Creamfields Policing Costs

Please could advise if Cheshire Police charge for the policing of Cream Music Festival (Creamfields) and if so the associated figures for 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011.

How many officers are provided for such event?

How many officers are abstracted from their normal Policing duties?

In accordance with section 1(1) (b) of the Act our response is provided below;

Question 1: Cheshire Police do charge for the recovery of policing costs for Creamfields. The figures for the years requested are as follows;

2008 £237,000

2009 £236,749

2010 £269,469

2011 £353,658

Please note the above figures are net of VAT.

Question 2: I have considered this part of your request and I am not obliged to provide the information requested.

Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires the Cheshire Constabulary, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you with a notice which a) states that fact, b) specifies the exemption in question and c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

The information is exempt information in accordance with Section 31(1) (a) Law Enforcement.

Cheshire Constabulary provides policing resources to the annual Creamfields event that are commensurate to our obligations and desire to see that the event passes off peacefully and members of the public attending do so in safety. The numbers of officers deployed directly relates to the potential threat from those who would seek to use the event to further their criminal activity. Criminality can and does include crimes of violence, robbery, theft and drug related offences and, although the offences recorded are low considering the attendance of approximately 50,000 people over the three days of the event, the activity of police officers is a large factor in achieving that low figure.

In addition to the visible presence of officers to enure the safety of the public on the site, the prompt reaction to incidents along with the other emergency services, the work carried out by other officers not so readily visible to the public plays an important role in achieving the results that are achieved.

To publish the numbers of officers deployed will provide those who seek to undermine the above with a highly accurate figure of the level of risk they may face in pursuing their activities. Our law enforcement tactics will be compromised which will hinder the prevention and detection of crime and could well put members of the public at risk.

Public interest factors.

Those factors that would favour disclosure will include the general factors of promoting transparency, accountability and participation. If a large amount of public funds were involved this would also favour disclosure although this is not the case here. Disclosure might enhance the quality of discussions particularly over the efficient us of police resources.

Factors that would favour withholding the information include the impact on police resources. Disclosing the information would be likely to have an adverse effect on the Resourcing of future events. Individuals could be placed at risk and law enforcement tactics compromised.

In all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Question 3: None