Increased safety measures at falls

Falls Festival – a mecca for partygoers wanting to experience New Year’s among fellow festival goers – has event organisers taking greater measures to ensure their patrons safety.

Falls co-producers Jessica Ducrou and Paul Pitticco said they’re continually taking steps to ensure safety knowing that one in five women experience sexual violence in their lifetime.

“We acknowledge the position Falls holds when it comes to influencing widespread cultural change and we take that responsibility very seriously,” they said.

“Falls has been working closely with a number of organisations and individuals over the past two years in a continuous effort to improve patron safety and raise awareness around crowd conduct and expectations of reasonable behaviour.”

To date, Falls Festival has many national initiatives in place across all sites that include CCTV cameras throughout the event site, campgrounds and mosh pit areas; 24-hour attended patron safety hotline; Your Choice campaign alignment – House Rules (behavioural guide); police presence and resources on site; 24-hour security personnel at the event and throughout the campsites; comprehensive medical services and 24-hour information stations across the site.

Ms Ducrou and Mr Pitticco said this year Falls Festival celebrated at Lorne, Byron Bay, Marion Bay and Freemantle would introduce a number of new measures across all events.

“One of the main obstacles in supporting victims of assault or harassment is the person’s reticence to report their incident.

“Should an incident occur, we look to make the process of reporting incidences more supportive for victims of assault or harassment, Falls will also empower our event team with the tools to handle these situations confidently through specific training programs.”

Falls will be introducing sexual assault counsellors to all sites, who will sit between their onsite medical teams and police; these counsellors will be able to provide immediate crisis care, introduce victims to local support services for short and long-term help and guide them through the various processes should they want to engage police to pursue further action.

This year there will also be an increased number of CCTV cameras across the sites, security and support staff.

“Falls has a zero tolerance policy with regard to dangerous and irresponsible behaviours, the safety of our patrons is our foremost concern,” they said.

“We work year-round to bring together incredible events, at some of Australia’s most iconic locations – we want everyone to feel free and safe in our spaces and to leave with great memories.”