"Spend your time at the festival in Switzerland, not with us"
Foreign Office warns music fans visiting Switzerland to follow two simple steps to avoid becoming victims of crime.
Enjoy your music festival
British music fans heading for festivals this summer are being warned to keep their possessions safe from thieves if they want to avoid spending time with the police and British Consulates instead of enjoying the music.
A new video on YouTube contrasts the fun of festivals with victims of crime talking about how having their stuff stolen ruined a good time. It’s already attracting thousands of views. “Within a minute, we turned round, the bag was gone”, says one festival fan. “I’d been warned but you never think it’s going to happen to you”, adds another, as the video shows victims who found out just how quickly and easily things can disappear.
The video’s message is “Make sure you spend your time at the festival, not with us” and it aims to encourage music fans to keep their belongings safe before going off to enjoy the beach or a gig.
Vice Consul Martina Hatleova said:
Two simple steps can help you avoid becoming a victim of crime at festivals. First, don’t leave your valuables behind in your tent or out of sight even for a minute - keep them in a zipped pocket or bag. Second, treat your passport as a valuable document: if it gets lost or stolen you’ll miss out on the festival while you are getting a new one to get home.
Getting a replacement travel document is both time-consuming and expensive, and British consulates, which are always busier during music festivals, say the more cases they can prevent, the better.
Festival goers and music fans are encouraged to embed the video on their websites or share it with friends, to ensure the message gets seen as widely as possible.