Here’s a fun game for you, it’s called ‘count the Future fence-jumpers’.

The Sydney leg of Future Music Festival 2014 saw around 47,000 revellers hitting Randwick Racecourse last Saturday 8th March, but that number may not account for a mass break-in that occurred along one of the perimeter fences at the event.

A group of around 20 or more (count along, readers) patrons leisurely walked along a seemingly un-patrolled fence at the Sydney event, as the below fan footage captures. A number of nimble Future fans comically stroll across the perimeter boundary and make a dash for the stages to catch the likes of Deadmau5, Pharrell, Phoenix and the rest of the Future lineup.

Plenty of revellers exploit the un-patrolled entrance before Police catch on to the breach, and the video shows the wincing results of one fence-jumper getting their karma comeuppance in their rush to get away, while another is tackled for their sluggishness.

So how many did you count?

Despite the break-in, NSW Police commended the overall behaviour of the Sydney crowd after a high-visibility operation targeted violence, anti-social behaviour, and drugs at the festival.

“Overall, the behaviour of the large crowd inside the venue was very good with no major incidents or disturbances,” said Operation Commander, Detective Superintendent Gavin Dengate. Adding that “while most of the crowd were well behaved, there were still a few who were caught in possession of illicit drugs.” “Overall, the behaviour of the large crowd inside the venue was very good with no major incidents or disturbances”
Officers with sniffer dogs nabbed 163 people for alleged possession of illicit drugs after 500 individual searches, according to the NSW Police report, handing out notices to appear in court while four more people were charged with drug supply, confiscating illicit substances such as cannabis, ecstasy, and amphetamines.

Along with the small percentage of drug arrests, another 82 patrons were refused entry to Future or ejected from the event (likely including the above tackled fence-jumper), the majority due to intoxication.

“We are committed and will always run these types of policing operations to catch those peddling illegal and potentially-lethal substances to make the event safer for everyone,” Supt Dengate said. “They were lucky not to be seriously injured.”

By contrast, VIC Police’s report on the Melbourne Future Music Festival, held at Flemington Racecourse on Sunday 9th March, saw fewer arrests. A sniffer dog operation led to 45 people issued with drug diversions and three more receiving cannabis cautions before even entering the event.

“These drugs are manufactured by criminals and people have no idea what they are taking or the real risks involved,” remarked Senior Sergeant Mark Pilkington.

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine