"Run to the Sun": Policing Contested Perceptions of Risk

Abstract

One of the features of contemporary British society is the growth of organized special events and festivals that cause large influxes of people to descend on rural and semi-rural areas for a few days in order to take part in the event. On occasion, these events bring with them a culture that is often seen by local populations as alien, or at least at odds with the locally accepted social behaviour. This "alien culture" is perceived by the local residents as a negative risk and is often accompanied by calls for increased risk regulation and risk management. However, there is another side to this coin: the same events often carry with them entrepreneurial opportunities for local businesses and are thus seen as positive risks by the commercial community, leading to contested perceptions of risk surrounding the special event. In those instances, the public police are often required to make complex decisions as to which aspect of the event to police and how to ensure that entrepreneurial action is supported while, at the same time, protecting the community. This article employs an empirical study to examine that process.