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Crime prevention advice for Download music fans

Posted on 09/06/2009

police,constabulary,leicestershire police Crime prevention advice for Download music fans

People going to this year’s Download music festival at Donington Park in North West Leicestershire are being reminded to keep their property safe and leave valuable items at home. 

314 crimes were reported to the police during the festival in 2008, which was a small reduction on the year before, but 73 tents were broken into on the first night alone and incidents of theft made up 80% of all crime committed during last year’s festival.  This year the festival runs from Friday 12th June to Sunday 14th June but many fans will start arriving from Wednesday 10th June.  The arena holds 70,000 people. 

Leaving valuable items at home or in the on-site lockers will help reduce the number of offences so officers are urging festival goers to take a few simple steps to avoid becoming a victim of crime. 

For the first time this year the police have also been using Facebook to send out crime prevention messages to rock fans all over the country and the response has been very positive response with more than 700 ‘friends.’ 

Inspector Chris Brown, the Commander of North West Leicestershire local policing unit said; “We want everyone who comes to the festival to have a safe and enjoyable time but it is a sad fact that every year people have their wallet, money and mobile phones stolen which ruins an otherwise great weekend.” 

“This year we are urging everyone to think carefully about what they bring to the festival and how they are going to keep their belongings safe when they are there.” 

  • Security staff and police officers will be patrolling both the camp sites and the car parks and each campsite will have a ‘hub’ with a ‘hub’ manager where people can go to report problems.   
  • A mobile beat bus will be on the site which will be used as a reporting centre if anyone needs to report a crime.   
  • Community volunteers will also be working on the site giving out crime prevention leaflets and post coding property if people have forgotten to do it before you arrive.” 

Further crime prevention advice; 

  • Use the on-site lockers for your personal belongings; don’t leave anything in your tent when you are not in it.  You can either book a locker in advance through your ticket provider or buy one when you arrive for £5.
  • If you can’t take your valuables with you when you leave the tent, leave them at home.
  • Put money, tickets, credit cards and mobile phones in a zipped pocket or use a money belt or in the bottom of your sleeping bag when you go to sleep.
  • Do not bring large sums of cash. Only bring what you need and keep it on you at all times.
  • Postcode the property you do bring to Download so that it is identifiable. 
  • If you arrive by car, don’t leave anything on display in your vehicle including sat navs, car stereos, CDs or mobile phones.  Don’t put items in your glove box or the boot, this is the first place a thief will look.  Take everything with you or leave it at home.