Security Changes

[Maoster]

So what do people think? I posted elsewhere about them shining torches into my tent and have heard/read about them challenging people smoking roll ups and shining torches into people's faces etc. It must be a difficult call for the organisers, especially given theft problems last Year, so this is not a rant, just a call to see if people think the balance is right. It does feel to me that security is now much more in your face and the festival has lost some of the care free charm and laid back vibe it used to have but that's just my perception. Just to be clear, I do realise that keeping people safe is obviously of critical importance to Simon and Sofia, so I am really not having a go - but could perhaps security just be kept a little more on the leash in future?

[dirtycash]

As a non-smoker I pleased when a security guy came into the crowd at the big top to ask some people to stop smoking. Especially as it was group of drunken twats who barged in front of everyone to the front of Kurt Vile.

On another note, I was coming back to my tent at about 2:30am on Saturday night via the path to the wristband exchange when this sketchy looking guy asked my friend and I for a light, I noticed he had a empty shopping bag and he was headed towards the tents. Naturally I didn't challenge him but I found some bored looking security guards, so I told them about the guy, they said "did he have a hoodie on?" I said Yes, they said we just got rid of him to which I replied no you haven't he is heading into the tents. They did go after him but they weren't exactly quick to react.

I didn't hear of any thefts but clearly there was more dodgy people on site again this year.

[ElGanzo]

It's a tough issue for the organisers. Everyone wants to keep the friendly vibe but nobody wants stuff getting nicked. We had a steward come round telling us about the lock-up when we were pitching up - simple and effective!

I heard quite a few stories about security issues, including some stalls being broken into (I heard this from someone who's mother runs a stall there) and also heard someone talking about a lot of phone thefts. I also witnessed the security guys pin somebody down late on the Sunday night/Monday morning at the campfire. I think the guy had been trying to start up some fire poi but I didn't really get a good view of what happened - regardless it seemed very heavy handed and not nice to see. A lot of the punters around there seemed really annoyed with the security. I was wandering off to the loo and when I came back they still had him pinned down.

Another random guy I met told me someone was thrown out for climbing a tree at the Woods disco, but I think this couldn't be true!! Lastly, I'm also glad they were asking people to put out their cigarettes in the tents, though using lasers seemed a bit over the top?!

[SweepingTheNation]

It's individual experiences, though, isn't it? In the review thread there's people complaining about too stringent security and people complaining about too lenient security.

[Maoster]

It's individual experiences, though, isn't it? In the review thread there's people complaining about too stringent security and people complaining about too lenient security.

[paulwa]

Exactly, that's why I am genuinely interested in people's take on this - know what my perception is but as you say that could be just individual chance.

[tomtrumps]

I thought most of the hired beef were actually friendlier and more polite than the volunteer stewards we came across. Which was weird! I must have been in a bit of a daze but didn't see anything which looked over the top.