POLICE and the organisers of Boardmasters festival are “working closely together to ensure the safety of everyone”.

Police state the message is clear to anyone travelling to the festival intent on dealing in illegal and potentially harmful substances; that Boardmasters, and the South West, is no place for drugs.

Boardmasters has a zero-tolerance policy on illegal drugs and substances in line with UK law. Drug detection dogs are in operation at all main gates and searches are a condition of entry. Anyone found with illegal substances or banned items could be refused entry or removed from the festival and police action may be taken against them.

Boardmasters fully supports the efforts of law enforcement to keep illegal substances out of the event and off the roads, and works closely with all local authorities throughout planning and delivery to provide a secure environment before, during, and after the show.

Superintendent Ben Asprey, who is commanding police operations at the festival, said: “Drug suppliers don’t sell drugs for fun or as a public service, they sell entirely for profit and have no concern about the harmful effects the substances they sell could have on people who buy them.

“Behind all illegal drugs is a chain of criminality including exploitation, coercion and violence. In advance of Boardmasters, and as we do all year round, we will act on intelligence received and disrupt any attempts to bring harmful drugs into our counties.”

Last year Levi Bethune-Jones, 37, and Luke Belcher, 36, from Birmingham were travelling to Boardmasters when officers stopped their van on the A30 near Bodmin, revealing a haul of substances including MDMA, ketamine, magic mushrooms and nitrous oxide, all of which are illegal and potentially very harmful. In July of this year the pair were jailed for three years and eight months and three years respectively.

Detective Inspector Claire Nicholls who led the investigation said: “We hope this acts as a deterrent to anyone thinking of taking advantage of the young demographic of Cornwall’s largest festival – we will not tolerate drug crime at any time and we will take robust action. We always endeavour to keep our communities safe and encourage anyone with information about drug trafficking to report it.”

Devon & Cornwall Police is carrying out intelligence led activity prior to the festival to disrupt attempts to bring drugs to it. Officers carried out a warrant on a property near St Austell and seized quantities of cocaine, MDMA, ketamine and cannabis and a large quantity of nitrous oxide on July 21. A local man was arrested on suspicion of intent to supply drugs and while investigations continue, he has been bailed for three months with conditions including that he does not attend or enter Boardmasters any organised festival.

Anyone who has information about the potential supply of illegal substances, can report it by using the online crime reporting form on the Devon and Cornwall Police website at www.devon-cornwall.police.uk or report completely anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or at www.crimestoppers-uk.org