Figures released under a Freedom on Information request have revealed the number of Police on duty at both of the Isle of Wight’s major festival.
For years many have thought large numbers of Police were in attendance during the festivals, but until now the exact number hasn’t been known.
Same numbers at both festivals
The figures also show that both festivals have the same number of Police at them, slightly surprising given how many more members of the public are licensed to attend the Isle of Wight Festival.
The cost of Policing these events must be considerable for the organisers, who pay for the Police to attend.
It’s generally accepted that plain clothes officers operate at both festival, with rumours of officers wearing dreadlock wigs with cameras hidden in them remaining unconfirmed.
We contacted the Police last week asking them to fill in some of these details, they replied, “Police would not speculate about covert policing tactics in these circumstances.”
Drug seizure FoI reveal figures
These exact numbers came to light in connection with the revelation of the large quantity of drugs seized at Bestival and the Isle of Wight Festival over the last four years. Following the revelation, the Police issued an unprompted statement the following day.
| Bestival | IW Festival | |
| 2008 | 481 | 481 |
| 2009 | 469 | 469 |
| 2010 | 546 | 546 |
| 2011 | 534 | 534 |
Image: westmidlandspolice under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license
