Police not to challenge Leeds Festival

West Yorkshire Police say they have reluctantly decided not to challenge the granting of a licence for the Carling Leeds Festival.

Last year vandals set toilet blocks on fire at the end of the three-day event in Temple Newsam, causing damage valued at £250,000.

This year the festival has been moved to nearby Bramham Park, a 17th century estate more used to hosting horse trials.

A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said the decision had been taken because even if the force was successful in the review there was no guarantee another, albeit different, licensing and regulatory panel would not come to the same decision as the first hearing and give the festival the go-ahead.

She added: “The force continues to have serious concerns that public safety cannot be guaranteed at an event that now has a well established culture of disorder.

“Responsibility for the health and safety of those attending rests with the organisers, however the force is responsible to the wider community in the area. Therefore West Yorkshire Police feels it must work with Leeds City Council and the organisers to ensure that every opportunity is taken to prevent a reoccurrence of previous disorder.”

The spokeswoman said that officers would continue to to liaise with the organisers in the run-up to the event.

She acknowledged the strength of feeling of people living around Bramham Park and stressed that police would do all they could to reduce disruption to them on the days of the event, due to be held over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Last month the managing director of organisers Mean Fiddler, Melvin Benn, sought to reassure local residents by announcing a package of new security measures costing £250,000.

The new security measures include non-combustible toilets, and improved lighting and campsite facilities. Campfires have been banned. Around 700 security staff will be on duty over the weekend, with 400 working on the Sunday night – double the number on duty last year.