As the first days of summer officially arrive, so too does the peak Aussie music festival season, and with it, the inevitable police reports from music events around the country.
Helping ushering in the summer season over the weekend was the simultaneous kick-off of Stereosonic 2013 in both Sydney and Perth, with a lineup of more than 100 electronic artists, DJs, and producers (but sadly, no Skrillex).
Following on from the Police drug-driving operation over Strawberry Fields where officers were “disgusted” with the results of a drug-driving operation in which “nearly one person out of every two returned a positive reading;” NSW Police are relatively pleased with the behaviour of patrons attending Stereosonic 2013’s Sydney leg, despite charging more than 100 festival-goers for drugs-related offences.
The sold-out Sydney leg, hosted at Sydney Showground in the city’s Olympic Park, saw 65,000 punters descending on Stereosonic 2013, to catch a lineup featuring some of the world’s top ranking DJs, such as Armin Van Buuren, David Guetta, Nicky Romero, and multi-millionaire Calvin Harris.
A high-visibility police operation starting on Saturday 30th November seeing more than 200 police officers – including sniffer dogs, riot squad, and mounted units – on site at the event.
On the second day of the dance music festival, on Sunday 1st December, police searched 641 people and charged 108 people for possession of illicit substances, while six more people were charged for drug supply, according to a NSW Police Report, while a further six were charged with alcohol related offences, while another four people were also charged over assault incidents. “When you look at recent events that have been held in Sydney when you’ve had people overdose and die on these illicit substances, we have to take these things seriously.”
The operation also extended to the nearby Central Railway Station, with drug-detection dog units targeting Stereosonic punters on their way to the event, charging seven people for possession and a further seven were issued move on notices from 39 searches, but also seized prohibited drugs and confiscating large quantities of alcohol.
The Sydney event also saw Ambulance Paramedics treating 149 people at the site for medical conditions, while four patrons were taken to hospital for further assistance.
Operation Commander, Superintendent David Eardley said that the majority of Stereosonic 2013-goers demonstrated good behaviour, but was disappointed at the actions of some.
“While most revellers enjoyed the festival safely, the number of people caught with illegal drugs or alcohol was definitely of concern,” he noted. “Overall the high-visibility police operation yielded some excellent results in targeting anti-social behaviour as well as drug and alcohol related offences at both public transport hubs and at the venue itself.”
The Superintendent added that “Police will continue to target people over drug possession as these substances are illegal, they pose very serious health risks and in some instances they can prove lethal. We will continue to run this type of operation in the future to ensure revellers can attend festivals and enjoy themselves in a safe environment.”
Police were particularly vigilant on Stereosonic in light of the scrutiny placed on dance music events following the high-profile fatalities linked to drug overdoses at major events earlier this year; including the death of a 23-year-old man who swallowed “three pills”, according to Police reports, at West Sydney’s Defqon.1 “hardcore” dance festival, where 14 more were hospitalised and 84 arrested on drugs charges.
“We’ve made a concerted effort this year,” Supt, Eardley tells ABC News, “when you look at recent events that have been held in Sydney when you’ve had people overdose and die on these illicit substances, we have to take these things seriously. And our resourcing commitment to this event is I think reflective of that.”
Sterosonic 2013’s two-day expansion has also ruffled the feathers of Perth’s Claremont Council, who ahead of this past weekend’s kick-off were concerned attendees would rather become overnight squatters than to have the common sense to book accommodation.
Though the Perth council has previously labelled Stereosonic revellers as “the worst ever”, they’ve yet to kick up a stink over this year’s edition; perhaps because they’re busy picking a fight with Big Day Out, fuming that the iconic one-day festival snubbed them in an application for an 11pm curfew with the Western Australian Department of Environment Regulation.
In any case, Stereosonic 2013 continues its run this week, hitting Adelaide this Friday and Saturday, overlapping with its turn in Brisbane on Saturday and Sundy, running simultaneously with Melbourne, where 93 people arrested at last year’s edition on drugs-related charges.
