Police Drug Warning Over V Festival

Revellers are being warned not to take drugs to this year’s V Festival on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border or they will face court action.

A condition of entry to the festival at Weston Park, near Shifnal, means that all festival-goers must allow themselves to be searched by police or security staff. Police, using drugs dogs, and stewards will be searching people as they enter the site for the festivities from August 21 to 24.

Chief Inspector Vera Bloor, from the tactical support department at Staffordshire Police, said: “Drugs aren’t welcome at V. If you take them, or deal in them, we’ll catch you and prosecute you.”

Anyone found in possession of drugs will be arrested. They will have to provide a DNA sample and have their fingerprints taken which will be kept on the police national database.

A mobile drugs laboratory and a laptop drugs-identifying machine will help officers quickly establish the type of substances seized and offenders could then be put before the next available court.

Chief Inspector Bloor said: “We work closely with the organisers to ensure that the event is a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

“It is renowned for being one of the safest in this country and we will continue to make it even safer for festival-goers and members of the local community.”

Police nationally have recovered fake drugs at concerts and found plaster-of-paris pills being sold as ecstasy and a drug called chloroquine, used to treat malaria, being sold as cocaine.

Chief Inspector Bloor added: “Obviously these fake drugs could be extremely harmful and even life-threatening. Anyone caught with fake drugs will risk arrest, being put before a court and could face a prison sentence.

“It is also important for people entering or leaving the site to remember that driving under the influence of drink or drugs puts lives at risk.”

Anyone with information on drugs at the festival is urged to report it by going to the police post on site, or by texting vfest (then message) to 07929 30 20 10, or calling confidentially through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Visit www.staffordshire.police.uk/vfestival for more information.

Source: www.shropshirestar.com

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