Project Nighteye: how police will protect women at Boardmasters

If you are pitching a tent at Boardmasters this week, there is a police operation quietly working the campsite with one job at the front of its mind: keeping women safe.

What is Project Nighteye?

Newquay Police confirmed that officers will be at the Boardmasters Festival in Cornwall this week, and that one of their roles is to protect women against sexual predators while the event is on. They are calling the operation Project Nighteye.

The tone from the force is upbeat. “We really want everyone to have fun,” officers said, before setting out the part of the job that matters most to anyone camping over the weekend.

See it, say it, stop it

The campaign leans on a simple idea. If something does not seem right, or someone makes you uncomfortable, say something. Newquay Police are asking festival-goers to report anything that feels off to the nearest steward, security member or police officer so that action can be taken straight away.

“If you see something that doesn’t seem right or makes you uncomfortable, report it to the nearest steward, security staff or police officer so action can be taken immediately,” the force said.

How you can help at the festival

The help officers want is straightforward. Keep an eye out for each other across the site. If you spot behaviour that worries you, or you see someone who looks like they need help, flag it to a steward, a member of security or an officer. Reports can be made at any point over the weekend, and the sooner they come in, the sooner someone can step in.

“We’d really appreciate your help at the festival,” the force said.