SEPTEMBER | COVER FEATURE
and The Loop ’ s specialist harm reduction team .
“ Safety testing can actually reduce the number of drugs that are used at an event . It is not uncommon for festival-goers to voluntarily dispose of their drugs after safety testing reveals what they are composed of .
“ If we are to cut crime and save lives there ’ s one thing we can all agree on ; we need fresh ideas . Beyond our moral duty to protect life , the potential savings for public services and in turn the taxpayer , could be vast if just one serious overdose is prevented . Safety testing also helps the police to gather intelligence on new drugs in the region . That intelligence can then be used to warn people of the dangers around these substances , and to prosecute the dealers who are putting profit above young people ’ s lives ,” she continues .
Meanwhile , the event industry is integrating strict door policies and considering rolling out drug testing across the board .
Drug use is acknowledged as a reality at all venues , according to Vibration Group ’ s Simeon Aldred , as well as festivals and public events across the world . “ All venues owners and festival owners are more than aware of the license risks brought from breaching regulations around drug or alcohol abuse . So , this is not just a moral priority for us , it ’ s very much a commercial one too .
“ At Printworks London we have Zero Tolerance to drugs-use in the venue . Our very robust door policy ensures that we ’ re compliant with the licence . Last year we had more than 300,000 guests through the door with no major safety or welfare issues . But this was more about our event operations .
“ The reality is that people pre-load drugs before they get to venues , or even have them concealed where security cannot check . In response , we provide world-class medical services onsite , safe areas , brilliant security training and amnesty opportunities . These are super simple mitigation methods that all work . Have we had people need the help of our medical team as a result of pre-loaded drug use ? Yes , for sure ! But with the right team and the correct training in place , we provide a safe space for these guests . It ’ s not just about having medics , it ’ s about having a team that understand the substances and are totally fluent with the systems .
Aldred adds that outside of London , organisations such as The Loop are leading thinking around drug testing and use . “ This safe space is helping party
goers make more educated choices around what they decide to use ,” he concludes .
On the subject of event cancellation , Tilsed adds that insurance policies will normally provide cover against “ unavoidable ” cancellation , so it is therefore essential the policy includes a 24 / 7 helpline so that an agreed approach is taken . “ There is the added benefit that many of these policies also include a crisis containment service which can provide assistance to the organiser on how they deal with all PR issues associated with the announcement of a cancellation ,” he adds .
While an event cancellation is now very much a proven possibility when drug problems spiral out of control , there are signs that government is taking a slightly more progressive approach to the situation overall , according to Reed .
“ The Home Office recently went on record to say that they will not stand in the way of testing . I don ’ t think it should be a licensing objective as this would have unintended consequences , but I do think it ’ s a service that should be available to all events who feel they have a need for it .
“ If testing takes place , it needs to happen in the correct way , with the right equipment and properly trained staff . The Loop certainly deliver this . We went to see it in operation on-site at Boomtown last year and it ’ s a sophisticated operation , done with FTIR spectroscopy linked to a computer database of all known legal and illegal substances .”
The industry remains united in the cause of preventing drug harm , but after a particularly tragic year for drug deaths , it seems a consensus is emerging for a route forward . Thankfully , we ’ re better equipped than ever .
26