Police Reveal One Of Their Biggest Operations Yet Ahead Of Splendour In The Grass

New South Wales Police have revealed the “high-visibility” operation which will be up and running at this weekend’s Splendour In The Grass festival in Byron Bay, and it’s one of their biggest to date.

The police operation will work alongside Splendour’s new “airport”-level security checks, and will include police officers, drug-detection dogs, the Public Order & Riot Squad, the Mounted (horse) Unit, Traffic & Highway Patrol Command and the Operations Support Group.

“Our officers will be targeting anyone involved with illegal drug use and supply, underage drinking, alcohol-related violence and anti-social behaviour,” says Detective Superintendent Wayne Starling from the Tweed/Byron Local Area Command.

“Large numbers of both uniformed and plain-clothes police with drug-detection dogs will be patrolling the entire event footprint — they are on site to ensure the event is safe for everyone.

“Festival-goers who choose to do the wrong thing, breach the event’s terms and conditions or risk the safety of other music fans, will be quickly identified and dealt with accordingly.”

As usual, police will also be targeting speeding, drink-and-drug-driving and other dangerous behaviour around the festival grounds this year.

“Officers will be conducting regular roadside drug and alcohol testing both during and following the festival, and anyone caught driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be arrested,” Superintendent Starling says.

“We are also reminding motorists to stick to the speed limit and ensure everyone in your vehicle is wearing their seatbelt.”

Festival organisers are anticipating an increase in traffic through the Byron Shire before and during the festival, so punters are being urged to plan their trips ahead of time.

Police are also urging anyone who is affected by drugs, excessive alcohol or is feeling unwell during the event to seek out medical staff who will be scattered around the grounds.

Police praised the behaviour of Splendour In The Grass attendees last year, despite 323 people allegedly being caught with illegal substances and five people being charged with drug supply.

Splendour 2017 will take place at North Byron Parklands from Friday, 21st to Sunday, 23rd July. Plan your festival experience with the official set times, weather forecast and an overview of the event’s new security measures.

Gallery: Best Of Splendour In The Grass 2016 – Day 2 / Photos: Maria Boyadgis

Splendour In The Grass 2017 Lineup

~~THE FOOTBALL CLUB~~
WHARVES

joining…

THE XX
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
ROYAL BLOOD
HAIM
SIGUR RÓS
SCHOOLBOY Q (ONLY AUS SHOW)
VANCE JOY
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB
PEKING DUK
RL GRIME
BONOBO
FATHER JOHN MISTY
TASH SULTANA
CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN
PAUL KELLY
STORMZY
KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD
~~GEORGE EZRA~~
FUTURE ISLANDS (ONLY AUS SHOW)
BANKS
BERNARD FANNING
DUNE RATS
CUT COPY
ÁSGEIR
ALLDAY
MEG MAC
RAG’N’BONE MAN
THUNDAMENTALS
LIL YACHTY
SAN CISCO
CLIENT LIAISON
REAL ESTATE
DAN SULTAN
VALLIS ALPS
D.D DUMBO
MAGGIE ROGERS
TOVE LO
POND
THE SMITH STREET BAND
BIG SCARY
OH WONDER
A.B. ORIGINAL
DOPE LEMON
THE KITE STRING TANGLE
YOUNG FRANCO
JULIA JACKLIN
KINGSWOOD
AMY SHARK
LUCA BRASI
THE LEMON TWIGS
VERA BLUE
SLUMBERJACK
BAD//DREEMS
BAG RAIDERS
TOPAZ JONES
MIDDLE KIDS
OCEAN GROVE
CONFIDENCE MAN
BISHOP BRIGGS
LATE NITE TUFF GUY
JULIEN BAKER
KILTER
LANY
HOCKEY DAD
KIRIN J CALLINAN
AIRLING
COSMO’S MIDNIGHT
GRETTA RAY
MOONBASE
THE PEEP TEMPEL
TORNADO WALLACE
THE MURLOCS
MALLRAT
LUKE MILLION
THE WILSON PICKERS
ROMARE
JARROW
GOOD BOY
KUREN
ONEMAN
WINSTON SURFSHIRT
SET MO
HWLS
HARVEY SUTHERLAND AND BERMUDA
CC:DISCO!
ENSCHWAY
DJHMC
NITE FLEIT
ALICE IVY
WILLOW BEATS
WILLARIS. K
MOOKHI
SWINDAIL
DENA AMY
ANDY GARVEY
PLANÈTE
SAM WESTON
SUPER CRUEL
CHRISTOPHER PORT
LEWIS CANCUT
KINDER