Leicestershire Police Update - Light and Life Religious event in Oakham Rutland

Officers continue to carry out proactive patrols in the Oakham area as the Light and Life event concludes.

Leicestershire Police have been working closely with Rutland County Council and other partners during the past week to provide advice and guidance to organisers, to respond to incidents reported and to assist with traffic management.

The event is expected to finish today (Thursday) with the majority of attendees leaving the site tomorrow morning (Friday). Police will be assisting throughout today and tomorrow morning with traffic management. This includes staggering the exiting of vehicles from the site at Rutland Showground tomorrow morning to minimise the impact caused on the highways.

Members of the public are asked to acknowledge that while officers will be making every effort to manage the traffic, the area is expected to be very busy particularly tomorrow morning (Friday). It is therefore asked that people in the community plan their journeys accordingly and use alternative routes if possible.

Officers will remain in the area today and tomorrow engaging with organisers and attendees at the event, local residents and local business owners.

Superintendent Jonny Starbuck said: “As the Light and Life festival comes to an end, we are working with partners to ensure we keep a proactive and visible presence in the area and to continue engaging with organisers of the event, attendees, local residents and local business owners.

“This includes assisting with traffic management tomorrow as attendees leave the event. While we will be doing everything we can to minimise the impact the traffic has on the highways, we do ask that people understand the area will be busy and therefore plan their journeys accordingly to assist us with this.

“I would like to thank everyone who has supported and co-operated with us over the past week as well as Rutland County Council and other partners for their ongoing work with us.

“As we have previously stressed, the Light and Life festival is a legal event and the majority of people visiting have been in the area to enjoy their faith. Unfortunately however, there have been some people engaging in crime and anti-social behaviour during the week which has understandably caused concern in the local community. We have been continuing to attend incidents which have been reported to us and investigating the matters which have been raised.

“Between 7am yesterday (Wednesday) and 7am today, four crimes were reported to police in the Oakham area. Three of these were in relation to public order incidents including reporting of abusive language being used and a person being spat at. One report was in relation to criminal damage caused to a tree.

“These incidents are not acceptable and enquiries have been and are being carried out into the reports. No arrests have been made at this stage in connection with these reports.”

Charmaine Paul member of Light and Life Christian Travellers Church Posts apology and Invitation to Oakham Residents in Rutland Facebook Group

Charmaine Paul

I am on the convention and seeing some of the lovely comments on here from the local settled community is a breath of fresh air. 

Thank you to those of you who have made positive comments. 

Everyone is welcome to come onto the ground to see what’s going on, come to a meeting/s and have a cup of tea and something to eat with us. 

The signal on here isn’t great but I’ve managed to get online by chance this morning. 

If anyone would like to come on but feels uncomfortable please let me know and I’ll come and meet you at the gate. 

God loves you all and this convention is for everyone , although there are a handful of young ones here who are unpleasant and just don’t care. 

Please accept my sincere apologies for those people of our community. 

But like I said, anyone can come on here, we don’t discriminate and you will be welcomed as much as anyone else. Hopefully I will be able to get back online to see if anyone would like me to meet them at the gate. 

This offer is for everyone, including those who have misconceptions about us 🙏❤️

Superintendent Jonny Starbuck Update Light and Life Christian Travellers Festival Rutland Showground Update, A number of Offences including attempted robbery and anti social behavior, Two arrests made so far.

Superintendent Jonny Starbuck said: "Our presence continues in Oakham and at the Light and Life event at Rutland Show Ground. We have additional resources from the wider force to assist in dealing with issues that have been reported including an increase in anti-social behaviour, some criminal offences and driving offences.

"This is an outdoor event which is legal.  We have been working with the event organisers and partners to ensure that Covid rules are followed. 

"Local officers continue to patrol on the ground and to engage with local business owners and licensed premises.

"We are investigating a number of offences including attempted robbery and anti-social behaviour. Two arrests have been made so far.

"Residents in the area continue to report anti-social behaviour which we are responding to. We are working closely with our partners, with the organiser and with participants at the event to ensure that people can go about their usual business with the least disruption. Where offences are committed, we will deal with them effectively and robustly.

"Our enhanced visible presence throughout the day, both around the site and in the town itself, is there to enhance reassurance to our local communities whilst also supporting a swift response where needed.

"Anyone with any information is asked to report online at https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/ quoting reference log 186 of 19 June 2021 or to call 101."

I have noticed a much larger than normal police presence here in Oakham today. I also spotted a tactical support dog unit. 

A number of eating and drinking establishments are closed or closed early. 

I could only find one retail outlet that was closed due to the festival.