The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Row as police debate on T in the Park is closed to public
Councillor slams decision to debate festival issues in private
T in the Park was at the centre of a new transparency row last night, after police chiefs were blocked from speaking publicly about how the festival was covered.
Chief Inspector Ian Scott was asked to reveal challenges the force faced at the Strathallan Castle event this summer.
Perth councillor Alexander Stewart called for a chance to debate issues surrounding the event, hailed a hit by organisers and many fans but severely marred by late-night traffic chaos.
However, the councillor’s questioning at yesterday’s community safety committee meeting was cut short. Convener Douglas Pover told him the matter would instead be discussed later, behind closed doors.
Afterwards, Mr Stewart slammed the decision. “It is absolutely outrageous that this cannot be discussed in (the) open. This was one of the biggest events to be held in the area this summer and the public have a right to know how it was policed. We need transparency. People will rightly be asking: what have they got to hide?”
Mr Pover later said the T in the Park discussion would be held in private because “raw data” and anecdotal evidence may be discussed. He said a full report on the festival would be submitted to the council in due course.
The row follows allegations of cronyism over a Scottish Government award of £150,000 paid to festival organisers DF Concerts.
Mr Stewart asked CI Scott to elaborate on T in the Park, which gets just a fleeting mention under the heading “Major Events” in a 15-page Police Scotland report on activities across Perth and Kinross over the last three months.
“This was effectively Scotland’s fifthlargest city that weekend and we know there were problems, including a death and several arrests,” Mr Stewart said.
“This was a major event and it would have had (a) significant knock-on effect to local police, and it is crucial that this is discussed in public.”
CI Scott replied: “We are still getting and investigating crimes which were reported by the public, either at the time of the festival or afterwards. It is difficult, at this stage, to give accurate figures.”
He declined to comment further during the open session.
It is absolutely outrageous that this cannot be discussed in (the) open. This was one of the biggest events to be held in the area this summer and the public have a right to know how it was policed.