Police pledge festival crackdown

POLICE are promising a major crackdown on alcohol related crime and disorder at this weekend’s Creamfields music festival near Warrington
Bad behaviour – and drinking in the street – will not be tolerated during the event, they say.
Festival goers are being urged to be on their best behaviour as they arrive and leave the site at Daresbury – and to be respectful towards the local community.
Inspector Gary McIntyre, of Warrington South Neighbourhood Policing Unit, and Inspector Derek Lockie, of Runcorn Neighbourhood Policing Unit, are responsible for policing in the local communities surrounding the site.
They will be on hand over the course of the weekend – along with a dedicated team of community officers – to address the specific concerns of residents and deal with any community policing issues arising directly from the event.
Inspector McIntyre said: “We are asking all ticket holders to be mindful of the fact that the site lies in a residential area and to be respectful towards neighbouring properties as they enter and leave the site.
“There will be an increase in the amount of traffic on local roads in the area over the weekend and we would ask those heading to and from the event to be patient and work with us to help minimise any impact on the local community.
“Action will be taken against anyone causing disruption in the area.”
Festival goers are being reminded that the area around the site is an ‘Alcohol Free Zone’ and this means that the drinking of alcohol in the street outside the event will not be tolerated.
Police will take action against anyone found to be breaking the rules. Alcohol will be confiscated – and appropriate action will be taken.
Officers will also be utilizing powers under Section 27 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act – known as the “Direction to Leave” power. The purpose of this new power is to minimise the likelihood of alcohol-related crime or disorder taking place.
Police officers can issue an individual aged 16 or over with a direction to leave a particular area for a period of up to 48 hours if they feel there is a chance of alcohol-related crime or disorder taking place. If they then breach that direction to leave they will be arrested.
Inspector Lockie added: “We will not tolerate any form of alcohol related violent crime or anti-social behaviour. Drinking in the street outside the event is not permitted and we will be confiscating alcohol from anyone who is found drinking in the street. As well as confiscating alcohol, officers will also be issuing ‘Section 27’ notices to anyone behaving in an alcohol related anti-social way.
“These notices will exclude people from the Creamfields site and a large perimeter around the site. If they do not adhere to this direction to leave then they will be arrested.
“Section 27 notices help us to get rid of potential trouble makers from an area. If they then choose to return to that area they will be arrested for breaching the direction to leave and we will take positive action against them.”