Boardmasters team reveal safety improvements

The organisers of this year's Boardmasters festival have unveiled safety improvements after seven people were taken to hospital following a crowd surge at last year's event.

Police also investigated allegations of a sexual assault at the 2024 festival.

The five-day music and surfing festival, which is set to feature The Prodigy, Raye and rapper Central Cee, will be held in Newquay from Wednesday to Sunday.

Boardmasters founder and CEO Andrew Topham said the team "remain saddened by the isolated incident in 2024".

He added: "Delivering a safe and well-organised festival is our highest priority.

Mr Topham said the team had spent months planning this year's event alongside Devon and Cornwall Police, Cornwall Council and other authorities to ensure the event "meets the highest standards".

Festival-goers will see enhanced 24/7 security, more high viz patrols both day and night, more search lanes to keep queues moving and 24-hour support.

There would also be a renewed focus on the cultural heritage of the event which started in 1981 as an international surfing festival.

Mr Topham said the management team included crowd management specialists.

Improvements had also been made to the layout and signage at the festival as well as the confidential welfare provision, Mr Topham added.

The main arena and campsite medical points would be staffed around the clock to reduce pressure on local services, organisers said.

Ashley Mann, from the South Western Ambulance Service, said: "Enhanced safety measures mean our crews will be ready to respond quickly and effectively should the need arise, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone attending."

Boardmasters safeguarding lead Dawn Grant said young people often picked the event as their first festival experience.

"We want their experience to be a positive one," she said.

"We have a robust safeguarding framework in place at the festival, including a welfare team with extensive experience of supporting young people and a dedicated safeguarding team consisting of trained safeguarding officers accessible via any service on-site."