Police! Thoughts?

[stuartbert two hats]

Thanks for that valuable insight into titp policing in a thread about Glastonbury policing. Very useful.

[The 38 year old virgin]

I haven't read the thread but I don't want the filth bollocking me for skinning up. I'm a near 40 yr old professional who likes the odd bifta, and don't need or want them upholding the law anywhere near me if it's stopping me getting stoned

[Franky]

I did warn you guys about arguing with the all knowing Russy, He's just a Troll looking for a rise.

I think you can just read through this thread and then walk away from it without making a comment having made up your own minds.

Providing of course we are allowed our own thought processes

[GlastoSimon]

Also I couldnt give a flying fuck about what went on in the 80s and how the police dealt with things. Means nothing in 2014. Not a thing.

[Franky]

Oh god you people !!!!

They are not fiddling the stats for Glastonbury festival though are they you tool !!!

[Sawdusty surfer]

/

Edited May 18, 2014 by Sawdusty Surfer

[neilloggie]

They seem ok, one gave me a torch in 2007.

[frostypaw]

Oh god you people !!!!

They are not fiddling the stats for Glastonbury festival though are they you tool !!!

[Purple aki squat]

The problem these days is that many glastonbury goers, including people on this forum, actually support the police in the way they treated and continue to treat travellers.

What reason have these wealthy, white middle class people got to dislike the police I suppose.

[Guest]

Glastonbury has clearly moved on.

Travellers are supposed to be good at that too.

Also I couldnt give a flying fuck about what went on in the 80s and how the police dealt with things. Means nothing in 2014. Not a thing.

Edited May 18, 2014 by Ommadawn

[GlastoSimon]

Oh god you people !!!!

They are not fiddling the stats for Glastonbury festival though are they you tool !!!

[kalifire]

Come on now, let's keep thing civil, eh? I want to meet up with you fine people next month and don't fancy a random thread about the police causing any unnecessary tension.

It's Glasto, remember. If I have to come dressed as a travelling, blacked up cop stopping and searching myself every fifteen minutes for an hour, I'll happily do it to remind us all we're there for the music and the spirit, not the things that divide us.

[frostypaw]

There used to be a couple of performers who'd come out dressed up as police then start making out/acting up - was brilliant

They got arrested for impersonating, not allowed to happen anymore

They are more easy going at Glasto, but the line's still there. Whatever the past we have to be thankful for the current more rational approach even if it's not perfect. Only so much to be achieved focusing on the past, and with them holding the festival's arm being it's back via licensing we can only really make progress by doing our best to keep it a peaceful holiday for the cops on the ground and give them little reason to feel the need to do anything at all

[Guest]

Come on now, let's keep thing civil, eh? I want to meet up with you fine people next month and don't fancy a random thread about the police causing any unnecessary tension.

It's Glasto, remember. If I have to come dressed as a travelling, blacked up cop stopping and searching myself every fifteen minutes for an hour, I'll happily do it to remind us all we're there for the music and the spirit, not the things that divide us.

[stardustjunkie]

I've watched the Julian Temple documentary quite a few times, and I've read every post on this thread, trying to understand as much as possible.

I was born in 1992, so anything before 2000 is a hazy memory or before my time. Speaking as someone who has been to Glastonbury 3 times, I find the police presence to be calming and necessary. I don't find them intrusive or pushy, they are just doing their job which I'm sure is required for us to even have a festival. At the end of the day, if you're going to do something illegal, then you know that you're at risk of being caught. I honestly don't care if someone wants to take drugs or whatever at Glastonbury, as long as they are enjoying themselves and they are not causing any harm to anyone else, then I really couldn't care less. But the police are doing their jobs when they're catching dealers etc. These people know the risks they are taking by carrying out an illegal activity.

It's security that bother me. I do work within events and we've had some real problems with security making up their own rules, picking and choosing who gets what treatment (pretty girls can enter a hazardous, explosive area for example but their boyfriends must stay out in the public only area ). I'm sure, as with every profession, some of them are fine, but others have serious ego issues and could do with getting over themselves a bit.

That being said, I've never encountered security at Glastonbury but I've heard some tales that I don't agree with.

It's not like there's police on every corner, at every stage, in every field. They're just 'about', a presence that is necessary and one I'm sure many people appreciate, or at least, those of us too young or naive to know/understand the past can appreciate.

Edit: this was more in response to the original question, not all the other posts.

Edited May 18, 2014 by stardustjunkie

[Guest]

I've watched the Julian Temple documentary quite a few times, and I've read every post on this thread, trying to understand as much as possible.

I was born in 1992, so anything before 2000 is a hazy memory or before my time. Speaking as someone who has been to Glastonbury 3 times, I find the police presence to be calming and necessary. I don't find them intrusive or pushy, they are just doing their job which I'm sure is required for us to even have a festival. At the end of the day, if you're going to do something illegal, then you know that you're at risk of being caught. I honestly don't care if someone wants to take drugs or whatever at Glastonbury, as long as they are enjoying themselves and they are not causing any harm to anyone else, then I really couldn't care less. But the police are doing their jobs when they're catching dealers etc. These people know the risks they are taking by carrying out an illegal activity.

It's security that bother me. I do work within events and we've had some real problems with security making up their own rules, picking and choosing who gets what treatment (pretty girls can enter a hazardous, explosive area for example but their boyfriends must stay out in the public only area ). I'm sure, as with every profession, some of them are fine, but others have serious ego issues and could do with getting over themselves a bit.

That being said, I've never encountered security at Glastonbury but I've heard some tales that I don't agree with.

It's not like there's police on every corner, at every stage, in every field. They're just 'about', a presence that is necessary and one I'm sure many people appreciate, or at least, those of us too young or naive to know/understand the past can appreciate.

[Guest]

It's not like there's police on every corner, at every stage, in every field. They're just 'about', a presence that is necessary and one I'm sure many people appreciate, or at least, those of us too young or naive to know/understand the past can appreciate.

[Yesiamaduck]

I'm one of those who remember the festival when the Police were banned by Michael Eavis. I personally think they're an unwelcome and largely unnecessary addition (fairy wings or not).

[stardustjunkie]

I'm one of those who remember the festival when the Police were banned by Michael Eavis. I personally think they're an unwelcome and largely unnecessary addition (fairy wings or not).

[kalifire]

Hmm - a bit of Trolling going on here I think. Anyway, Troll or not, I've no wish to meet up with anyone with views similar to yours at Glastonbury or anywhere else. However, I do hope you have a great festival though.

[davefrompompey]

With regard to Glastonbury the police are a necessary evil.

Regardless of the intentions of individual officers though, there are systemic and endemic issues with the police, racism being a significant one.

I had a minor run-in with a couple of coppers on Friday night. One was reasonable (the younger and subordinate of the two), but the other was a power-hungry shit. I mentioned that I had studied the law for a significant amount of time and was well aware that they had no right to keep me.

I think that his answer is indicative of the problem with policing in this country.

He said 'yes, law students cause us the most problems.'

In Portsmouth, law students probably account for something like .15% of the population. That's less than psychopaths, less than paedophiles, and probably less than career criminals.

He didn't mean that law students cause 'the most trouble'. What he meant was that the police can't do whatever the fuck they like to law students because, unlike most people, they recognise that there are lines the police can't cross, and that people in this country have certain freedoms which, while they might be inconvenient to individual police officers, are essential for the democratic vitality of the country.

I would encourage anyone who comes into contact with the police to always question their motivations and their legal basis for anything they do.

We must remember that they answer to us, not us to them. And they have to remember that as well - we all know what happens if they're led to believe that they're in charge.

[Chimps in Balaclavas]

I had a minor run-in with a couple of coppers on Friday night. One was reasonable (the younger and subordinate of the two), but the other was a power-hungry shit.

[Mr.Tease]

The problem these days is that many glastonbury goers, including people on this forum, actually support the police in the way they treated and continue to treat travellers.

What reason have these wealthy, white middle class people got to dislike the police I suppose.

[1laws1]

Yes the police are really awful......investigating murders,rapes,robbery..........going after them nice people who distract and burgle the old and vulnerable who can only stand sit and watch it happen, look to put away those who have committed the most hideous of crimes against children.........tell me Russy and the rest of the idiot get on the band wagon anti police crew, what have you done to protect these people? And no I am not a policeman, but if something happened to any of my family or property the police are my first port of call, who do you lot go to?

[Mr.Tease]

Yes the police are really awful......investigating murders,rapes,robbery..........going after them nice people who distract and burgle the old and vulnerable who can only stand sit and watch it happen, look to put away those who have committed the most hideous of crimes against children.........tell me Russy and the rest of the idiot get on the band wagon anti police crew, what have you done to protect these people? And no I am not a policeman, but if something happened to any of my family or property the police are my first port of call, who do you lot go to?