Praise for police work at T in Park

May 1 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PLAYING a key role in making T in the Park one of the world’s safest music events earned recognition for Perthshire police figureheads.

Chief Superintendent Matt Hamilton received a stunning framed aerial photograph of the site from event promoters Dance Factory for his efforts towards the smooth running of the festival, which attracts crowds of up to 85,000 to Balado, by Kinross.

“Our primary role has always been to ensure those present have a good time,” said a proud Ch Supt Hamilton yesterday.

“The officers at the festival have volunteered for the job because they like mixing with the young people and listening to the music.

“The organisers have a fantastic bill every year and a real knack of identifying acts at the top of their game or those just about to peak.

“Our partnership has produced an event that is internationally recognised.”

Mr Hamilton, who retires later this year, said that compared to other similarly sized venues T in the Park enjoys a very low level of crime.

Serious incidents are extremely rare, with campsite thefts and drug recoveries making up the lion’s share of offences.

Accolades to T in the Park in recent years have included 2005’s UK Festival Awards’ best facilities and organisation prize.

Ch Supt Hamilton said a police working group starts planning fully 10 months before the event, using new findings every year.

“Improvements and changes have been made every year,” he revealed.

“Old plans are never simply dusted down and put back on the table.

“Nowadays we use CCTV extensively and aerial observations through the first UK festival blimp, and police, fire and event co-ordinators have started using a joint operations centre.”

The senior officer said lessons learned when he was in charge of G8 Summit operations at Gleneagles in 2005 had proved valuable.

“We had a considerable amount of staff at G8 and it was a big challenge running T in the Park shortly afterwards,” he said.

“Two years later we had the event just a week after the incident at Glasgow Airport and a lot of hard decisions had to be made.

“However public safety is always our paramount concern and we act on the basis that the festival will remain in Kinross long-term.”

After torrential downpours caused havoc two years ago, fastest-ever vehicle entry times were recorded at a restructured Balado layout last year.

“The weather can be a real challenge, but we have never sat on our laurels at any time,” said Ch Supt Hamilton.

Reflecting on T in the Park musical attractions, Ch Supt Hamilton said he was privileged to have witnessed The Who’s performance in 2006.

“I had previously seen them as a 14-year-old in a community centre in Auchinleck, Ayrshire,” he recalled.

“I remember paying a pound to get in. I suppose I did even better at Balado because I got in for free!”

T in the Park’s event manager Colin Rodger hailed the contribution of Ch Supt Hamilton and retiring assistant chief constable Clive Murray.

“For T to work the way it does, a team approach from ourselves and the police is essential,” he told the PA.

“The biggest tribute I can pay to Matt and Clive is that kids at the event come up and ask for a photo with them and that’s not something you see elsewhere.

“That’s what makes T world class.”