(MTI) - There have been 130 cases of reported crime on the festival island, open since Monday and catering to crowds of 65,000 people each day, Gabor Toth told MTI. He added that 120 members of the Budapest police force were on the island in uniform and another fifty as plainclothesmen. A professional security firm was also working, as were members of the police forces of several other countries including Hungary's neighbours.
The two uniformed British police officers say that British festivalgoers have asked them for assistance two or three times. They had enjoyed visit from British Ambassador to Hungary Greg Dorey on Friday.
Most reported crimes involved thefts from tents of people camping out on the island for the whole week, but, said the police chief, none were particularly serious. On the mainland near the festival grounds, three cars were stolen and two were broken into, which said Toth, is fewer than last year.
Police arrested eight drug traffickers on the island. Law Enforcement Minister Tibor Draskovics told MTI after visiting the festival that while there had been some crime, it was quite low compared to the vast number of people attending programmes there.
