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‘Poor management leads to fatal crushes': how Glastonbury and others are dealing with big crowds
‘Poor management leads to fatal crushes': how Glastonbury and others are dealing with big crowds

The Guardian

time25-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • The Guardian

‘Poor management leads to fatal crushes': how Glastonbury and others are dealing with big crowds

In the last two decades the British festival season has ballooned in size to become not just a critical part of our cultural life, but the economy at large – worth billions of pounds, and numbering as many as 850 events last year. But as Glastonbury kicks off this weekend and the season enters its peak, there are a growing number of controversies around crowd safety and management. In April, London Assembly member and Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall echoed Metropolitan police concerns about the potential for a 'mass casualty event' at Notting Hill Carnival this year, and in May, the Mail on Sunday published an anonymous Glastonbury whistleblower's allegation that the festival is a 'disaster waiting to happen … Worst-case scenario, people are going to die.' Glastonbury 2024 had prompted widespread concerns about overcrowding and bottlenecks – particularly when big acts such as the Sugababes, Charli xcx and Bicep played relatively small stages. At the time, festival organisers underlined their commitment to crowd safety but said that such performances are 'part of the magic of Glastonbury'. Now, festival organiser Emily Eavis has announced that Glastonbury has sold 'a few thousand less tickets' this year in the hope of easing overcrowding. 'Crowd management has become pretty much our biggest priority and the thing we spend most time on,' she tells me, with teams constantly 'planning, tweaking and updating our crowd management operation' before and during the festival, 'to make sure everyone is safe'. But with recent fatal crowd disasters at Travis Scott's Astroworld festival in 2021, the 2022 Asake concert at Brixton Academy where two people died, and Seoul's Halloween celebrations the same year, where 159 people died, music fans are understandably concerned about their safety at mass events. This has led to well-meaning but misguided explainers like that offered in a BBC video before 2023's Notting Hill Carnival, titled 'how to stay safe in a crowd'. The common suggestions of what to do if you are caught in an uncomfortable level of crowd density – have an exit plan, hold your arms out, breathe deeply – 'mostly aren't going to help', says social psychology professor John Drury, who does training in crowd psychology and behaviour for the events industry (the BBC did not offer comment when these criticisms were put to them). 'Focusing on individual behaviour and responsibility is misplaced,' he says. 'By the time the crowd is so dense that a crush is likely or is happening, it's too late.' Really, this kind of advice only serves to deflect attention from event organisers, venue owners, site designers, security, local authorities, health and safety inspectors and the emergency services – all organisations with the professional expertise, not to mention legal responsibility, that an individual crowd member is lacking. 'The individuals within a crowd can't possibly know what's going on at the other end,' Drury continues. 'It is poor management that leads to fatal crushes. It's still too common to blame the crowd for decisions that should have been made weeks beforehand.' In the aftermath of the Astroworld tragedy in Houston, Texas, where 10 festivalgoers died of compressive asphyxia, it didn't take long for attention – and the finger of blame – to turn to the crowd of enthusiastic young fans, headliner Travis Scott and rap culture in general. Lurid headlines and social media rumours spoke of crowd stampedes, criminal behaviour, toxic drugs, even Satanic rituals. Not one of these theories bears the slightest bit of scrutiny. 'It was not an accident,' said Scott Davidson, a crowd safety expert in the new documentary Trainwreck. 'It was an inevitability due to a lack of foresight and the abandonment of basic safety protocols.' (In a written statement, Astroworld's promoter Live Nation told the documentary makers that the number of tickets sold was under the venue's approved capacity, and that stakeholders such as Houston police 'were aware of the event plans, which were developed in line with safety codes'.) Away from the doom-mongering and poor public awareness, crowd safety experts have a great deal of knowledge to draw on; they're putting to bed pseudo-scientific ideas such as 'mob mentality' or human 'stampedes', which are tired myths dating back to the 19th century, and long since debunked. When crowd scientist Keith Still is called in to investigate a crowd disaster, as happened after Astroworld, the first two documents he asks to see are the risk assessment and the crowd management plan. 'The characteristics, the DNA of these accidents, are always the same,' Still says. 'Insufficient preparation, lack of staff training, lack of wayfinding, poor signage, and allowing the volume of people-flow to exceed capacity, or throughput. They inevitably tend to point the finger at the crowd being at fault, rather than asking: what were the underlying fundamentals?' Density is traditionally monitored in terms of people per square metre – five is the upper limit for standing spaces. Above that, things get dangerous: people lose control of their movement, the crowd is susceptible to waves of motion and crushing and collapse become serious risks. At a large-scale festival with multiple stages you have more variables, and more potential for unsafe changes in density and pinch-points. Drury says that understanding each crowd's desires and behavioural norms is key. For example, he says, if you're putting on a large punk festival, then of course you should account for a fairly lively moshpit: 'People actually enjoy the density they get at the front of a gig, and they enjoy it at levels that the orthodoxy would say is unsafe.' He says that people in the live events sector have adapted well to shifting orthodoxies: 'People understand now that crowd behaviour is dynamic and diverse, that they are capable of great cooperation, and to work with the crowd, not against them.' But, he says, 'it's hard [for festival organisers] to learn lessons if you don't have an open environment for reflection on what went wrong … because these are businesses. But at the same time, there are many people in the industry who are trying to change that, and share what they've learned.' Anne Marie Chebib, chair of the UK Crowd Management Association (UKCMA), has been working in the industry for more than three decades. 'The days of running a festival with a couple of radios and a clipboard are long gone,' she says, and 'the types of risks we face now are more complex and more layered. Back in the 90s, things were a bit more organic and chaotic. Today's risk landscape includes everything from weather to health scares to targeted violence' – she says one of the most worrying concerns to emerge in recent years is 'the deliberate use of vehicles as weapons in crowded spaces'. There are many things festival organisers can do to mitigate excessive density – clear wayfinding, robust communication channels and real-time crowd monitoring are essential, and festival apps with site maps and real-time updates are not just helping fans navigate (when phone reception isn't overloaded), but allow organisers to track interest in particular acts and forecast which will become busy: earlier this month, organisers at Manchester's Parklife festival shut an entire stage down due to overcrowding concerns. Eavis says Glastonbury uses push notifications on their app as a way of communicating any updates to the masses, and she acknowledges some walkways 'essentially have their own 'rush hour' where we sometimes need to restrict access or put in one-way systems'. Scheduling is also a critical component: placing two major artists with overlapping fanbases deliberately so that they clash might annoy some punters – as is the case with Charli xcx and Doechii at Glastonbury this year – but helps split up crowds across a festival site. Emergency protocols are also evolving rapidly. Astroworld has 'become a touchpoint in training and planning conversations worldwide,' Chebib says. Travis Scott was criticised by some for continuing his headline show while fans screamed for him to stop; he has since said that he was unaware of any problems in the dark crowd below. In other cases, the message has got through and several major artists have stopped shows to ask fans to step back, and take a breather to reduce density. 'The language around stopping shows has become more prominent but also more debated,' Chebib said. 'The industry has always had the ability to stop shows but the culture around when and how to use that power is shifting, for the better.' Congestion doesn't have to reach emergency levels to really ruin the day for audience members. To be sure, a festival is a complex organism with many variables which might influence the behaviour of its attendees: from their age to the day's weather, from the exact running order of performers, to site location and design, to subcultural norms (rock and rap fans like moshing; trance fans might dabble in class A drugs). But these are hardly unpredictable in the way that say, an earthquake or a terror attack is. Charli xcx's recent headline show at the new Lido festival series in London's Victoria Park left some fans disgruntled – with a sold-out crowd of 35,000 squeezed into a space ill-equipped to handle the number of attendees they had sold tickets to. 'It was a mess,' one friend told me, with waits of 30-45 minutes for the ladies' toilets, and excessive density across the day undermining the fun and making mobile phone connection impossible. 'To pay £68 for that is madness. It felt unsafe and it felt profiteering.' A spokesperson for Lido called the festival series 'a great success' but acknowledged: 'Unfortunately the new layout caused some toilets to be harder to find resulting in longer queues at other toilet blocks … we've taken steps to address it for next year's event.' So what can ordinary festivalgoers do? Not much, except enjoy themselves, look after each other, and if it seems like event organisers are cutting corners to maximise profits, then they can vote with their feet and not come back. But as long as everybody is kept safe, then it's worth remembering that the gathering of tens of thousands of strangers in a field appeals as much as the artists topping the bill. Eavis says that it used to be the case 'that I couldn't give Glastonbury tickets away' but today, in 'a world that can feel quite bleak, having festivals that stand for positivity, unity, peace, joy, sustainability, new ways of thinking and just treating people decently is so, so important right now'. 'Behind every risk assessment, every protocol, every camera feed, there is still a simple purpose – helping people come together to enjoy themselves safely,' Chebib says. 'Helping people feel joy, bringing communities together, creating space for culture, that's what festivals are really about. Let's not lose sight of what we're there for.'

These are the festival beauty essentials I packed for Glastonbury
These are the festival beauty essentials I packed for Glastonbury

The Independent

time24-06-2025

  • Lifestyle
  • The Independent

These are the festival beauty essentials I packed for Glastonbury

Whether you're packing for Glastonbury this week (lucky you), heading Reading & Leeds for the first time or getting ready for Latitude, festival season is here – and when it comes to packing, preperation is key. As well as non-negotiable essentials like tents, sleeping bags, SPF and camping chairs, your checklist shouldn't neglect the little luxuries that can make camping in a field for four days slightly more bearable (hello air beds, your favourite pillow, earplugs or Hunter wellington boots à la Kate Moss and Alexa Chung). While the less high maintenance among us might get by with just a toothbrush and baby wipes (no judgement here), others require a little more TLC in the camping field – myself included. From cordless hair tools and dry shampoo to give some oomph to three-day old locks, to instant tan or tinted SPF's for coverage and UV protection, plenty of products made my time at Glastonbury two years in a row a whole lot smoother (particularly when you're limited to shared showers and portaloos with no privacy). To help ensure you don't forget anything, I've rounded up the beauty essentials you need for your next festival (after all, we can't all glamp in a luxury bell tent with the A-listers). Your usual skincare regime will likely be neglected while your camping in a festival field. Streamline your routine to just Garnier's miscellar water for removing make-up and cleansing. Complete with reusable eco pads, the gentle formula cleanses skin without stripping it of moisture. A festival make-up bag hero. While a cordless hair tool may not be deemed an 'essential', it can certainly make the experience a lot nicer. Adding texture and life back into three-day old hair, BaByliss's cordless waving tool creates soft, loose waves for an effortlessly tousled look (even if you haven't showered in a while). Charlotte Tilbury's airbrush setting spray is a cult classic for good reason. Keeping make-up in place for up to 16 hours, you can apply in the morning and still look fresh in the dance tent at 2am. The water-like formula is packed with skin-loving ingredients (think aloe vera, hydrating Japanese green tea and resin) to prevent clogged pores and avoid your make-up settling into fine lines. You're sure to appreciate the fresh, floral fragrance on day three in the field, too. One of our favourite face SPFs for 2025, CeraVe's facial moisturising lotion ticks every box. The consistency is more like a traditional moisturiser, though it isn't sticky or greasy on skin. 'You're left with is a healthy-looking glow, and I love how make-up wears on top of this formula, and the finish of it means it makes a great primer,' our beauty reviewer said. 'Plus, like all CeraVe products, it's bolstered with hardworking ingredients that nourish, protect and hydrate your skin.' A non-negotiable for festival season that saves you packing both a moisturiser and SPF. No festival beauty haul is complete without dry shampoo. Unlike other formulas, Living Proof's dry shampoo actually cleans hair while eliminating oil, sweat and odor (perfect for camping in a field). Freshening up your tresses between washes thanks to the brand's triple-action cleaning technology, it releases a fragrance that lingers throughout the day. Whether it's a day event or camping affair, you're far more exposed to the sun at a festival than your usual day-to-day, making a body SPF an essential. Offering 12 hours of hydration, Hawaiian Tropic's body SPF is powered by cocoa and shea butter. 'It's not sticky or greasy; it sinks in quickly and leaves the skin feeling supple and nourished,' our beauty expert said in their review. At less than £10, the dual purpose formula is pleasingly affordable, protecting your skin from UV's rays during a long day dancing in the sun. If you need a quick wipe down and freshen up, then baby wipes are a handy addition to your festival arsenal (especially if the showers aren't up to scratch). This Pampers pack promises to nourish, soften and hydrate skin. Plus, there's 52 wipes inside meaning you can easily share a pack among friends. Burning your lips is never fun, particularly at a festival. Enter Ultrasun's ultralip balm. The SPF30 formula is designed specifically to protect your lips from UV rays while moisturising any dryness. Fragrance free and sheer, it can be used over lipstick or gloss and topped up throughout the day. Whether you're post-port aloo or mid-set at the main stage, a hand sanitiser is an essential in your bum bag. Keep bacteria away and maintaining a feeling of freshness, Haan's range of hand sanitisers are perfect for on-the-go use thanks to the compact spritz design. In fact, our reviewer said: 'The award for most innovative hand sanitiser has to go to HAAN, whose flat pocket-friendly sprays make application cool, easy and even a little fun.'

Opioid ‘hundred times stronger than heroin' linked to UK clubbing deaths for first time
Opioid ‘hundred times stronger than heroin' linked to UK clubbing deaths for first time

The Independent

time03-06-2025

  • Health
  • The Independent

Opioid ‘hundred times stronger than heroin' linked to UK clubbing deaths for first time

Two people in their twenties have died in London after allegedly consuming a super-strong opioid drug, the first that experts have linked in the UK to the new substance. Warned that they can be hundreds of times stronger than heroin, nitazenes are a newer form of synthetic opioid and can be mis-sold as drugs including oxycodone, which is a highly addictive prescription drug used to treat pain. A 20-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man are understood to have taken the drug after visiting a club in south London over the May bank holiday weekend. The blue tablets, which are marked with the number 80, could potentially be mistaken for 'oxys', which can help users fall asleep. In a statement on their social media page, the nightclub Ministry of Sound in Elephant and Castle said: 'We have been informed of a dangerous batch of blue-green pills marked with '80' are being sold across London. 'These pills have been linked to hospitalisations and tragically two confirmed fatalities. 'Reports indicate they contain synthetic opioids, along with traces of ketamine and MDMA. They are being mis-sold as Ecstasy or Oxycodone, and investigations are ongoing.' They encouraged anyone who was feeling unwell while at the venue to seek medical help immediately from their on-site team. The Cause, in east London, and Fabric, in Farringdon, also posted similar messages warning people of the risks of consuming the drug. It has prompted fears ahead of festival season, with increased calls for front-of-house drug testing. Speaking to The Times, Professor Fiona Measham, the founder of drug checking charity The Loop, said: 'Up to now, there have been about two nitazene-related deaths per week in the UK, predominantly linked to contamination of opiate and street benzodiazepine markets,. 'This appears to be a leap from dependent to recreational drug using communities with the deaths of two clubbers but we don't yet know the purchase intent. If we did, we could target the appropriate groups looking to buy, for example, oxycodone or ecstasy pills.' The Home Office said: 'Every death from drugs is a tragedy and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the two individuals who have sadly lost their lives. 'We are determined to take steps to prevent drug-related deaths and we support the testing of drugs seized by the police or deposited in amnesty bins, but we cannot endorse testing for recreational users because there is no safe way to take illegal drugs. 'We are doing everything we can to tackle the evolving threat from synthetic opioids such as nitazenes, including working closely with the police to increase the number of officers carrying the opioid overdose antidote naloxone.' The Metropolitan Police said: 'We are currently investigating the death of two people at a residential address in Havelock Road, Southall. 'Met officers were called on Monday, 26 May at 16:00hrs following reports that a 20-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man had been found unresponsive. 'Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service attended the scene where both people were sadly pronounced dead. The deaths are being treated as unexpected and an investigation remains ongoing. 'Post-mortem examinations have been carried out and we await the results of toxicology findings. 'Next of kin for both the man and the woman have been informed, they are currently being supported by specialist officers.'

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