THE future of Boomtown could be in doubt as police call for a review of the festival’s premises licence.

This review will take place at the Winchester City Council licencing committee on Monday, November 25.

Police are calling for the review following the death of a 22-year-old man at this year’s event in August.

The application for the review states that it relates to the prevention of crime and disorder, with the application saying: “The Chief Officer of Police is seeking a review of the premises licence for Boomtown Fair following the death of a 22 year old male at this year’s event of a suspected overdose of unlawful drugs.

READ MORE: Boomtown festival goer died after medical emergency, police confirm

“This is not the first death that has occurred at Boomtown Fair and not the first from an overdose of unlawful drugs.

“A recent event de-brief involving all partner agencies and the event organisers also revealed some other shocking statistics. There were 29 reported fractured bones from this five-day event which would have clearly overrun the already stretched facilities at the local hospital. When it came to this statistic they were, in the words of the police licensing officer, in attendance at the de-brief, PC Phil Dennett ‘glossed over’.”

The application continues: “This event is a licensed premises. It operates upon the same premises licence as any other venue permitted to do so by Winchester City Council. It must uphold the same four licensing objectives and it must adhere to the same mandatory conditions. Yet, unlike any other venue in Winchester, or any other festival in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, it permits persons who, have been searched upon entry and found to be in possession of unlawful drugs, into their event. This is unacceptable.

“This event cannot continue operating in the same manner, if it does, people will get unnecessarily injured, people will suffer from life-changing experiences and more young lives will be cut short. To mitigate this, additional conditions are sought that read:

“1. Any person entering the event and found to be in possession of unlawful drugs, shall be refused entry.

“2. Any person in the event found in possession of unlawful drugs, shall be ejected (unless there is an immediate medical reason not to).”

Several members of the public have submitted comments on the licence review, with 17 letters supporting the review having been received.

Sue Herdman, of Raeburn Close, Cheriton, said: “I support the actions of Hampshire Constabulary in requesting the review of a licence.

SEE ALSO: Crime levels at Boomtown higher than last year - here's the figures for 2024

“I have personally never attended the festival but the people who I have spoken to who have, have been shocked at the blatant use of drugs in plain sight of other festival goers. It seems strange that the law is not followed or enforced just because the event is taking place in the countryside and not within a permanent building.”

David Pain, also of Cheriton, wrote: “The Boomtown music festival has had a reputation for several years of being ‘soft’ on unlawful drugs and the recent fatality of a 22 year old man is but the most recent as there have been several others in preceding years to which reference was made by the Police in their application for review.

“There have also been rumours of drugs being buried underground on the site before the 11 feet high security fence is erected for several miles around the site. Therefore, I agree with the police that the licence holders have not been promoting the licensing objectives of the Prevention of Crime and Disorder and Public Safety.”

A Boomtown spokesperson said: “Minimising the risk of harm from drugs is of vital importance in every area of public life and is built into the foundations of everything we do at Boomtown. Preventing illegal substances entering the festival is, of course, the first line of harm reduction and our security and search arrangements are as robust as any event of this kind. However, as the Chief Officer Of Police is quoted in the application for review of our premises licence: ‘…not all unlawful drugs will or could be prevented from entering this event or any event or venue for that matter…’.

“As Boomtown has grown over the years, in full cooperation with the police, Winchester and Hampshire Councils, the Safety Advisory Group and independent experts in the field, we have made significant investment to develop a multi-layered approach beyond the gates to tackle this challenge head on. In this, we have often led the industry in practical and data-driven measures which have provided valuable results and insight for all those working, like us, to reduce the harm from illegal substance use.

“We know that this work can never be said to be complete. We will continue to learn from our own and wider industry experience with the welfare of everyone at Boomtown at the centre of our operations. We look forward to providing the committee with a comprehensive response to this application on Monday.”

The Chronicle approached Peveril Bruce, who owns the Matterley Bowl estate. He declined to comment.