Concerns over the rising cost of policing music festivals across Dumfries and Galloway, have been raised in the Scottish Parliament by South of Scotland MSP Colin Smyth.
The local MSP used a recent debate in Parliament on Scotland’s events industry as an opportunity to celebrate the success of events and festivals across Dumfries and Galloway, while also highlighting the strain that rising policing costs is having on the sector.
Contributing to the debate, Colin Smyth highlighted the recent success of local events including the Lockerbie Jazz Festival, last year’s Women’s World Ice Hockey Championship and Wigtown’s Book Festival as well as the numerous music festivals held across the region.
Commenting on the challenges facing events organisers, the local MSP raised the issue of rising policing costs during the debate stating, “In 2015, the policing bill for the Eden festival was £12,000 for a licensed audience of 8,000. This year it is £38,000, an increase of more than 300 per cent. The Electric Fields festival had a bill of £1,600 for 2,000 people last year; this year it is £19,000 for an audience of 5,000, albeit over two days. Notwithstanding the perception of overpolicing, the charges by Police Scotland are well above those in England, undermining and risking events in rural areas and putting Scotland at a competitive disadvantage with our near neighbours.”
In response to Colin Smyth’s concerns, Cabinet Minister Aileen Campbell stated that the Government are working with Police Scotland on this issue. Following the debate, Colin Smyth tabled a Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for further commitments in dealing with this issue.
Speaking after the debate Colin Smyth stated, “Having carried out the voluntary role as Events Champion for Dumfries and Galloway Council over the past three years I’ve seen at first hand just how vital events and festivals are to the region both culturally and to the local economy. However, it’s clear that the spiralling costs of policing such events is a threat to their future in Dumfries and Galloway and the Government must take immediate action to put a halt to the soaring costs being demanded by Police Scotland before long-term damage is done.
I look forward to receiving the Minister’s response to the Parliamentary Question that I have tabled on this issue and I will continue to press the Government to ensure that the future of events and festivals across Dumfries and Galloway are not jeopardised as a result of soaring policing costs.”
