The death of three revellers at T in the Park will not stop Police Scotland from throwing their weight behind next year’s festival, The Courier can reveal.
Chief Superintendent Paul Anderson, who was appointed divisional commander for Tayside in May, described last month’s deaths as desperately sad, but insisted the extravaganza would always be welcome locally.
With T in the Park’s organisers under pressure to clamp-down on drug use, he hopes the deaths of Peter MacCallum, Megan Bell and James Richardson will serve to hammer home the message that narcotics are “simply not safe”.
“This is not just an issue pertaining to T in the Park, Tayside or Scotland, this is every festival in the UK,” he said.
“Would I like to see the event keep coming here? Yes, I would”.
Meanwhile, as Dundee continues its cultural renaissance, the new man in charge of policing in Tayside has revealed he is considering “enhancing policing” in the city centre.
Chief superintendent Anderson has also spoken of his desire to provide designated “named” police officers for rural communities across the patch.
“Dundee has the feeling of a city which is really on the up,” he told The Courier.
“We are looking now around the night-time economy.
“If someone comes to this city they need to feel safe.
“Am I considering enhancing policing in the city centre and waterfront area? The answer is yes.”
* Read our full interview with Tayside’s divisional commander in Monday’s Courier, also available as a digital edition.
