Alright, now listen up all of you nogoodniks and ne’er-do-wells heading to Splendour In The Grass this weekend, we know what you’ve got planned and we just want you to know that we’re already onto your nefarious little plans for “fun” and “joy”.
At least, that’s (kinda, sorta, not really) what police are telling punters heading to Byron Bay this weekend for Splendour In The Grass 2015. Police warn they will be conducting a “high visibility operation” for the duration of the festival.
As the Northern Star reports, the police operation will involve officers from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command, assisted by officers from across the Northern Region and the Dog Unit, Public Order and Riot Squad, Operations Support Group, and Traffic and Highway Patrol.
“Splendour in the Grass is the biggest winter music festival in Australia,” Acting Superintendent Gary Cowan told the paper. “Police will be targeting illegal drug use and supply, underage drinking, alcohol-related violence and anti-social behaviour.”
“We will take appropriate action against anyone who chooses to commit crime, breach Splendour’s terms and conditions, or behave in an offensive manner.” Police have also extended their warning to any would-be “fence jumpers” looking to get in for free.
“The event is sold out. If you do not have a ticket, do not come,” Act Supt Cowan said. “Anyone planning to bring illegal drugs to the parklands should expect to get caught – in addition to uniformed and plain-clothes police, drug detection dogs will again be patrolling the festival.”
“We do not want to see a repeat of last year. As a consequence of the 2014 drug-dog operation we detected 271 people in possession of prohibited drugs. It was disappointing to see so many people place themselves and other festival attendees in danger.”
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By the Saturday of last year’s Splendour In The Grass festival, NSW Police had already confiscated more than a kilo of drugs and arrested 159 punters through individual searches and vehicle checks, according to a report from SBS News.
“Our primary focus will be to stop people taking illegal drugs into the festival.” However, Aussie airline Jetstar weren’t as interested as the police in stopping people carrying illegal drugs, even warning them to dump their substances before touching down on a return flight.
As Tone Deaf reported at the time, a crew member warned passengers aboard a domestic flight leaving from the Gold Coast that Police offers were awaiting at Sydney airport, saying, “If you need to dispose of anything you shouldn’t have we suggest you flush it now.”
