Mutiny festival: Ban on under-18s proposed amid crime fears

Under-18s could be banned from a music festival in a bid to reduce crime at the event.

Police have asked Portsmouth City Council to increase the minimum entry age for Mutiny in the Park in Cosham from 16 after reports of sex assaults, drug use and fighting.

Hampshire Constabulary said children as young as 13 gained entry to the 2017 event.

Organiser Luke Betts said revised entry procedures had already been devised.

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In a submission to the council, police said "children under the age of 16 were able to access the premises" and "this has led to children becoming victims and perpetrators of assaults and being sexually assaulted".

A report to the city's licensing sub-committee said one 14-year-old girl who had been "signed in" by a parent reported being sexually assaulted.

Mr Betts said: "It's a fact that last year a parent has lied when signing in their child. It was a flaw in the system and we recognise that.

"Young people often do not have ID, unfortunately, but this year we will require everyone to have photo ID.

"When you put 30,000 people in a field, there are going to be incidents. Organisers are constantly being challenged to improve and make things safer."

City culture councillor Linda Symes said licence holders found themselves in "extraordinary circumstances" following the Manchester Arena attack the Monday prior to the festival.

She said: "This put significant additional burden on to the event organisers as their whole event was re-evaluated."

The event at King George V Fields on 27 and 28 May featured Chase & Status and 50 Cent.

Tickets for the 2018, scheduled for 26 and 27 May, are expected to go on sale on Friday.

The licensing sub-committee will consider the police request on Monday.