Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend welcomed 100,000 people to Hackney Marshes on June 23-24 and saw a successful security operation take place in the shadow of the Olympic Park.
The BBC said that one of their main aims was for the Hackney Weekend to allow everyone to feel “completely safe and secure.”
Airport-style metal detectors and a warning that entry to the festival could take “up to 2 hours” showed that organisers were taking no chances with the two-day event which took place in one of the areas worst affected by last August’s riots.
Hackney is also known to suffer from gang-related crime.
The borough was chosen to host the event, which is part of the London 2012 cultural festival, in part to “shine a positive light” on the area, according to event director for the Hackney Weekend, Jason Carter.
Organisers borrowed a 12-foot tall steel “super-fence” from Glastonbury Festival, which is not taking place this year.
Around 1200 security workers were employed on site to inspect and steward the 50,000 members of the audience on each day.
Specialized Security provided the majority of the private security services for the Radio 1 Hackney Weekend including crowd safety operations.
The event was the biggest in Radio 1’s 44-year history, and saw acts including international stars Jay-Z and Rihanna (see video below), as well as several local acts including Labrinth, Plan B and Tinie Tempah entertain the 100,000-strong crowd.
Tickets for the festival were given away (subject to a small handling fee), primarily to residents of Hackney and surrounding boroughs.
The BBC used a similar ticketing system to Glastonbury, with pre-registration required and tickets having audience members faces printed on them for added security.
Speaking with Radio 1’s news programme, Newsbeat, Mr Carter also said: “The one thing the BBC absolutely wanted to do is make sure that every single person that walks through the gates felt completely safe and secure.
“We have really not compromised in any way in terms of the security of the show.”
Police drugs squads were out in force, with sniffer dogs inspecting the audience as they entered the festival site on Hackney Marshes.
There was a total of 50 arrests on Saturday outside the arena mostly for drugs and knife possession, while the Metropolitan Police Service described the atmosphere on Sunday as “calm”.
Police Chief Superintendent Richard Woolford said ahead of the weekend that the festival organisers would be supported by police to identify individuals intending on causing trouble.
He said: “There will be some elements we’ll be able to test and consider in relation to the Olympics.
“We are prepared for the Olympics and we are prepared for this event. We want them both to be safe and an environment people are going to enjoy.”