Security

[Spindles]

I had no issues with security beyond some poor training for one or two individuals, which I put down to the bad weather at the setup period of the festival impacting on training for security and stewards (we all need to understand that this is an enormous and complex organisation where many staff only arrive a day or two in advance of punters and require training).

I had a couple of occasions where a police office pointedly stared at my doobie, with my only realising when I saw him staring (both on sunday evening with a pair of officers walking through the other stage crowd, both of whom did not have the usual A+S friendly face), on both occasions they stared and then walked on. Again, no complaint.

I've read some security horror stories, I have never personally seen evidence. I think it is always important to offer balance. I saw multiple occasions of security helping people, being friendly and, in my opinion, learning from A+S constabulary about how to behave.

[binbag77]

i just think that there are more security on site than required.Not all of them are bad but sadly the majority of them are the same bald humourless twats that work on pub doors.It would not surprise me in the slightest if i found out that most of the theft from tents is indeed committed by these security firms.

[jamseyboy]

Anyone have any issues with security this year?

I for the first time did and it really pissed me off, Friday am 0730hrs my wife woke up and was shuffling around in the tent when a voice said "come out of the tent" I was still asleep but was awoken by the wife! I told her to tell them to "foxtrot Oscar".

I then heard them shout out "come out of the tent now" at this point I said "no, now go away" it carried on back and forth when they announced who they were " it's security come out of the tent NOW or we're calling the police" I shouted out "call the police" I then heard them call over the radio "urgent back up required bottom of kidney mead illegal substances being used and persons in tent possibly becoming violent"

FFS talk about over exaggeration! I gave it 5 mins got dressed and crawled out of my tent when 3 security personnel were surrounding my tent and a further 3 coming towards the tent!!! I turned round and said to the security kid "what's the problem ?" he said "we heard movement in the tent so we wanted to do a random check because we can smell illegal substances" I then said "yeah right, now go away and the kidz field is in the next field" he then said "empty your pockets" I have no pockets!!!

An argument then ensued and I said to him "what is your problem?" he then said "I'm not being an arsehole I'm doing my job, we heard moving on the tent" my reply "it's 7.30am most people start getting up now as it's the morning" his reply "idiot"

Security number 1169

Idiot!

[Supermerv]

We were listening to one security guy at the top of the pyramid field telling some of his mates that he wanted to get a riot shotgun and some mustard gas, it was funny as f**k considering his job basically involved shouting "keep moving please" every 10 seconds, guy was a knob!

[jamseyboy]

We were listening to one security guy at the top of the pyramid field telling some of his mates that he wanted to get a riot shotgun and some mustard gas, it was funny as f**k considering his job basically involved shouting "keep moving please" every 10 seconds, guy was a knob!

[zail]

Also had good and bad experinces with security...

Thursday night when they shut Bellas Bridge we came out of the back of West Holts where we were working and tried to get over the bridge - one security woman (number 1228) was extremely aggressive and when we tried to politely explain that we were trying to get back to our campsite which was just outside ped gate C she just kept red facedly screaming at us "No you don't - you want to go to Shangri-La - go away!". Eventually we did go away and went back into the backstage bar, coming out again later, now able to walk over the bridge as it had reopened.

Round the site I saw Security harrassing people and acting like twats, but also security helping people through mud and generally being nice and having a laugh with their own mates..

All the security guys working around our stage were really good - nice guys and pretty on the ball too - that was the good face of security!

The number of security on site isn't the festivals choice - it's dictated by Mendip District Council who issue the licence (and also set all the restrictions on sound etc and get all the money from the fines if stages are too loud or go on for too long..) and according to the Q and A session that someones posted about on here Michael Eavis would rather not have them onsite, or would rather have people with "Glastonbury Spirit" doing that job - but where to find them? I guess the licence stipulates that they have to be SIA trained and registered?

Also, on the what are they paid front, from talking to the various security on our stage a lot of the general security people are on minimum wage - these are those seen by the public most I would guess. Those with specialised jobs or working as supervisors will get a bit more, while the pit security guys might get between £11 and £12.50 an hour. The firm that "brands" the security at Glastonbury is Specialised - but few of the staff work directly for them - maybe only 50 or so onsite doing specialist jobs - and the others are sub contacted from various firms. As far as I can work out, all security staff get paid (and obviously a ticket to the festival!), whereas most stewards, whether Oxfam, or Backstage ones, do it for their ticket and some meals. A lot of the security staff also work 12 hour shifts, stewards are generally more normal 8 hours, so that makes a difference too I think in outlook and attitude...

It would be interesting to see some figures about crime levels, levels of security onsite, levels of police onsite etc in the years since the superfence to see if the increased security levels really do make thing "safer". Also, any evidence on whether the security staff do commit thefts etc as has been alleged in a couple of posts on here...

[HAPPY CHEF]

There are at least 4 different security companies wworking at Glastonbury

[redmosquito]

Whilst waiting for a new wristband (my other one hsd fallen off) I was chatting to the guy in the office point thing at the top of the hill of death who had 2 meatheads in there with him in case things kicked off. I must have been there 15 minutes and these 2 gad not looked up from their phones once nor had they uttered a sound. I asked the guy sorting my wristband how his weekend was and what it was like working here etc and he said it was ok. I then said well it must get a bit boring with the lack of conversation from those 2. At this point one of the guys looked up with a face of thundered and said that he'll be using his phone next to have me arrested and taken off site. I unferstand that my comment moght not have been the smartest but the aggresive way he said it and the threats he made were totally uncalled for. Then unsupprisingly when I went back down to ped gate C for my new wristband I was pulled over and searched. Luckily I thought this might happen so I left all my gear back up at the top of the hill but he'd obviously been on the radio to his mates at the bottom of the hill to give me a bit of grief.

[Douzeper]

Had no issues with them at all, in fact any I dealt with were very friendly! Maybe cos I'm an old git?

[MrZigster]

Let's just say that the security guy that made my friend empty his pockets and rucksack, lift his hat, and rifled through everything and his wallet with the proverbial fine toothed comb at the gate on Wednesday morning, prompted him with the question "Is that your phone then mate?", and took his word for it that it was, when they body-searched him and bumped a pocket that he had forgotten to empty, despite his phone being clearly already on the table with everything else.

My friend said it was like a proper customs search up 'till that point. He let the guy get on with his job and didn't give him any grief.

They're not all thieving twats.

[jamseyboy]

Interesting about body searches by security.....there is a fine line between searches and assault.....they have no authourity to do a pat down other than external clothing. I think if this is happening without a police/offcial prescence it is starting to get a little bit heavy. Anyone have any evidence of this happening?

[Douzeper]

Just remembered, seen a guy stopped by security going in the gate, they had taken of him what looked like a pringles tube. They were "OOHHHHHH" and "AHHHHHHHH" ing all over the shop and pulling out bags of what looked like coke/speed and bags of grass.

[abdoujaparov]

I unferstand that my comment moght not have been the smartest but the aggresive way he said it and the threats he made were totally uncalled for.

[geebus]

Presumably legally, they can do anything you give them permission too.

Legally they can probably refuse you entry for 'much any reason, including not accepting any search they may request.

redmosquito: worth getting their number and reporting them in such situations. Probably won't make much difference, but if everyone reported individual incidents to GF, then they may start to put some pressure on security companies to ensure their staff are less of an arse.

[abdoujaparov]

redmosquito: worth getting their number and reporting them in such situations. Probably won't make much difference, but if everyone reported individual incidents to GF, then they may start to put some pressure on security companies to ensure their staff are less of an arse.

[jameshunt]

Security? Are those the guys in the bright yellow vests who look like thugs and throw the remains of their beer and cups on the ground before walking off and the ones pissing in the hedges? Some very dodgy people employed by those firms.

[sisterofmercy]

Getting back at three ish on Sunday night we were accused of robbing from our own tents, the guy wasnt aggressive but it took some persuading him they were actually ours!

[Miathedog]

My boyfriend was walking back into site having been to the car and overheard a guy on the phone boasting about all the goodies he'd taken off people working on one of the entrance gates. I was shoved quite hard in the stomach by security in shangri la queue on sat night after my drunk friend spotted a gap in the low cattle fences and tried to drag me after her. To be fair queue was quite chaotic and they were desperately trying to keep control but to forcibly separate And shove two small young women felt a bit harsh at the time. We had no bad experiences ourselves but not liking some stories being posted. And another friend made us chuckle as was coming back from car quite late and had forgotten had his stash on him. He was pulled for a search and made to empty pockets on to the table which he did before getting thoroughly patted down shoes etc meanwhile stash in full view on table! Then they let him put all back in pockets and continue on his way

[deardo]

My boyfriend was walking back into site having been to the car and overheard a guy on the phone boasting about all the goodies he'd taken off people working on one of the entrance gates. I was shoved quite hard in the stomach by security in shangri la queue on sat night after my drunk friend spotted a gap in the low cattle fences and tried to drag me after her. To be fair queue was quite chaotic and they were desperately trying to keep control but to forcibly separate And shove two small young women felt a bit harsh at the time. We had no bad experiences ourselves but not liking some stories being posted. And another friend made us chuckle as was coming back from car quite late and had forgotten had his stash on him. He was pulled for a search and made to empty pockets on to the table which he did before getting thoroughly patted down shoes etc meanwhile stash in full view on table! Then they let him put all back in pockets and continue on his way

[howlin_pete]

Although I had no problems this year, have found security a pain in previous year, trying to intimidate me into giving over drugs and so forth. However, always found the police to be extremely friendly and into the spirit, even saw one giving someone a hi-five at one point. Imagine seeing that happen on the street! Also shows the difference between trained officers and power hungry twats who are given yellow vests for the weekend

[Ed209]

wasn't it a brand new security contractor this year? I know it means same old c**ts, but I thought they were marginally better than previous years

[chucky]

We were tatting some stuff left behind on Monday afternoon, we'd picked up some left behind wellies, cups and a couple of nice blankets, when we got stopped by a security bloke. When I say bloke, he was in fact a mere kid, he looked about 14. He tried to come over all hard and heavy, telling us we weren't allowed, it was illegal to tat and to clear off. Sadly he failed to notice at first that we weren't your average punter. It was only when he spotted that we were all wristbanded to the hilt and all 4 of us carried radios and earpieces that he went a whiter shade of pale and backed down. Later on I saw gangs of security smashing up left behind tents (perfectly good ones) and intimidating other people who were tatting.....they went on to have several people run off site for 'theft'.It's really bugged me ever since, not least that 'security' should mean just that, to keep people secure and safe!!!! They all just seemed to strut around with the strange idea that they actually had some sort of power of authority..does anyone know the company they were from?

[redmosquito]

There were definately at least 2 firms there this year. When I was threatened with arrest and expulsion the guy said he's calling a company called D&C who deal with chucking folks off site. I was then searched by a guy in an SIA t shirt I think.

Anyway I'll happily admit that my joke wasn't the smartest thing I've ever said but I said it in a very jokey way and it did make the bloke in the booth laugh. I just think threatening people with arrest for making a stupid but inoffensive joke is a bit much.

[Activeman]

I had to leave for a few hours on Sat morning. I have never in the years been going to Glastonbury ever been searched however on this morning they decided to search me ON THE WAY OUT...WTF!!!!! Ha ha had a nice chat with the chap searching me as we was due to finish his shift - nice bloke and no other issues with security tbh.

[VeeDub]

Right at the front of G Stage during Dub FX matey next to us was rolling and smoking joints, and the security must have been about 5m away and in clear view. She looked like she didnt care, and that she was loving the music