Police in Isle of Wight Festival legal high warning (From Daily Echo)

Police in Isle of Wight Festival legal high warning

11:28am Monday 18th June 2012 in News

POLICE have warned Isle of Wight Festival revellers to avoid socalled “legal high”

drugs in the wake of a teenager’s tragic death.

There are just days to go until thousands of people make the journey across the Solent to one of the biggest festivals on the music calendar.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers and Pearl Jam headline the Main Stage with Jessie J and Lana Del Rey making their first appearance at the event at Seaclose Park, Newport.

Primal Scream, Groove Armada, Magnetic Man and The Darkness take the top slots in the Big Top.

Festival-goers will also get the chance to see the likes of Elbow, Biffy Clyro, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Tinie Tempah, The Vaccines, plus many more top acts appearing over the three stages.

But Hampshire and Isle of Wight officers today issued hard-hitting advice in a bid to keep the crowds safe.

Officers leading this year’s police operation said legal does not mean safe and selling “legal high”

drugs is banned at the festival.

It comes just one week after 19-year-old Alex Herriot collapsed in the main arena at the RockNess festival in Scotland after taking the £10 “legal high”

A police spokesman said: “Our clear warning is for people not to experiment by accepting offers of ‘legal high’ drugs before, during or after the festival.

“Your decision to experiment could have terrible consequences for your health, life and family.”

Police say they have the right to search anyone suspected of having them.

Specialist officers, drugs dogs and uniformed police will all be on site.

Hampshire police are working closely with event organisers to ensure this year’s music extravaganza from Thursday to Sunday passes off peacefully.