The Isle of Wight Festival has come and gone, and this signals the start of a busy summer period for policing on the Isle of Wight.
Overall, the festival was a success and underlined the importance of close collaboration with partners to put on a safe and enjoyable event for visitors and residents on the Island.
As I highlighted in my comments following the festival, the majority of reported offences were for possession of prohibited substances, with six reports across the festival weekend, emphasising the continued importance of enforcement and amnesty schemes to ensure the event remains a safe and enjoyable space for everyone.
As ever, the summer period sees increased demands on policing with a welcome increased number of tourists enjoying the place we are fortunate enough to call home.
As more periods of hot weather are expected, I encourage residents to look out for one another, especially vulnerable or older members of your community.
Isle of Wight Fire Service will continue to share important water safety information and I encourage you to share this with children or teenagers who may be enjoying our beaches and open water spaces at this time.
As demand naturally increases, my teams throughout the Isle of Wight remain committed to delivering the best service possible for those living, working, and visiting the Island.
We know that reports of anti-social behaviour can often increase during this period, with warmer, lighter evenings and sporting events encouraging people to stay out for longer than they perhaps otherwise would.
All of us policing the Island want to see people enjoying themselves in a safe and responsible manner.
I would encourage people to think carefully and make the right decisions to keep them and others safe.
There are taxi services and public transport options across the Island, and no excuse for drinking and then choosing to drive home.
I wish everyone reading this a fun and enjoyable summer.
My officers are always ready to respond to incidents, and to work with partners to ensure the safety of everybody on the Isle of Wight during this period – and of course, all year round.
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