Police thank public for support and community spirit at Bedford River Festival

Bedfordshire Police is thanking everyone who attended this year’s Bedford River Festival for helping to keep the county’s biggest event safe.

Hundreds of thousands of people came together in Bedford over the weekend (18-19 July) to enjoy the festival, with officers working in close collaboration with organisers and partner agencies to ensure it ran smoothly and with minimal disruption.

Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology helped officers identify and proactively arrest five individuals wanted in connection with previous offences. A further three people were arrested following incidents reported during the event, on suspicion of assault and intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress.

Throughout the festival, officers were out patrolling across the site and surrounding areas and engaging with festivalgoers, including at the dedicated Blue Lights area in Russell Park. The force’s specialist Operation Maze burglary unit shared practical crime prevention advice, officers spoke to people interested in a career in policing, and a contact van was available for anyone wanting to raise concerns or report an issue.

Behind the scenes, a significant multi-agency operation was running throughout the weekend, and enhanced and specialist resources were in place to help prevent and disrupt any criminal activity and ensure a swift and effective response to any incidents if required.

Assistant Chief Constable Jaki Whittred, who led the operation for the force, said: “Keeping people safe is always our top priority. For an event of this scale, we have comprehensive plans in place, backed by dedicated resources and specialist teams, to help keep everyone safe and respond quickly should any issues arise.

"The safety and success of this year's festival not only reflects the efforts of all those involved in planning and delivering the event and policing operation, but also the support and spirit of everyone who attended. We'd like to thank festivalgoers for enjoying the celebrations responsibly, engaging with our officers and reporting concerns when needed. 

"The River Festival is a showcase of the people and partnerships that make Bedford such a vibrant place, and we’re proud to have played our part in helping it to be another memorable event.”