T in the Park arrests fall amid 'community spirit'

Published on Monday 13 July 2009 20:34

POLICE have praised the thousands of revellers who helped create a "community spirit" at the T in the Park festival.

A sell-out crowd of 85,000 saw acts including Blur, The Pet Shop Boys, Lily Allen and Keane perform over the three-day event at Balado, Kinross-shire.

Tayside Police made 58 arrests, down nine on last year, while the number held in custody was 15, half that of 2008.

No serious crime was committed, with the majority of charges relating to theft, drug misuse and minor assault. Chief Superintendent Craig Suttie said: "We introduced a new way of policing the campsite this year – an approach that very much replicated the community-style that we put to very good effect throughout Tayside. This was warmly received by everyone."

He also passed his condolences to the family of Lachlan Gillies, killed in a road accident outside the site. The 17-year-old, of Errol, Perthshire, died after he was struck by a lorry on Friday evening.