£17k Of Drugs Seized At Bestival

12 September 2013, 13:26

Hampshire Police say £17,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized by police at Bestival on the Isle of Wight last weekend, with 13 people arrested.

Tens of thousands of people attended the music festival at Robin Hill Country Park between Thursday 5 September 5 and Monday 9 September.

Police say analysis of overall crime levels is continuing, but provisional figures so far include the drugs search operation at Bestival's entrances, which resulted in 295 searches and 106 seizures of suspected illegal drugs worth £17,000.

13 arrests were made on suspicion of possessing drugs with intent to supply.

There were two reports of physical assaults. There was one report of indecent touching on a woman aged in her 20s, for which two men from Manchester were charged. No stranger sexual assaults were reported.

45 thefts from people and 144 thefts from tents have been reported so far. Police are investigating a number of suspects linked to tent thefts. One 16-year-old boy from Manchester was arrested and bailed until November 2013 on suspicion of theft and possession with intent to supply crack cocaine.

Hampshire Constabulary's Bestival police operation commander, Superintendent Paul Brooks said: 

"There was a friendly, relaxed mood, which is what we’ve come to expect from Bestival each year.

"Levels of crime remained low thanks to the vast majority of people enjoying the event responsibly and the relentless work of organisers, police and all agencies before and throughout the event.

"Police officers and security staff worked well together to identify and target suspects linked to thefts on the campsites.

"Bestival showed the real difference that simple precautions can make to solving crime. People remembering to turn on 'find my phone' apps on their mobiles enabled us to track lost or stolen phones and reunite some of them with rightful owners."

Anyone with information about property stolen at Bestival can contact Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police by phoning 101.

Superintendent Brooks added:

"The commitment and co-operation between Isle of Wight Council and all agencies on the Safety Advisory Group delivered an effective traffic management plan. Our Roads Policing Unit performed a key role in keeping road users safe, informed and on the move by anticipating issues and responding promptly to any issues."