It is claimed that almost one million people have deliberately entered an event without paying in the last five years.
With many events now charging well in excess of £100 for tickets, the trend is potentially costing the industry millions in lost revenue, as well as creating serious security risks . The research also reveals a moral trend with one in 20 of those questioned believing entering a paid for event without paying to be morally acceptable.
This new survey commissioned by G4S Security Services (UK) (โG4Sโ) has revealed the potentially huge losses the events industry faces with perhaps 826,000 admitting to deliberately entering a festival, music or sports event without paying in the last five years. With tickets for an event such as the Reading Festival costing £155 for a weekendโs entertainment, promoters face losing millions of pounds in revenues as a result of these โfence jumpers.โ
Alarmingly for the industry, one-in-20 of those questioned (equivalent to 2.2 million GB adults) believe that entering an event without paying is morally acceptable. The research suggests that 16-24 year olds are the least concerned with avoiding ticket costs with 11% of those questioned thinking such behaviour was morally acceptable. One-in-ten 25-34 year olds were of the same opinion and half of those (5% of those questioned) admitted to having committed the crime in the last five years.
What they say
Mark Hamilton, Managing Director of G4S Events, said: โRevenue protection is a key concern for the music and sports industry. Unfortunately, many Britons do not regard it as morally reprehensible to enter an event without paying. It is the same attitude that sees Britons that would not dream of stealing a DVD from a store, downloading music illegally, or purchasing a copy on the black market.
"Given this attitude, it is vital for event organisers looking to protect their revenue and ensure the health and safety of event goers that robust security measures are in place.โ Organisers of events like the Glastonbury Festival have reduced the number of people โfence jumpingโ, by installing a robust perimeter security solution.โ
The research also suggests regional disparities in the security provided at music and sporting events. About one-in-ten adults living in Greater London thought that attending an event without paying was morally justifiable, but only 1% of those in the capital admitted to actually having done so. Only 3% of those in the Midlands considered entering an event without paying to be morally acceptable.
Table One: Percentage of โfence jumpersโ by region
Region Percentage of those who have deliberately entered a festival or a music/sports event without paying in the last five years Percentage of those who consider entering a festival or a music/sports event without paying to be morally acceptable
Scotland 4% 7%
North East / Yorks / Humber 3% 6%
North West 2% 5%
East and West Midlands 1% 3%
South East / East Anglia 1% 5%
Greater London 1% 9%
Wales & West 3% 8%
Source: G4S Security Services (UK), April 2008
About the poll
Some 1002 GB adults aged 16-64 were interviewed online by TNS, between April 8 and 10. The sample has been weighted to represent the adult population of Great Britain aged 16-64.
