Don't leave valuables in your tents

POLICE are gearing up to ensure this weekend’s Sonisphere Festival passes safely for the thousands set to descend on Knebworth House.

Sonisphere Festival director Stuart Galbraith outside Knebworth House

Festival-goers will start arriving on site tomorrow (Thursday), with the three-day rock event getting under way on Friday.

And police are hoping the low crime levels Sonisphere has enjoyed in the past two years will once again be replicated.

Superintendent Simon Hawkins said: “For the last two years we’ve enjoyed reasonably low crime levels and once again we have spent months planning with festival organisers to ensure those coming to Knebworth can enjoy their weekend safely.”

Similarly to previous events, people can expect to see police officers on horseback and in high visibility patrolling campsites on foot.

They will be supported by plain-clothed officers, special constables from Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Essex and cadets from Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

Supt Hawkins said: “People’s safety and keeping crime low are our priorities. Anyone who has been before knows that our policing style is friendly but firm and this year will be no different.

“Sadly we know some people do attend festivals purely to commit crime but I would like to reassure those coming to Knebworth that we are making use of ANPR, CCTV technology and intelligence to target criminals.

With thefts from tents and pick-pocketing the main crime types expected, police cadets will be welcoming festival-goers as they arrive on site, ensuring no valuables are left in vehicles.

They will also be handing out free lanyards which can be used to secure phones, wallets and purses to your person.

Festival organiser Stuart Galbraith said: “There is a real partnership approach between Hertfordshire Constabulary and Sonisphere and this benefits the event and the festival goers in many ways.

“We have probably the most friendly and enthusiastic audience in the festival calendar and Hertfordshire Constabulary have worked well with us to find an approach that creates a great atmosphere whilst keeping the crime levels down.”

Police have also issued some crime prevention tips for festival-goers – which you can read by following our link above right.