Police given special powers for Knebworth festival
Crowds at a previous Knebworth concert - Credit: Archant
POLICE have been granted special powers for Knebworth dance festival, Eastern Electrics 2013.
The techno bonanza starts on Friday and finishes on Sunday, and officers have been granted a dispersal order.
This means they can disperse groups of two or more that are causing or are likely to cause harassment alarm or distress to the public.
Police can ask people to leave and not return within 24 hours. Failure to comply can lead to arrest.
Superintendent Simon Hawkins leads the team who have been working with the organisers in preparation for the weekend.
You may also want to watch:
He said: “Working with both councils we have been able to introduce the dispersal order to give police additional powers to deal with anti-social behaviour and associated crime.
“I would like to reassure people coming to the festival and the wider local community that crime and anti-social behaviour at festivals which have taken place at Knebworth House in recent years have been relatively low in recent years.
Most Read
- 1 Hatfield House gives free passes to those in need
- 2 Man creates penis shapes with his running routes to raise money for testicular cancer
- 3 Person on railway between Welwyn Garden City and Potters Bar
- 4 Person dies after being hit by train near Welwyn Garden City railway station
- 5 Several keyless cars stolen from neighbourhood within 15 hour period
- 6 Two charged after more than 100 wraps of crack and heroin seized
- 7 From 'half-baked' to a New Town - did planners keep their promise to make Hatfield a 'pleasant land'?
- 8 Person hit by train between London Kings Cross and Stevenage
- 9 See inside this beautiful Edwardian property fit for a multi-millionaire
- 10 Hatfield school appoints new headteacher
“However, we are continuously looking at ways to ensure these figures remain low so that festival goers can enjoy their weekend safely and there is minimal disruption to the local communities.
“The powers of a dispersal order fit with our policing style of friendly but firm and will only be used where necessary to deal with those intent on disrupting the event with criminal activity.”
