Festival rape trauma for Norwich girl

Latitude rape shocker for Norwich local.

Monday 19th July 2010

Spent deep in the idyllic charms of rural Suffolk, the 15th - 18th July, by all accounts, should have been a time of frivolity, fun and freedom from the trials of everyday life.

Yet Henham Park, the peaceful 'Sunrise Coast' home of the ever-popular Latitude Festival, has this year been hit by a scandal that could seriously affect the future of all festival security forever.

The festival, famous for its big-name headliners and family-friendly atmosphere has hit the news recently after two separate rape incidents were reported, one of which involved a Norwich girl.

The local girl was attacked after reportedly asking for directions from a group of men, one of whom she thought she may have recognised. Police have stated that although she soon realised she was mistaken, she approached the group anyway, asking to be shown to a toilet.

Whilst walking, the group allegedly split up. It was around 10.30pm when the as-yet unnamed girl, 19, was led by the remaining men into a darker, wooded area. There, she is said to have been raped by at least one member of this remaining group.

Festival Republic, the organisers of Latitude, carried out security patrols and handed out flyers to warn the public and ask for any information. They have since planned to launch awareness campaigns across the internet, urging festival-goers to be vigilant and take better precautions at events.

The Chief Executive of Festival Republic, Melvyn Benn, commented:

"It is difficult to find any nastiness or aggression at Latitude and this is the antithesis to everything the festival stands for. It's shocking and I am distraught about it."

Both the incidents will have serious implications as to the security and police presence of future festivals. This could mean that the carefree, pleasure-seeking environment so prevalent at these large music and arts events could be lost. It could also have ramifications for Latitude in particular, a festival that prides itself on its inclusive, family-orientated atmosphere. Ticket sales are bound to suffer. Vince Power, founder of the Reading/Leeds Festivals and creator of the Hop Farm festival, said:

"If it happened at Latitude, it can happen anywhere."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Latitude festival website has yet to mention the event.