Glastonbury Festival might have to 'reduce capacity' to curb drug use

The board meeting of Mendip District Council licencing discussed drug use at the Glastonbury Festival, and Mendip Council Somerset Cllr Simon Carswell proposed a reduction in participants and an increase in security to combat the issue.

Cllr Simon Carswell of Mendip Council in Somerset suggests increasing festival security or issuing fewer tickets to increase drug seizures. Police and council members in Somerset are also urging the event's organisers to disclose information about drug seizures and strengthen drug security.

The well-known music event, which draws up to 200,000 visitors, currently withholds the total number of drugs it has seized from the public.


Currently, police only record the figures from the arrests of drug users at the festival's site. However, narcotics placed in amnesty bins or taken out by security personnel are not noted.

However, according to sources in the Telegraph, capacity may be limited as a result of these concerns being brought up at a Mendip District Council licensing board meeting.



Cllr Francis Hayden argued in favour of front-of-house testing so that attendees could have the safety of their medicines evaluated prior to entering the festival. But Glastonbury's head of security, Andy Battle, said there wouldn't be any front-of-house testing anytime soon.

The festival would not be impacted by the anticipated increases to the security staffing levels until at least 2024, though.

The dates for Glastonbury's return are June 21 through June 25, and tickets are expected to cost £340, a substantial rise over what they were last year.

FAQs:

1. How many people participate in the Glastonbury Festival?
   Up to 200,000 people attend the festival.
2. What is the expected price of tickets?
   £340