Counter Terrorism Policing delivers festival-goers advice

Counter Terrorism Policing are reaching out to festival-goers who will be attending live events in the coming months by launching the #BeSafeBeSound campaign.

Part of their ‘Summer Security’ initiative, the campaign is being backed by UK Music – an industry-funded body representing the collective interests of the British music industry – to help reach the hundreds of thousands of people who will be attending live events this summer.

The initiative sees a number of videos released by Counter Terrorism Policing on social media to encourage festival-goers to report anything suspicious, however small.

While there is no intelligence to indicate an increased threat to festivals and live music events, the Senior National Coordinator for Protect and Prepare, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy D’Orsi, wants the public to familiarise themselves with the safety advice so they can play their part in keeping people safe.

Key advice for anyone attending an event this summer includes: arriving early for extra security measures, being patient with security checks and helping the staff to help you, reporting anything suspicious to police or to security staff immediately, and not leaving bags unattended or anywhere they could cause a security scare.

D’Orsi explained: “There are some huge festivals taking place in the coming months, and we want everyone to have a fantastic time. Whilst we want everyone to have fun watching their favourite artists, people’s safety and security remains the top priority for police and festival organisers.

“The purpose of #BeSafeBeSound is to ensure that everyone attending these events knows they have an important role to play in the wider security operation. Everyone can help make events safe and secure by familiarising themselves with the #BeSafeBeSound advice, by reading our Run, Hide, Tell guidance and to be ready to ACT if they spot suspicious behaviour and activity. Don’t think you might be wasting anyone’s time, it is always better to be safe than sorry. If something doesn’t look or feel right it probably isn’t, so tell someone.”