Isle of Wight Festival 2010
Friday 11th to Sunday 13th June 2010Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2DN, England MAP
£130 adult weekend no camping, £65 for a child ticket (7-12 years)
Daily capacity: 60,000
Police are appealing for witnesses to assaults on women at various festivals this summer, with five attacks at three festivals.
Police on the Isle of Wight are issuing a fresh appeal for witnesses after an allegation of indecent assault at the Isle of Wight Festival. Police are appealing for witnesses after an allegation of indecent assault that happened during the Isle of Wight Festival on the last night of the festival, Sunday, 13th June 2010. Between 8.00pm and 9.00pm, a 19-year-old woman was near the 'Big Top' area of the Festival site. She was approached by an unknown man who tried to pull her into the Big Top and in doing so indecently assaulted her. The woman pushed him away and went to the nearest security guard to report the incident.
The suspect is described as Blond haired and wearing a blue jumper. PC Dave Hughes said: "The festival site would have been extremely busy at the time and there is a very good chance this incident was witnessed by someone who can provide us with more information about the suspect. We are keen to speak to anyone who saw this man in the area at the time."
Anyone with information should contact Newport Police Station by phoning 101 or 0845 045 45 45. Information can be given anonymously by phoning the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111. People outside Hampshire and the Isle of Wight should phone 0845 045 45 45.
At T in the Park an 18-year-old girl was raped in the back of a van after being abducted from the campsite. The girl was lured into the motor by at least two men - and was driven off before one of them sexually assaulted her.
Officers are also investigating another alleged sexual assault of a woman in her 20s. The woman was knocked to the ground and assaulted near the bus parking area on Saturday night. Tayside Police said her male attacker was disturbed by two women who were walking past. The force have also appealed for witnesses.
In appealing for witnesses to the incidents Tayside Police would ask that anyone who saw the incident, or indeed who may have captured any images on cameras or mobile phones, contact Tayside Police on 0300 111 2222. Information can also be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
This weekend saw two sexual assaults happen on the site of Latitude festival. A nineteen year old girl was raped near one of the festival's camp sites on the Thursday night of the festival. The woman had left her tent in the red area of the campsite at about 10pm to 10.30pm to find the toilet but lost her bearings and approached a group of young men for help.
After walking with the group for some distance some of the males left to go in another direction while the other males led the victim off a path and into a wooded area where she was raped by at least one of them.
Police and festival organisers are appealing for information regarding the incident and asked anyone who may have seen a young woman wearing a yellow and cream top, black cardigan and jeans with a small group of men at the time of the incident to come forward. Police are searching for a man aged in his 20s with short dark curly hair and a cockney accent in connection with the alleged attack.
Anyone with information about this incident should call Suffolk police on 01473 613500. Information can also be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Meanwhile festival organiser Melvin Benn told reporters on Friday: "Festival Republic are taking the allegation very seriously and are liaising closely with Suffolk Police in their investigation. We have significant sympathy for the victim of this most awful act and are so shocked that it should happen here."
A second rape then took place on Friday night, though it was unconnected to the first incident, and the victim seemingly knew her alleged attacker, who was arrested the next day.
Commenting on the impact the two incidents had had on the wider festival, Benn told reporters on Sunday: "I'm distraught by what has happened and I want to reassure the public that we are working very hard on this - we are all upset about this here. We can't ignore what has happened, but this really is an incredibly safe festival".
With V, Reading and Leeds still set to take place this summer, police are advising festival-goers to stay with friends, be aware of any potential trouble, and not to drink excessively or take drugs.
eFestivals would like to point out that this sort of assault at festivals occurs rarely and festival organisers and police forces take great strides to ensure that events are as safe as possible.
Festival organiser Melvin Benn added, "People are obviously entitled to be nervous. But these things, as awful as they are, are outside anyone's control. Whether it's at a festival or in a village or high street, there are people around who - either determinedly or opportunistically - will do such a thing."
Annual crime figures for this year's festivals actually show that events are actually safer this year, with recorded crime figures down at most events on last year.
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