In wake of recent events plaguing the music industry, it’s refreshing to see authorities take matters of safety into their own hands.
Falls Festival is one of the year’s most anticipated events, sending fezzy-heads around the country into a collective tailspin as the new year is rung in soundtracked by of their favourite acts. However, last year’s event was marred by sinister actions at the helm of disrespectful punters. It was reported that two women experienced sexual assaults while in the mosh pit and one woman was raped in the camping area. Following the festival, the Victorian government launched a state-wide sexual assault education campaign, posting the message “groping without consent is assault” around venues in the state to ensure live music spaces remained safe for all.
This year, police will be taking matters into their own hands, sending undercover cops into mosh pits to combat sexual assault.
“Infants, five-year-olds are taught to keep their hands to themselves, and it just seems really difficult for some adults to understand that concept and I think it’s really important that we don’t accept that behaviour and report it.”
“The message really is for people to keep their hands to themselves — it would be really lovely to have a Falls Festival without any sexual abuse or any sexual harassment,” the head of the Sexual Assault Support Service, Jill Maxwell, told the ABC.
Falls Festival kicks off around the country this week featuring the likes of Liam Gallagher, Vince Staples, The Smith Street Band and more, with Tasmanian Police Senior Sergeant Troy Hodge saying inappropriate behaviour in the mosh pit will not be tolerated.
“The mosh pit, yes it is designed for close contact, people crowding in,” he said.
“What we saw last year was deliberate acts of assaults and that’s the behaviour we don’t want to tolerate”, urging festival goers to report and lewd acts they see or experience.
