Police chiefs urged officers not to make arrests during festival

Staff email warned of ‘extra demands’ placed on force over the music weekend

Police officers in Dundee were urged not to make arrests for minor offences or warrants due to strains placed on the system during T in the Park, it has emerged.

An email was sent to staff from the Bell Street custody office asking officers to “refrain from proactively looking to arrest warrants and/or minor offences” over the weekend of July 9 to 13.

It stated that there were “extra demands placed on both D Division and custody” over the course of the festival.

The message was sent on Thursday July 9, the day that revellers began to arrive at Strathallan Castle in Perthshire for the popular music event.

A source claimed that this had become a normal response to dealing with major events since the formation of Police Scotland two years ago.

The source said: “How does this policy keep in line with Police Scotland’s principle of keeping people safe?

“It basically means that if you stop someone in the street and they are wanted on warrant, they aren’t going to be arrested.”

The source added: “It’s a massively concerning issue, and it’s a policy that has become the norm during times such as T in the Park.”

Chief Superintendent Garr y McEwan, commander of Custody Division, said the message contained in the email was “standard practice”.

He said: “In preparation for major events, and to ensure sufficient custody capacity, including any necessary contingency arrangements, it is standard practice to avoid any nonessential custodies.

“This in no way includes crimes of violence or those people who present a risk in our community.”

But former police officer and new Scottish Labour justice spokesman Graeme Pearson MSP said he was surprised at the policy and called on a review to be undertaken by the Scottish Police Authority into the matter.

Picture: Steve MacDougall. T in the Park took place for the first time at its new home at Strathallan Estate last month.