Police are increasing their presence at Listen Out festival in Melbourne this weekend, in response to the death of a woman from a suspected drug overdose at last year’s event.
In a press conference this morning, Inspector Jason Kelly said Victoria Police will be increasing its already “extensive” resources at this weekend’s event.
“Unfortunately, last year with did have a death of a 27-year-old female — suspected of being a drug overdose,” he said.
“As a result of that, Victoria Police has increased its resources to the event — that will include a passive alert drug detection dog, also known as a PAD dog.”
Victoria Police has since clarified to Music Feeds that the woman who died at the event last year was 30 years old, not 27.
“Victoria Police would like to highlight the fact that this is a significant event,” Inspector Kelly said this morning.
“It’s a sold out event, 15,000 people attending — it’s an event that’s been running here for a number of years.
“So anyone who is attending the event on the afternoon or the night needs to expect that they will be attending an event that is highly policed. Victoria Police will be out in force. We’ll have our PAD dogs, we’ll have uniformed police, plain-clothes detectives working the operation.”
35 people were issued with drug diversions and three people were arrested for drug trafficking at Listen Out in Melbourne last year, while there were over 100 drug-related arrests at the Sydney leg of the festival. Four people were also charged after police were allegedly assaulted in Perth.
Listen Out 2017 is set to take place in Melbourne and Perth this weekend, before moving to Sydney and Brisbane next weekend. If you’re heading along, get prepped with the festival’s full lineup and set times right here.
Listen Out 2017
Saturday, 23rd September
Catani Gardens @ St Kilda, Melbourne
Tickets: Fuzzy
Sunday, 24th September
HBF Arena @ Western Parklands, Perth
Tickets: Fuzzy
Saturday, 30th September
Brazilian Fields @ Centennial Park, Sydney
Tickets: Fuzzy
Sunday, 1st October
The Sporting Fields @ Victoria Park, Brisbane
Tickets: Fuzzy
