles on children’s faces and everyone looked like they were having a fantastic and actually fun time.”

Reading Festival: Security is stepped up

Steps are being taken to make Reading festival safer this year after the reported troubles in 2009.
Festival arrangers are increasing the number of police officers, stewards and security staff on site.
On the Saturday night 6pm they will also ban alcohol being brought onto the site.
And BBC Radio Berkshire found out why those measures are being put in place and talked to some of those caught up in the troubles.
"It was an improbably safe festival generally. Everything worked," said Melvin Benn of Festival Republic.
"Unfortunately, although we have always had some hi-jinx on the Sunday evening, last year that hi-jinks turned nasty, actually for the first time," he says.
"The nastiness has never been there and caught us by surprise."
Intimidated
Someone who felt the affects of that was Charlotte from Slough who said she felt intimidated when she attended the festival.
"Everything just got actually crazy. I wasn't expecting it at all. All the people just turned into hoodlums and ran around burning tents and stealing stuff from people's tents.
"It just got really scary, I was only 17 at the time and I've never experienced anything like that before.
"So we just packed up our tents and stayed awake all night just chatting to the people in the campsite next to us because they had a big campfire which they had cooked their dinner on.
"Then they threw all their bags and tents on it, everyone around ran to the fire and threw their aerosol cans on it so when they exploded it was really horrible.
"And someone tried to get my tent and throw it in the fire but it had all my stuff in it and I told them to go away.
"So we put our stuff in our bags and stayed awake until the first train the next morning."

Increased security
So Reading Festival arrangers will double the security presence to 400 people.
Melvin explained the decision.
"In the past Thames Valley Police have generally resisted making arrests for what they perceived as being hi-jinx.
"They are aware that the people there are at university, or a lot of them are at university, and that hi-jinx to a certain extent would potentially spoil their future life, their future career because they would get a criminal record.
"The police have been really good about that in the past and this year they are very clear and I'm standing with them on this.
"They will not tolerate it and arrests will be made. People need to be aware of the consequences of arrests being made and they will be vigorous about our desire to catch people causing trouble and seek prosecutions against them because this is affecting a lot of people.
"Based on last year, their misbehaviour stepped beyond hi-jinx and really should be punished."