Glastonbury Security

[gizmoman]

This story is pretty vague being a second hand account of what happened but I can see a simple explanation. If the lad was drunk/drugged and a bit lost and was following a group, he could well have been following them into a crew/backstage area where he wasn't permitted, security would then quite properly ask him where he was going. Depending on the reply and the thuggishness of the security in question you can guess the rest. I've got to say i've never had a problem and I think a lot of situations arise due to people not accepting what security tell them. There is no point getting into an argument with them as they are not going to change their mind once they have told you something, just do as you're told or walk away. Make a complaint later if you need to.

[rachmac]

Either made up or smoking PCP.

[Gela]

I'm just shocked that some people think Glasto is some kind of fairyland where everyone lives happily ever after. Maybe this guys story is bollox but don't be surprised when you do see the minority of security types getting as excited as us punters, but just not in the same way.

[Storm_NL]

In 2000 I had my rucksack taken from my tent, luckily nothing valuable stolen as i slept with my purse in my sleeping bag. However, the grubby thieves did have a good look though and I woke up to the sight of all my clothes strewn across the field! It wasn't a pleasant experience collecting up my knickers first thing in the morning I tell ya!!

[Gela]

200 was a teerrrrrrrible year for crime!

Hardly anybody I met didn't know someone who'd been robbed or assaulted....

[alframsey]

Last year we let our son go to the festival for the first time on his own but with other adult friends who we new. On the Saturday night he found him self in a dark part of Glasto around near the cinema field. He was a bit lost and was following a few people who were ahead of him. Security suddenly stopped him and started to ask him where he was going etc. before he had a chance to explain he was attacked and beaten to the ground, he passed out and found himself outside the festival with no shirt one wellie missing and freezing cold. To cut a long story short he managed to get hold of us at home and we got him back in after 6 hours and interviews with the Police and Glasto officials.

We wrote to Mr Eavis a week after my son returned and got no reply to our concerns.

The letter was sent redgistered post to him personally.

Anyone sending their Young adults to the festival please BEWARE nad try to stick together in 2s.

Got our tickets for next year and still waiting for that reply

[Goblinz]

My uncle and cousin regulary do security at Glasto, and they have both said that they have never witnessed or heard of an uprovoked attack which also resulted in the person being chucked out the festival for no reason. They have been doin it for bout 10 years now and have both said he must have been doing something quite serious to be physically restrained and then kicked out! They also both say that alot of the security at the fesival are specialised police and wouldnt allow such a thing to go unpunished, and they say that the specialised police "ahve their ways of finding out", so im sorry but it is highly unlikely that your son was attacked unprovked and he is clearly lying to you and he was up to no good!

Edited October 5, 2008 by Goblinz

[Madmark]

why would security take his shirt and a wellie....... even if they did attack him im sure people would of seen or heard screams of some kind, like i said before security wouldnt do that, theres to many witnesses about to attack someody on site and to take his clothes is way to far fetched.

[krisskross]

why would security take a wellie...

[Storm_NL]

[anitstar]

Do you think he could have ended up outside the site without the festival knowing who they were ejecting? Thats why they got him back in because they had no record of him being ejected. You cant simply be chucked out they have a process to follow out. I dont think for one minute my son is an angel but i do know the damage done to him by security was real and im sure others will confirm this has happend to others. Dont be so nieve.

[chuckley]

why would security take his shirt and a wellie....... even if they did attack him im sure people would of seen or heard screams of some kind, like i said before security wouldnt do that, theres to many witnesses about to attack someody on site and to take his clothes is way to far fetched.

[chuckley]

Daylight rubbery...

[RetinalRob]

Read the full story please. This is not to scare people. We are all going to the festival as a family next year and love the festival and have been to 4 in total. This was a shock to us that this thing even happend at Glasto and now is the time to get people to be aware as it is in the puplic domain once again, so we can get as many pople to read it and maybe not get the trouble we encountered last year.

All we wanted was a fare responce to a letter which my wife and I sent to Mr Eavis and we didnt get any responce. At least people have done that on this forum which is more than the festival has bothered to do.

My question is why bring this story up today?

It would have been more appropriately aired after the festival, when people were sharing their stories.

Everybody online today are Glasto lovers who won't be dissuaded from buying tickets due to a scare story like this.

[irons]

Sorry to hear about your son. But unfortunately it does happen, thou I've never seen it. Have heard a few stories thou.

I do think there's possibly more to this thou. Did he go straight to the police at the site, or get you to call them? That would be the obvious thing to do, if he was completely innocent then they shouldn't have got away with this.

Edited October 6, 2008 by irons

[RetinalRob]

The Police outside didnt help him when he asked them. The security outside didnt help him but one young security personel did give him some help and got the ball rolling to get him back in to the site. I have not written all the story down as its too long winded. Its all true and does happen, we are not here for glory or sympathy but understanding and hopefully help others avoid possible trouble from some of the thugs called SECURITY!

Sorry to hear about your son. But unfortunately it does happen, thou I've never seen it. Have heard a few stories thou.

I do think there's possibly more to this thou. Did he go straight to the police at the site, or get you to call them? That would be the obvious thing to do, if he was completely innocent then they shouldn't have got away with this.

[DTichborne]

Not wishing to repeat myself, but were there witnesses? It happened in a busy field at a time when it would have had plenty of people in it - I camp near there, and the weather was great that night too (dodgy weather can leave the field a bit emptier...)

[alframsey]

WTF are "specialised police". The festival employs a lot of security, incidents have happened in the past. There's nothing to say that other people working on security would hear about any assaults, especially if they are on different crews.

And to quote what a great man once said

Nobody deserves this whatever they've done.

[RetinalRob]

If you read the full tread it shows you that people have seen this going on at the festival and choose to walk on or not get involved. He tried to get 10 different people to help him outside the festival and not one of them would. I remember Jay Z saying "Where is the love Glastonbury?" I asked myself the same question after and still draw a blank as to why no one helped him. He learnt a tough lesson that night and nearly died with the attack and blows he took to his head. This was a real incident.

Not wishing to repeat myself, but were there witnesses? It happened in a busy field at a time when it would have had plenty of people in it - I camp near there, and the weather was great that night too (dodgy weather can leave the field a bit emptier...)

[alframsey]

Also, im sure if he was there would have been some witnesses, and if he was 'assulted' for no reason at all, and if these people were evil enough to attack a young lad who was simply enjoying himself, then im sure passers by would have provided some help in the investigation or reported it? People at Glasto simply wouldn't let this happen without anyone saying or doing something! Im not sying you are lying, im sure it did happen, but not sure that your son is telling the real reason as to why it happened. This may seem a bit personal, but is your son a 'rowdy' individual? (and im not saying he deserved it or anything, just curios).

Edited October 6, 2008 by alframsey

[oursus]

Hmm, I dont know about the ground security, but the security in the pit during Kings of Leon were quite the douchebags.

[soozyfloozy]

I can't say that when I was there in 2007 I saw any trouble with security as such, but I did have a nasty run-in with a particular little shit of a steward....

Went to long drop on the Wed night for a wee (as you do when you've drunk a million cans of cider), shoved my toilet roll in its little bag into my pocket, not realising that it was the same pocket that my lil tiny purse was in. Funnily enough, when I whipped my TP out I also whipped my wallet out. I realised this about 30 seconds later and went back, it wasn't there, but some kind soul had given it to a steward- who managed to describe it perfectly to me, including its contents (which included the money that was in there, my driving licence and my bank card), but woudn't GIVE ME IT BACK. Claimed something to do with processes and I'd have to pick it up from Lost Property in the morning. I duly did that- but my wallet was minus the money, although my licence and cards were still there. I doubt that anyone in LP would've touched it, so I'm reckoning the little scumbag was chancing his arm. I've learnt my lesson though!

Clearly this doesn't compare to being beaten up, but honestly, that sounds so unlike the Glasto spirit to me, I'm not doubting it's true but it makes me sad

[grumpyhack]

We'll probably never know the whole story but you've certainly aroused some discussion.

Glastonbury has a population of a medium sized town during the festival and as with any group of people you'll get good and bad, honest caring people, pissed up tossers and scallys.

Often young people are trying things they've not tried before, which can lead to problems.

In the same way that not all coppers - or politicians - are totally honest and truthful, so you may also have some bad pennies amongst the security teams.

It's a shame that whatever happened took place. But don't give up.

If one bus conductor short changes you it shouldn't stop you using the bus.

[BudBrain]

Sounds like an attempt at jumping the fence to me

[Toilet Duck]

Sounds like an attempt at jumping the fence to me