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Q924: Do you have any general advice for staying safe at a festival?

Answer

Festivals are full of fun-loving crowds who have come to enjoy the experience and have fun. They are also extremely busy so it is important to keep your wits about you and be prepared. Below we have set out some key guidance to follow to ensure you stay safe while making the most of your festival experience.

  • Leave your valuables at home if possible
  • Mark your tent/property with your name and postcode
  • Avoid wandering off alone - there is safety in numbers
  • Never leave your drink unattended.
  • Arrange a meeting point in case any of you lose your phone/battery dies and can't be contacted.
  • See Q234 for advice on general personal safety.

Generally there is a lot of drinking/drug taking at festivals and it is important to know your limits. Drinking to excess can affect your judgement and result in you making silly decisions. Please see related links for a more extensive list on festival safety.

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It is an offence to possess certain weapons in private unless a defence applies, please see the table below for a full list of these weapons:
 
Knife Type Description
Butterfly knives Also known as ‘balisongs’. A handle that splits in the middle to reveal a blade.
Disguised knives A blade or sharp point hidden inside something that looks like an everyday object such as a buckle, phone, brush or lipstick.
Flick knives or gravity knives Also known as ‘switchblades’ or ‘automatic knives’. Folding knives where the blade opens automatically, by gravity or by pressing a button or something else on the knife.
Stealth knives Non metal knives or spikes which are not made for use at home, for food or as a toy.
Zombie knives A knife with a cutting edge, a serrated edge and images or words suggesting it is used for violence.
Swords A curved blade over 50 centimetres, with some exceptions such as antiques, swords made to traditional methods, swords made before 1954, certain religious reasons or for the purposes of an organisation holding a historical activity or sporting activity for which public insurance liability is held.
Swordstick A hollow walking stick or cane containing a blade.
Push dagger A knife where the handle fits within a clenched fist and the blade comes out from between two fingers.
Blowpipes Sometimes known as ‘blow guns’. A hollow tube out of which hard pellets or darts are shot by the use of breath.
Telescopic truncheons A knife that extends automatically, or by pressing a button or spring that is in or attached to the handle.
Batons Straight, side-handled or friction-lock truncheons.
Hollow kubotan A cylinder-shaped container containing a number of sharp spikes
Shurikens Also known as ‘shaken’, ‘death stars’ or ‘throwing stars’. A hard non-flexible plate with three or more sharp radiating points, designed to be thrown.
Kusari gama A sickle attached to a rope, cord, chain or wire.
Kyoketsu shoge A hook-knife attached to a rope, cord, chain or wire.
Kusari or ‘manrikigusari’ A weight or hand grip attached to a rope, cord, chain or wire.
Handclaws A band of metal or other hard material worn on the hand, from which sharp spikes come out.
Footclaws A bar of metal or other hard material worn on the foot, from which a number of sharp spikes come out.
Knuckle dusters A band of metal or other hard material worn on one or more fingers.
Cyclone or spiral knives A blade with one or more cutting edges that form a spiral and come to a point.
Belt buckle knife A buckle which incorporates or conceals a knife.
 
Defences for possession in private include:
  • the weapon is of historical importance
  • the weapon is an antique (manufactured more than 100 years ago)
  • in their capacity as the operator of, or as a person acting on behalf of, a museum or gallery
  • educational purposes
  • theatrical performances and rehearsals, the production of films and television programmes
  • conduct carried out on behalf of the Crown or of a visiting force
Whether a defence applies will be judged on a case by case basis and will ultimately be a matter for a court to decide.
 
If you are unsure whether an item in your possession is illegal or you wish to surrender a weapon, you should contact your local police force. 
 
Please also see the links below which provide information on the law relating to possession of knives and offensive weapons in public places:

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Listed below are some steps that can be taken to ensure your personal safety:

  • Never leave your bag or coat unattended in a pub or nightclub, it is an ideal place for thieves.
  • Never leave your drink unattended, as it is very easy for someone to put an illegal substance in your drink, which could have very serious consequences for you.
  • Always make sure you know how you are going to get home after a night out. It is best to travel home with friends and not on your own.
  • Book a taxi home before going out, do not flag down a taxi as you cannot be sure they are a licensed cab driver.
  • Avoid any confrontation or fighting, if someone is threatening you, tell a door supervisor but do not get involved.
  • Never accept a drink from a stranger. Go with the person to the bar if you want to accept a drink.

In general though, wherever you are try and remember the following suggestions:

  • Do not walk home alone late at night. If you do, choose well-lit main roads and walk confidently.
  • If someone does grab your bag fighting back is not always a good idea, you do not know if your attacker has a weapon.
  • Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Reading and listening to music can be distracting.
  • In a busy public place, try to only use your mobile phone in an emergency as it is advertising the fact that you have a phone and whilst using it you are distracted, making it easier to take it from you.
  • If you are attacked it is often better to shout fire rather than help, it tends to attract more attention.

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Here are some personal safety tips to follow if you are out and about:

  • Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Be careful when reading or listening to music as this can be distracting.
  • In a busy place, try to use your mobile phone in emergencies only as it is advertising the fact that you have a phone. Whilst using your phone you are distracted, making it easier to take it from you.
  • Try to avoid walking home alone late at night. If you do, choose well-lit main roads and walk confidently.
  • If someone tries to take something from you, it may be better to let them take it rather than getting into a confrontation and risk injury.
  • If you are involved in a confrontation, reasonable force may be appropriate when used in self-defence (please see the link in Related Information for further guidance).

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Listed below are a few points which will help to ensure you and your belongings are safe:

  • Keep bags closed and secure at all times.
  • Conceal your wallet or purse in a buttoned or zipped pocket where it doesn't bulge.
  • Avoid putting valuables such as phones, wallets or purses in your back pocket.
  • Do not carry large amounts of cash with you when shopping.
  • Keep pin numbers secure, do not write them down.
  • If the fastening of your handbag is on the side, keep the side with the fastening closest to your body and not exposed.
  • Rucksack type bags with the opening on the back are not a good place to keep valuables as they are easily opened.
  • Keep your purse or wallet at the bottom of your bag.
  • Do not carry too many bags of shopping as it makes you vulnerable against pick pockets.
  • Do not hang bags on the back of a chair.

Here are some general personal safety tips to follow when you are out and about:

  • Do not walk home alone late at night. If you do, choose well-lit main roads and walk confidently.
  • If someone does grab your bag fighting back is not always a good idea, you do not know if your attacker has a weapon.
  • Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Reading or listening to music can be distracting.
  • In a busy public place, try to only use your mobile phone in an emergency as it is advertising the fact that you have a phone, and whilst using it you may be distracted, making it easier to take it from you.
  • Carry a personal safety alarm.
  • If you are worried or threatened on public transport, contact the guard or the British Transport Police.
  • If you are attacked it is often better to shout 'fire' rather than 'help', it tends to attract more attention.

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When travelling on public transport, the companies themselves issue a lot of advice particularly in the stations or on the buses and trains themselves. However, it is worth bearing in mind the following general advice when travelling:

  • Always sit downstairs on a bus, as near to the driver as possible.
  • On a train try not to sit in an empty compartment.
  • Make sure you keep hold of all personal belongings.
  • If something or someone is bothering you, inform the guard or driver, they can stay with you if you feel uncomfortable 
  • Try and have your fare ready so you don't have to get out your purse/wallet.

In relation to general personal safety try and remember the following suggestions:

  • Try not to walk alone late at night and where possible choose well-lit main roads and walk confidently.
  • If someone does grab your bag fighting back is not always a good idea, you do not know if your attacker has a weapon.
  • Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Reading or listening to music can be distracting.
  • In a busy public place, try to use your mobile phone only in an emergency as it is advertising the fact that you have a phone. Whilst using your mobile phone you may be distracted, making it easier to take it from you.
  • If you are attacked it is often better to shout 'fire' rather than 'help', it tends to attract more attention.

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Question

Q924: Do you have any general advice for staying safe at a festival?

Answer

Festivals are full of fun-loving crowds who have come to enjoy the experience and have fun. They are also extremely busy so it is important to keep your wits about you and be prepared. Below we have set out some key guidance to follow to ensure you stay safe while making the most of your festival experience.

  • Leave your valuables at home if possible
  • Mark your tent/property with your name and postcode
  • Avoid wandering off alone - there is safety in numbers
  • Never leave your drink unattended.
  • Arrange a meeting point in case any of you lose your phone/battery dies and can't be contacted.
  • See Q234 for advice on general personal safety.

Generally there is a lot of drinking/drug taking at festivals and it is important to know your limits. Drinking to excess can affect your judgement and result in you making silly decisions. Please see related links for a more extensive list on festival safety.
 
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