Police are urging festival-goers to celebrate safely, look out for each other, and enjoy Field Day safely this New Year’s Day.
Field Day will run between 12pm and 11pm tomorrow (Wednesday 1 January 2020) at The Domain, Sydney.
The police operation is led by Redfern Region Enforcement Squad and will also include officers from across the Central Metropolitan Region, the Dog Unit, Licensing Police, and Police Transport Command
Operation Commander, Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Bell, said the safety of festival-goers is the number one priority.
“NSW Police have been working closely with event organisers and other stakeholders to ensure Field Day is safe and fun for everyone,” Det Ch Insp Bell said.
“Police will maintain a high-visibility presence throughout the day and anyone displaying behaviour that impacts on the enjoyment of others will be ejected from the venue and dealt with accordingly.”
Detective Chief Inspector Bell added that anyone who brings prohibited drugs to the festival should expect to be caught – and dealers will be charged.
“Anyone thinking they will use this event as an opportunity to make a profit through prohibited drugs is reminded we will be proactively targeting supply, which includes covert operations,” Det Ch Insp Bell said.
“I want to remind revellers that MDMA and other illicit substances are dangerous and potentially life-threatening, and various environmental factors can impact the way in which the body reacts after consumption.
“With warm weather anticipated across Sydney tomorrow, we strongly encourage festival-goers to be sun smart, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water – rather than alcohol – try to find shade to keep cool and have a plan in case you or a friend feels unwell.
“There will be medical facilities available at the festival, and I urge anyone who suspects a friend, or another festival-goer may be unwell – for whatever reason – get them proper medical care immediately,” Det Ch Insp Bell said.
Police will also be targeting anti-social behaviour in and around the venue, as well as on the public transport network.
“Field Day is the first major festival of 2020, and we want to ensure it is an incident-free day for everyone out celebrating,” Det Ch Insp Bell said.
“It’s important to check the conditions of entry on the event website, including information about prohibited items and expected patron behaviour.
“Police are not there to spoil anyone’s fun, however if you break the law or create issues for other revellers, we will act swiftly to remove you from the event.”
Ticketholders are also warned not to bring alcohol into The Domain and to make sure they have their photo ID available for inspection upon entry.
Police are also reminding those who may be planning to gain access to the event without a ticket that officers will be present at perimeter gates to ensure their security.
Further information on the festival, including venue maps and conditions of entry, can be found at the official event website https://www.fieldday.sydney/
Festival-goers are asked to utilise public transport and plan your trip to event ahead of time. Visit https://transportnsw.info or call 131 500 for the latest timetable and ticketing information for trains, buses, ferries, light rail and taxi ranks.
For up-to-the minute traffic information, visit www.livetraffic.com.
Preservation of life is a law enforcement priority. The NSW Police Force policy is available online: https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/533783/drug_overdose_unclassified.pdf
