Have a great weekend at Standon Calling

Heading to Standon Calling? The festival returns to east Hertfordshire this weekend and police are issuing advice to help people ensure it’s an event to remember for all the right reasons.

The constabulary works closely with organisers to ensure that events run smoothy. Festivals in the county are generally safe places, with low levels of crime.

Sadly, however, we know that a very small minority of people may see these events as an excuse to forget normal standards of behaviour, and this is simply not acceptable.

Our message to everyone is to really think hard about their actions and the impact they may have, both on victims and on themselves.

It is particularly important to remember that sex without consent is rape; this includes sex with anyone, male or female, who is incapacitated as a result of alcohol or drugs.

Offenders could find themselves facing a prison sentence and being placed on the sex offenders’ register. So stop and think; is it really worth the consequences?

More than 100 events across the UK have signed up to the Association of Independent Festivals' (AIF) Safer Spaces At Festivals campaign, including Standon Calling, pledging that all allegations of sexual assault, violence and harassment will be taken seriously, acted on promptly and investigated.

If you feel uncomfortable, or have concerns about someone’s behaviour, please do not hesitate to report it to festival staff, security or to the police.

Additional advice to help your weekend go smoothly:

• Only take the essentials with you and never leave valuable items unattended in tents. Make sure to keep cash, cards and mobile phones as secure as possible when entering the arena, in a zipped pocket, handbag or money belt.
• Be patient around security searches as they are being conducted for your own safety. You may need to allow extra time for these searches when you arrive.
• If you feel unwell, visit the welfare tent on site or speak to a member of security.
• Consider installing a personal safety app, such as Hollie Guard, on your mobile phone.
• Do not leave any valuable items in your vehicle and remove any loose change, bags, sunglasses etc from display.
• Ensure all windows and doors of your vehicle are fully locked and secure.
• Open your glove compartment to show nothing of value has been left inside.
• Clean all sat nav suction marks off the inside of your windscreen, as this could indicate to thieves that a sat nav has been left in the vehicle.