OVER £1.3 million was spent on policing Glastonbury Festival this year, with event organisers covering over half of the total cost.
This marks an increase of around £72,000 from Glastonbury 2019, the last festival held at Worthy Farm before the pandemic.
Police recorded small decreases in the number of crimes and arrests made at this year's festival, which they say is “one of the safest there’s ever been”.
Over 200,000 people attended Glastonbury 2022, which was held over 900 acres of land from Wednesday, June 22 to Sunday, June 26.
The world's largest greenfield festival hosted some of music's biggest names including Pyramid Stage headliners Billie Eilish, Sir Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar.
Cost of policing Glastonbury rises by £72,000
A freedom of information request submitted by the County Gazette has shown an increase in the cost of policing Glastonbury.
Avon and Somerset Police has estimated the cost of policing this year's festival was £1,349,000.
The amount recharged to Glastonbury Festival was £786,600 – around 58 per cent of the total figure.
Policing the festival cost an estimated £1,277,000 in 2019, with £838,900 (66 per cent) recharged to the organisers.
A police spokesperson said: “We are proud to police Glastonbury Festival and have an excellent working relationship with its organisers.
“As with many privately run events which require Special Policing Services (those which are in addition to the regular duties of police forces), some of the policing costs are recharged to the event organisers.
“We have a long-standing arrangement with Glastonbury Festival that it covers the costs of policing services inside the event perimeter while we pay for those off-site.
“Examples of some of the services provided include uniformed officers, detectives, specialist police staff and police horses.”
Patrolling the #glastonbury beat is something we do 365 days a year 🗓
— Glastonbury Police (@PoliceAtGlasto) June 26, 2022
We’ve not had the pleasure of walking the fields of #WorthyFarm for some time though which is something we missed just as much as you 🎸🎵🎪
Thank you @glastonbury it’s been an honour 💙 pic.twitter.com/3Wdxw0eAnN
Fall in crimes and arrests at this year's festival
The figures show there were fewer crimes reported and arrests made in 2022 than there were in 2019.
The decrease has been attributed in part to better security measures introduced by the festival organisers and a fall in the amount of cash taken to the event.
Police records indicate there were 214 crimes recorded at the festival and 25 arrests made in 2019.
This year, there were 205 crimes recorded and 19 arrests made.
These figures were taken from a live system which is updated as investigations progress, meaning they could change in the future.
A police spokesperson said: “This year’s festival was one of the safest there’s ever been, and we consistently see fewer crimes reported and fewer arrests year on year.
“While it’s difficult to attribute any specific reason for these falls, it’s likely the enhanced security measures put in place by the festival organisers along with a move to a more cashless society has resulted in fewer offences recorded.”
How is Glastonbury Festival policed?
Police officers are based in a compound at the Big Ground area of the festival site and operate in a “neighbourhood-style” way throughout the event.
They patrol the farm on foot, horseback and bicycles. Other resources such as plain-clothed officers and police helicopters can be used where appropriate.
The police also carry out Project Servator deployments to disrupt criminal activity through unpredictable and highly visible operations.
The project aims to “identify and disrupt hostile reconnaissance - the information gathering a criminal does when planning to commit a criminal act, including terrorist attacks”.
Festivalgoers can report crimes by approaching officers, using an on-site phone at the police compound or via a dedicated form on the police website.
In 2022, officers also handed out free mobile phone pouches, reunited stolen devices with their owners and detected a drone being flown over the festival site by an operator outside the perimeter fence.
Glastonbury Festival returns in 2023
Glastonbury 2023 will be held between Wednesday, June 21 and Sunday, June 25.
Earlier this month, the festival revealed that Sir Elton John will headline the Pyramid Stage on Sunday as the final UK show of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.
Sir Elton, 75, said: “I couldn’t be more excited to be headlining the Pyramid Stage.
“As the end of my Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour comes into view, there is no more fitting way to say goodbye to my British fans.”
Festival co-organiser Emily Eavis said she was “delighted” to confirm the news and “very happy to finally bring the Rocket Man to Worthy Farm”.
The County Gazette has contacted Glastonbury Festival for a comment.
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