The Impact of Over-Policing at Music Festivals.

The history of music festivals is embedded in a real sense of freedom from authority born out of the first events in the1960s. Since that time music festivals have become more socially responsible and corporately driven by profits. In some countries the authorities have raised concerns about anti-social behaviour and continued drug use resulting in an increased police presence. 

Traditionally music festivals are a great place for freedom of expression away from the normal constraints of society. Over policing can have a negative impact on festival-goer experience with unwarranted searches and arrests and in some instances racial bias that can lead to later legal action damaging all parties involved. Festival organisers often have to fund policing at their events increasing the financial burden of running a festival. Over-policing can lead to an erosion of trust with symptoms including: 

Increased Anxiety and Fear of Expression. 
Festival-goers are certainly going to feel intimidated by a heavy police presence leading to anxiety and a fear of being able to express themselves. Festivals are commonly environments where people feel they can be comfortable expressing themselves through dance, dress and artistic displays but this can be compromised by too many police at the event. Many younger festival-goers or those from minorities may already have a negative experience of harassment form the police and an overbearing presence will likely further erode any trust they did have. 

Negative Atmosphere and Reduced Enjoyment. 
Too many police at a festival can impact on the atmosphere of an event and overall enjoyment by festival-goers. The police actions can also lead to an uncomfortable feeling of intimidation especially if they are experiencing searches or being questioned by police either at an entrance gate or at any time on the festival site. 

Safety Issues and Increased Drug Use. 
Festival organisers always put a high priority on safety at their events to protect everyone on-site and this is often the driving force behind over-policing. However, in some circumstances this can lead to crowd tension with the police making situations potentially dangerous with increased chances of altercations and accidents. Increasing the number of police offices at an event is sometimes a result of a crackdown on drug distribution and use. If festival-goers are aware of this, it is not uncommon for them to ‘pre-load’ drug taking leading to higher health risks and ‘panic overdoses’ 

Alternative Solutions. 
Festival organisers should work closely with local police in the planning phase to coordinate a sensible level of policing at an event. Organisers who prioritise harm reduction strategies regarding drugs can be useful and may include enhanced education, testing stations and amnesty bins. Organisers can emphasise their zero policies regarding drugs and antisocial behaviour that will result in ejection form the festival. Well trained security personnel and volunteers can make an event self-policed negating the need for a heavy police presence and many music festivals achieve this relying on a very small police presence that is barely visible to festival-goers. 

For festival organisers planning their events using a software management platform like Festival Pro gives them all the functionality they need manage every aspect of their event logistics. The guys who are responsible for this software have been in the front line of event management for many years and the features are built from that experience and are performance artists themselves. The Festival Pro platform is easy to use and has comprehensive features with specific modules for managing artists, contractors, venues/stages, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, guestlists, ticketing, cashless payments and contactless ordering. 

Image by Mitrey via Pixabay

<< Back to articles