Festival promoters have expressed concerns that proposals by the Association Of Chief Police Officers regarding the policing of large-scale events could dramatically add to their costs.
According to current rules, promoters of festivals or large scale music events have to pay for any police officers who work within the venues used by their events, but they don't have to pay for any increased policing that is necessary off site. But the ACPO is suggesting that the promoters of large scale commercial events should contribute to the cost of off-site policing. Their proposals specifically target football clubs, but they also vaguely reference "other money-making events".
If applied to music events, Music Week reckon the move could add thousands to the costs of staging major concerts or festivals. Needless to say, the live sector aren't too pleased by that prospect, arguing they already contribute to general policing through business rates and other taxes.
Festival Republic chief Melvin Benn, who previously won a dispute with Leeds police over the cost of policing a road outside the Leeds Festival, told Music Week: "I can't see why any Home Secretary would back this proposal as it would fundamentally change the face of the police in the UK. The Government already gets millions of pounds from us in corporation tax and VAT from ticket sales, but if they want to get rid of that, then paying for a private police force might be an option. However, if they target football and live music, then they'd also have to do it across society - and who would pick up the bill for protests and demonstrations? It would be a very dangerous precedent".