This year’s Escape Into The Park is being held at Singleton Park, Swansea on Saturday 12th June 2010, the gates are due to opened at midday, and the event scheduled to finish at 11pm.
The event has attracted a significant Policing presence over the years with community concerns about drug misuse and public order issues.
As well as having a professional search capability, South Wales Police will be mounting additional community patrols in the Sketty, Brynmill and Uplands areas to reassure the community and reduce the potential impact of the event on them.
At the conclusion of the event, there are likely to be road closures on Mumbles Road between Sketty Lane and Brynmill Lane, and motorists are advised to take alternative routes around the City when the event concludes.
For those attending the event, search is a condition of entry and there will be drugs dogs and search teams active at the entrance to the arena.
South Wales Police emphasise, that once again, their priority is to make this a safe environment for ticket holders to enjoy the occasion, and have worked with the event organisers, other emergency services and the local authority to ensure a peaceful and enjoyable day for local residents and attendees.
Inspector Bill John, City Centre Inspector, at Swansea Central stated, “The vast majority of those attending behave very well, but those who attend in possession of controlled drugs, or who conduct themselves in anti social manner will be dealt with fairly and firmly. The minority of those who behave anti socially jeopardise the enjoyment of the event for the majority and those who attempt to bring drugs to the event will be dealt with for those offences and excluded from the arena.”
He added,” Prior to the event we will search the area for drugs using passive dogs for concealed substances, and on the day there will be a proportionate search of any person suspected to have drugs on them. Our message to those attending is not to risk being arrested or excluded from the event by inappropriate conduct and our aim is the safety of attendees and reducing the impact on the community in the vicinity of the event”
Last year approximately 12,500 persons attended and 50 persons were dealt with for possession of drugs, with 4 persons arrested for public order offences.
