Daily Echo:

POLICE have praised festivalgoers and organisers for helping to keep crime down at the Isle of Wight Festival.

Figures reveal crime has plummeted for the third year in a row at the world-renowned rock extravaganza at Seaclose Park.

Now leading officers have praised festival organisers for their "effective teamwork" in ensuring people and residents were kept safe during the four day event - on what is one of the island's busiest times of the year.

It comes as they reveal there was "little evidence" of people flouting new laws outlawing the use of psychoactive substances - previously called 'legal highs'.

Rock legends Queen last night brought the curtain down at the annual festival where 60,000 people had gathered to watch some of the world's best musicians and performers.

Initial figures revealed overall recorded offences were 85 - compared to 117 last year and 124 in 2014.

And none of this year's arrests were linked to the use of psychoactive substances, the figures show.

Police say they launched a meticulously planned operation to stamp out crime and keep people safe - working in collaboration with the organisers and other staff.

This included patrolling the festival outskirts and providing public safety messages and reassurance, as well as tackling crime.

Festival-goers were encouraged to follow @FestivalCops on twitter to get #FestivalSafe messages and crime prevention advice.

Isle of Wight Festival policing commander Chief Inspector Simon Dodds said the low crime rates reflected the festival's "relaxed and family friendly" reputation and said: "This year’s Isle of Wight Festival has been a low-crime and safe event thanks to the good-natured attitude of the vast majority of festival-goers.

“Working closely with partner agencies and organisers through the event's Safety Advisory Group is vital to ensure a successful operation.

"The outcome we’ve achieved together has been one which has helped keep both festival-goers and local residents safe.

He added: “Following new legislation surrounding so-called legal highs, I am also pleased to say there was very little evidence of their use at the festival and no related arrests.”

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