Eleven people were arrested at the Boardmasters Music Festival over the weekend, facing charges related to drug offences, sexual offences, and assault.

Police have confirmed that three people were charged in connection with drug offences, and four people were released on bail. Two people were cautioned while another two people were released with no further action.

Despite this, Devon and Cornwall Police said that its policing operation to support the three-day festival was successful in achieving its aims.

The event attracted around 58,000 people including attendees and staff, at the festival itself, as well as visiting Fistral Beach and the Newquay area.

Working closely with festival organisers and partner agencies, the operation aimed to keep people safe at the event so they could enjoy the festival. This also encompasses the surrounding community during an already busy time of year.

High visibility reassurance foot patrols were carried out in the town centre and the Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach festival sites, with those officers helping to prevent and detect crime.

Superintendent Russell Dawe, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “Each year we work with partners and event organisers as part of the multi-agency planning process and we have the collective aim to support and deliver a safe and enjoyable event for all.

“In collaboration with the festival organisers, our focus has been safeguarding those attending the event and the development of a safe environment, and where necessary having the correct support in place.

“Unfortunately, we did have an incident in the crowd on Friday 9 August which resulted in some people being injured. Most of these were treated by medical staff on site but seven were transferred to hospital from the event. All were discharged after treatment.

“We recognise how such events can cause concern for those involved, especially with those that received injuries, and so it will be our priority to ensure the incident will be considered as part of our planned debrief after the event.”

Superintendent Russell Dawe added: “We have disrupted criminality and the supply of drugs, reduced anti-social behaviour, and supported any victims of crime or those with vulnerabilities. 

 “As part of our partnership approach, the organisers have very good welfare and safeguarding arrangements in place. We provided specialist officers to help respond immediately to any reports of sexual offences or concerns around drink spiking. This meant those small number of people impacted had immediate support by knowledgeable and expert staff and where required, we commenced a swift investigative response.”

“Overall, I am really pleased and proud of the efforts police officers, staff and partners have made to deliver the security operation, and the proactive and preventative measures we undertook.

“We continue to develop and improve our approach to event policing to keep festivals of this nature safe and secure.”

A spokesman for the festival organisers said: “We would like to thank our partners at Devon & Cornwall Police, who we work in close collaboration with year-round and during the festival period, for their continued expertise and contribution to Boardmasters.”