A man has been arrested for upskirting at a Beyoncé concert as Met Police ramp up patrols at summer gigs in a bid to protect women and girls from sexual violence and predatory behaviour.
The number of stadium concerts in London has more than doubled this year, prompting police to shift their focus to major music events in a bid to enhance public safety.
During their first operation on June 5, police arrested a man for upskirting at a Beyoncé concert at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He has since been released on bail pending further enquiries, they said.
Officers also worked with venue security to remove individuals involved in stalking and threatening behaviour during the concert.
In a separate incident, a man in the crowd was identified as a registered sex offender after an officer observed that he didn’t match the expected demographic attending that concert. He was swiftly escorted from the venue.
This operation forms part of a broader strategy to tackle violence against women and girls in London, including the Met’s V100 project which uses data to track and target the most harmful offenders.
DAC Ben Russell, who is leading the Met’s V100 initiative, told The Standard: “The levels of crime reported at concerts is still pretty low, which is great.
“What happened last year with the Taylor Swift concerts in London is we saw a different demographic attending than what we'd seen previously... and that poses different challenges.”
“We’ve got some concerts where 70% of the attendees are female. We've got some of our concerts with a much younger age range attending and we have had to adjust our approach.
As part of an ongoing crackdown on violent offenders, police officers will maintain a visible presence at over 51 large-scale concerts across London this summer, working in conjunction with four major venues: Wembley, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Emirates Stadium and the London Stadium.
Over 5,000 officer shifts will be dedicated to supporting the events, including public order officers, protective security and dedicated Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) patrols.
“People who come to football stadiums, for example, they come every week, they know how to get there and they know how to get home,” DAC Russell added.
“Whereas, if you’re going to Beyonce or Dua Lipa or one of these events it might be the only time in the year that you go to Wembley. It may be unfamiliar.”
Police will work closely with event organisers and security teams to identify and respond swiftly to any instances of predatory or violent behaviour, including violence against women and girls.
Officers will also patrol areas between venues and major transport hubs and will be available to support and engage with concertgoers where necessary.
When asked about the patrols and what officers will be looking out for, DEC Russell said: “Some of our officers are trained specifically on behavioural detection. Some may be in uniform and others may be in plain clothes.
“We're looking at how people react to our officers, how people react to each other, whether we've got people walking the wrong way or they just don't seem to fit in.
“If it’s a nice, warm evening, why are they wearing a big coat, that sort of thing. It’s all about being alert and being vigilant.”
DC Russell emphasised that the primary responsibility for safety and security at events lies with the organisers, who typically employ experienced private security and stewards.
Attendees should report concerns to them first. Many venues also offer contact numbers for discreetly reporting uncomfortable situations.
However, in emergencies, concertgoers are urged to call the police.
DEC Russell stressed that officers will be present to engage with the public, particularly encouraging women who feel unsafe to approach police for support.
A Wembley Stadium spokesperson said: “The Wembley experience is all about enjoying a moment that our guests will remember forever.
“We are expecting around 3 million people to attend our concerts this summer – the majority of whom will be young women and girls.
“All of them should be able to attend without any fear or worry and be able to remember that moment for all the right reasons.”
