Creamfields 2012 - Working with the local community

Cheshire Police is working closely with the organisers of this year′s Creamfields music festival to minimise the impact of the event on the local community.

Inspector Sarah Heath, of Warrington South Neighbourhood Policing Unit, and Inspector Gareth Lee, of Runcorn Neighbourhood Policing Unit, will be responsible for policing in the local communities surrounding the site throughout the event.

Both inspectors will be on hand over the course of the weekend (from 6am on Friday 24th August to 6am on Monday 27 August) - along with a dedicated team of community officers - to address the specific concerns of residents and deal with any cothmmunity policing issues arising directly from the event.

Inspector Gareth Lee said:

The main priority of local officers is to minimise disruption for local residents over the Bank Holiday weekend. As with any large-scale event we anticipate some level of disruption − particularly on local roads. But we want to reassure residents that we will be doing all we can to reduce the impact of the event on the local area.

We will take positive action regarding any incidents of crime and disorder and anti-social behaviour and we will work closely alongside other agencies to solve any issues regarding traffic, noise or litter.

Over the weekend of the event it will be ‘business as usual′ within the neighbourhood policing areas of Warrington South, Runcorn and Widnes so the dedicated team of community officers is above and beyond the normal service that residents would receive.

Extra officers will be drafted in over the Bank Holiday weekend to police the music festival and they will be working shifts. This will enable neighbourhood officers to continue with their normal duties - patrolling the surrounding areas of Warrington South, Runcorn and Widnes.

Planning for the policing of the event started earlier this year and as part of the planning process a special Creamfields community focus group has been meeting on a monthly basis to address any issues or concerns.

The focus group is made up of key members of the local community, members of the police planning team and representatives from other agencies involved in the planning process. Any issues or concerns raised during the meetings have been fed back into the strategic planning meetings for the event.

Cheshire Police is working closely alongside the event organisers, local authorities, parish councils, local residents and other agencies to ensure the event runs safely and smoothly.

A special phone line will again be set up over the weekend of the festival and any residents who have any policing issues or concerns arising directly from the event can call the number and speak to an officer.

Any policing issues or concerns that are raised will be fed back to the dedicated team of community officers and, if required, issues will be raised with the event organisers who will be meeting on a regular basis on the Creamfields site.

Inspector Sarah Heath said:

Ticket holders are being urged to be mindful of the fact that the site lies in a residential area and to be respectful towards neighbouring properties as they enter and leave the site. Positive action will be taken against anyone causing disruption to the local community.

Festival goers are also being reminded that the area around the site is an ‘Alcohol Free Zone′ and this means that the drinking of alcohol in the street outside the event will not be tolerated. Police will take positive action against anyone found to be breaking the rules. Alcohol will be confiscated and appropriate action will be taken.

A detailed traffic management plan has been produced by the organisers of the event in consultation with Cheshire Police to deal with the increased traffic coming into the area.

This year′s event opens on Friday 24th August. The majority of festival goers are likely to be heading for the site on Friday morning and leaving on Monday morning. These are the times when residents can expect some congestion on local roads.

This year the majority of the A56 outside the event site will be designated a ‘No Pedestrian′ zone over the course of the weekend and this means that people will not be allowed to walk alongside that section of the road either before, during or immediately after the event − this is to ensure the safety of those attending the event.

The special phone line, which will be available over the weekend of the festival, is 01606 365429. Any local residents who have any policing issues or concerns arising directly from the event can call the number and speak to a local community officer.

The number will be staffed from 7am on Friday 24th August until 12 noon on Monday 27th August. At all other times please use 101.

For any other issues arising over the weekend of the event (such as noise, litter, traffic etc) residents are urged to contact the Creamfields Residents′ Line on 0203 3289 882. This is being staffed by the organisers of the event throughout the Bank Holiday weekend.