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07/08/2008
Police Presence At Bulldog Bash 'Excessive'
A huge police operation has got underway as thousands of bikers are preparing to descend at the Bulldog Bash festival in Warwickshire.
Despite criticism from the Bulldog Bash organisers, police say that the £1.4 million operation is needed to carry out searches and close roads around the Long Marston event following the shooting of Gerry Tobin last year.
Mr Tobin, 35, from London, was killed on the M40 after leaving the 2007 event.
Seven men will stand trial for the murder on October 2, five from Coventry, one from Nuneaton and another from Milton Keynes. All seven deny the charge.
Up to 20,000 people are expected to attend the biker event, near Stratford-upon-Avon, between Thursday and Sunday.
Police have warned commuters and local residents to expect some disruption while the festival is taking place.
Assistant Chief Constable Bill Holland said measures were in place to deter people who "may be intending to disrupt the event" or "to attack people going to and from it".
A stop and search checkpoint has been set up in a layby opposite the entrance, where vehicles will be pulled over by police cars.
Vehicles will then be checked by officers with sniffer dogs and mirrors.
John "Bilbo" Britt, Event Organiser, said: "It's totally over the top. The police haven't consulted with us over it and it's going to cause a lot of problems for people.
"The Bulldog Bash has one of the best health and safety and crime records of any show in Europe."
Warwickshire Police had previously urged councillors not to give this year's even a licence over fears for public safety.
Stratford-on-Avon District Council, said it had no grounds to stop the festival going ahead.
Statford district councillor Brian Slaughter said of the police presence: "It's excessive and it's a lot of public money to spend."
Following discussions with residents, police have planned to shut four roads although the previous plan had been for five.
They include part of Preston Fields Lane in Clifford Chambers, Station Road in Long Marston and Back Lane in Lower Quinton.
The roads will shut from 7am today until 8pm on Sunday.
(DS)
Despite criticism from the Bulldog Bash organisers, police say that the £1.4 million operation is needed to carry out searches and close roads around the Long Marston event following the shooting of Gerry Tobin last year.
Mr Tobin, 35, from London, was killed on the M40 after leaving the 2007 event.
Seven men will stand trial for the murder on October 2, five from Coventry, one from Nuneaton and another from Milton Keynes. All seven deny the charge.
Up to 20,000 people are expected to attend the biker event, near Stratford-upon-Avon, between Thursday and Sunday.
Police have warned commuters and local residents to expect some disruption while the festival is taking place.
Assistant Chief Constable Bill Holland said measures were in place to deter people who "may be intending to disrupt the event" or "to attack people going to and from it".
A stop and search checkpoint has been set up in a layby opposite the entrance, where vehicles will be pulled over by police cars.
Vehicles will then be checked by officers with sniffer dogs and mirrors.
John "Bilbo" Britt, Event Organiser, said: "It's totally over the top. The police haven't consulted with us over it and it's going to cause a lot of problems for people.
"The Bulldog Bash has one of the best health and safety and crime records of any show in Europe."
Warwickshire Police had previously urged councillors not to give this year's even a licence over fears for public safety.
Stratford-on-Avon District Council, said it had no grounds to stop the festival going ahead.
Statford district councillor Brian Slaughter said of the police presence: "It's excessive and it's a lot of public money to spend."
Following discussions with residents, police have planned to shut four roads although the previous plan had been for five.
They include part of Preston Fields Lane in Clifford Chambers, Station Road in Long Marston and Back Lane in Lower Quinton.
The roads will shut from 7am today until 8pm on Sunday.
(DS)
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