Police at Glastonbury



police005The information below is from Avon and Somerset Police, the Festival’s local police force. 

Why are Avon and Somerset Police at Glastonbury?

More than 200,000 people attend each day of the festival and although it is relatively crime-free, we work with the organisers to ensure it’s a safe event for everyone.

A policing presence is also essential to the granting of the licence needed to hold the festival.

What do we do at the festival?

We adopt the same neighbourhood-style of policing we practice throughout our communities and like we’ve previously done at past Festivals.

This involves regular visible patrols of the site by uniformed officers, officers on horseback and officers on bicycles.

We encourage Festival-goers to approach officers on patrol. They will be happy to stop and have a chat.

Other resources, such as plain-clothed officers and the police helicopter, will also be used when appropriate.

To enhance security, we will also be carrying out Project Servator deployments in and around the Festival site.

Where can you find us?

During the Festival we will be on site 24 hours a day.

We will be based in a compound on Worthy Farm, in the Big Ground (PGB) area of the site. We share this area with other emergency services and partners. View a map of the full site here.

The public can visit us to:

  • report a crime to an officer, or by using the on-site phone at the police compound – if you have access to the internet, you can also use our dedicated report crime at Glastonbury form
  • ask for directions
  • or just to chat to an officer

There are also police information boards situated around the festival site close to the steward cabins. These display information on how to report a crime, and crime prevention advice for those at the festival.

Travel advice

Before you set out on your journey to the festival, check the latest updates on road and public transport networks:

Make sure you are fully prepared for delays before setting out. Regardless of how you’re getting there, make sure you take plenty of water with you as well as snacks and a first aid kit, just in case.

If travelling by car, ensure you check your vehicle well in advance, including oil level, tyre pressure and spare tyre.

Safety advice

We want everyone to be familiar with the following advice ahead of this year’s festival.

  • Arrive early for extra security measures. This will help prevent delays in getting into the event.
  • Be patient with security checks and don’t give security, staff or stewards a hard time. It might seem inconvenient, but these measures are in place to help you.
  • It is essential you don’t bring unnecessary items to the event. A suggested packing list can be found on here along with a list of prohibited items, such as lasers, fireworks and drones. Packing light will also help to speed up searches and your entry to the event.
  • If you spot someone acting suspiciously, report it to a police officer or to a member of security staff immediately. Don’t leave it to someone else.
  • If you see something on social media that concerns you, report it.
  • In an emergency, always call 999 and look around you for help from staff – especially those with radios who can raise the alarm quickly.
  • Don’t leave bags unattended or anywhere they could cause a security scare. And never agree to look after anyone else’s bags, no matter how genuine they seem.
  • If there is an incident, listen to staff and any announcements. Festival organisers have emergency plans to help you keep safe.
  • Remember, the chance of being caught in a terrorism incident is small. But if it happens – Run, Hide, Tell.

There is no intelligence to indicate an increased threat to Glastonbury 2022. However, as we did during the last festival in 2019, we will again be supporting Counter Terrorism Policing’s #BeSafeBeSound campaign on Twitter and Instagram.

Personal property advice

If you are bringing a phone, tablet or other electronic device to the festival, you are advised to protect it.

Anti-theft apps give us the best chance to find stolen electronics and most are free to download and quick to install.

We advise people to record the make and model of their valuables, if it’s a phone then note down the IMEI number and the account username and password of any tracking app.

You can also register your property (phone, tablet, camera, etc) on the Immobilise database. It takes only a few minutes and it’s free.

Festival-goers are reminded to be discreet with their valuables. Keep it out of sight such as in a front pocket if possible or in one of our free phone pouches, or leave it at the free property lock-ups. Keep it safe, keep it hidden.

Read our crime prevention advice for more information about keeping your personal property safe.

Policing of illegal drugs

We will not tolerate anyone with illegal substances and those found with drugs will be dealt with appropriately and proportionately. This could include being evicted from the site and arrested.

Security checks will be carried out on entry into the site and the festival’s security staff are well practised in finding prohibited items.

Anyone who suspects someone is supplying drugs on site is asked to report it to a police officer, call 101 or report it online using our dedicated report crime at Glastonbury form.

Reporting concerns or crime to us

If you are at the festival and need to speak to us, approach an officer, if a crime is in progress or there is a threat of immediate danger, call 999.

To report non emergencies:

To help us locate you in the event you do need us, we recommend you download the What3Words app beforehand.

To keep up to date with news and crime prevention advice throughout the festival, or to ask us a non-urgent question, follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

Information for Pilton residents

Although we work with Mendip District Council and Glastonbury Festival throughout the year to ensure the festival runs as smoothly as possible, we do not underestimate the impact it has on the local community and will do everything possible to ensure they are disturbed as little as possible.

We, along with the council and the festival, will have representatives at Pilton Village Hall throughout the festival for local people to speak to should they have any concerns or worries.

Anyone planning to come to Pilton without a festival ticket is strongly advised not to.

There will be no places for anyone to stop on or near the village and if people try to camp on roadside verges or near people’s homes they will be moved out of the area.

Policing doesn’t start and stop in Pilton. Officers and security staff will be patrolling on all of the routes to the site so that all festival-goers have as safe a trip as possible and local residents are disturbed as little as possible.

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