IT is only weeks to go until one of music’s biggest dance festivals returns to Daresbury and Cheshire Constabulary has been working hard to ensure that Creamfields is enjoyed safely by all.
Creamfields 2017 will run over four days, with around 70,000 music fans expected to descend on the Daresbury site for the 12th consecutive year.
Policing the event is a considerable undertaking, and the Constabulary works closely with the event organisers, local authorities, parish councils and other agencies as part of the planning process to make sure that the event runs safely and smoothly and, importantly, reduce disruption to the local community.
Police will be taking every measure to help stop drugs entering the festival even further this year after the death of a young father from Cornwall who died during last year’s event after taking ecstasy and cocaine which was ‘likely to have resulted in increased cardiac toxicity’ and that ‘fatal drug toxicity’ was a strong possibility in to the cause of his death.
Within the site, officers will be present to prevent incidents of crime and disorder and support the security staff. Off-site, they will be involved with traffic management and policing in the surrounding area.
Inspector Mark Gammage, who leads on the policing operation for the event, said: “We have spent several months planning our approach to policing this year’s festival, using our experience of previous years to ensure we are as prepared as possible to ensure everyone enjoys the event safely.
“Last year was extremely successful with 137 arrests being made throughout the event – the majority of which for possessing and/or supplying drugs. Convicted offenders are currently serving over 100 years between them and criminal proceedings are still ongoing for a further 20 cases.
“Festival goers are reminded that security will be as tight as ever at the event. Security measures will be in place and it is important that those attending are aware of these – searches are a condition of entry.
“There will be an opportunity for festival goers to deposit any drugs or weapons in surrender bins placed at the entrances. Anyone who is subsequently found with drugs or weapons, having not placed them into the bins, will be made to face the consequences of their actions.
“My advice to anyone considering bringing any such items to the event is… don’t.”
A on-site police station will be set up on the site and festival goers are urged to report any incidents over the weekend to officers. It will be clearly signposted within the campsite and near the north entrance.
Officers from Runcorn and Warrington Local Policing Units will be working throughout the course of the weekend to deal with any issues that might arise in the local community, to minimise any disruption to local residents and to reassure members of the public.
Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane said: “I understand the impact this event has on the local community, but I am pleased to see that officers – working alongside partner organisations – will be doing everything they can to keep this disruption to a minimum, and are taking steps to help festival goers enjoy themselves without putting themselves or others at risk.
“Last year’s event saw many individuals facing jail time, and that is a result of the carefully planned and well thought out policing operation put into action by local officers.
“This is one of the biggest events in the Cheshire police calendar and I am grateful to the officers who work tirelessly throughout the weekend each year. I hope that everyone enjoys themselves and stays safe.”
