TAYSIDE Police are “looking forward” to next year’s event after the numbers of arrests, assaults, thefts and individuals appearing at court totalled half that witnessed at T in the Park 2005.
In all only 16 people appeared at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday — compared to 30 at the same stage last year. Tayside Police say they are delighted following what they describe as a “very, very, successful event.”
Chief Superintendent Matt Hamilton told the PA: “As far as Tayside Police are concerned, we are looking forward to next year’s festival already.
“The numbers of people arrested almost halved, and only half the number of people appeared in court that did last year.
“We felt people were much happier, relaxed and appreciative of the work being carried out between police and stewards. This was the first year we have incorporated a Joint Operation Centre into the site itself and it worked very well indeed.
“The communication and cooperation between the emergency services was excellent and it improved the event as a result.
“It was a very, very successful event and we are delighted with the way it worked out this year.”
It is expected that the 30,000 tickets put on sale will this morning will, as ever, be sold in record time.
Prices for the briefs will be set at this year’s level as an early bird offer for tens of thousands of revellers still in the music zone after Kinross’s tenth event went with a real bang.
Around 75,000 people crammed in each day to enjoy the likes of The Who, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arctic Monkeys, Primal Scream and Franz Ferdinand.
The festival will return to Balado on July 7 and 8 next year. It is the third year in the event’s history that tickets for the following year’s festival have been put on sale immediately after the current year’s event, well ahead of any headline artists being announced.
Last summer 20,000 festival tickets were snapped up by music fans in under four hours, making T in the Park the UK’s fastest selling music festival.
Geoff Ellis of festival organisers Big Day Out, said: “What better way to celebrate another fantastic year of T, than making sure you are booked up for 2007?
“This year’s festival has seen some incredible performances and enjoyed yet another unrivalled Balado atmosphere and we are already looking forward to doing it all over again next year!
“Tickets for this year’s event sold out in record time so our only advice to avoid disappointment is to get in early.
“If you don’t manage to get tickets this time then make sure you sign onto www.tinthepark.com for news and updates on the next batch of tickets going on sale early in 2007.”
George Kyle of sponsors Tennents Lager, added: “All of us at Tennent’s are already looking forward to next year’s T in the Park, so it is fantastic that music fans from all over the UK, Europe and indeed the globe can start looking forward to one of the world’s leading festival experiences.
“This weekend was an amazing weekend of diverse and unrivalled artists, so next year promises to be spectacular. We hope to see you at Balado in 2007.”
