Police were in the dark about T in the Park move
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SENIOR Police officers were only informed of the relocation of Scotland’s biggest music festival moments before the public announcement, according to new documents.
Released following a Freedom of Information request to the Sunday Express, the documents also reveal that T in the Park organisers DF Concerts were warned against a move to new venue Strathallan Castle three years ago.
As one of the largest events staged in Scotland attracting thousands of festival goers each year, T in the Park is one of Police Scotland’s biggest and most demanding deployments.
Hundreds of crimes are committed at the annual music festival, with figures released in July showing that 3,600 offences were reported at T in the Park between the period 2004 and 2013.
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The crimes included three attempted murders, 10 sex attacks, an attempted abduction, 19 robberies and 2,304 cases of drug supply.
In response to the Freedom of Information request, Police Scotland confirmed to the Sunday Express that they only told of the move on 25th June - the day the news was released to the public.
“On June 25, 2014, Police Scotland received a call from the concert organisers and advised that a public announcement was to be sent out later that day, confirming that the 2014 TITP would be the last held at the Balado site.
“This was confirmed in an e-mail by Perth and Kinross Council and followed by organisers holding a press conference at Strathallan Castle later that day.”
Last night, Strathallan residents also claimed that the festival organisers failed to carry out consultations on relocating the festival.
A spokesman for Df Concerts have said that representatives from Police Scotland were on its strategic delivery group which was made aware that Strathallan was a potential new venue.
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