Download Festival named as UK's 'safest festival' in terms of thefts

Newly obtained figures reveal that Download is the 'safest UK festival' with attendees eight times less likely to be robbed than Glastonbury goers.

Published 17th Aug 2016

As revealed by The Times, insurance company Policy Expert have obtained police figures for 15 major summer festivals via a Freedom of Information (FoI) request.

Proof that rock fans are the most wholesome people on the block, the likelihood of having something stolen at Download Festival is staggeringly low.

Attendees at the Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Rammstein headlined event this June had only a 1 in 24,000 chance of having one of their possessions robbed.

The chances are worked out by the using the figures of reported thefts against the number of people in attendance.

At the other end of the spectrum, revellers at dance and pop event Wireless Festival held in London’s Finsbury Park had a 1 in 531 chance of being a victim of theft. The items stolen were estimated to have totalled £124,020.

Adam Powell, head of operations at Policy Expert, said: “It’s essential to remember to be vigilant, especially in large crowds.”

“Finally, before you pack up your tent, check the small print in your home insurance policy and check whether it includes away from home cover. And if you do fall victim, tell the police as soon as possible - a crime number is essential to making a claim.”

Starting with the least likely, here are the chances of being a victim of theft at 15 UK festivals:

Download: 1 in 24,000
V Festival: 1 in 10,000
Boardmasters: 1 in 6,000
T in the Park: 1 in 3,400
Glastonbury: 1 in 2,872
Leeds Festival: 1 in 1,818
Latitude: 1 in 1,750
Parklife: 1 in 1,573
We Are Fstvl: 1 in 1,220
Secret Garden Party: 1 in 1,100
Reading Festival: 1 in 880
The Great Escape: 1 in 830
Wilderness: 1 in 769
South West Four: 1 in 640
Wireless: 1 in 531

- The list does not include figures for other major UK rock events including Bloodstock and Ramblin' Man Fair.