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Stepped-up security for weekend festivals

SINGAPORE — Revellers to the ongoing Singapore Night Festival and BeerFest will have to get their bags checked, due to the heightened security measures put in place by the organisers of these annual events.

There is an increased security presence at this year's Singapore Night Festival. Photo: Wee Teck Hian/TODAY

There is an increased security presence at this year's Singapore Night Festival. Photo: Wee Teck Hian/TODAY

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SINGAPORE — Revellers to the ongoing Singapore Night Festival and BeerFest will have to get their bags checked, due to the heightened security measures put in place by the organisers of these annual events.

Into its 10th edition, requirements for auxiliary police officers at this year’s night festival — which kicked off on Friday (Aug 18) — have “gone up tremendously”, festival director Angelita Teo told TODAY. However, she did not elaborate on the size of the security force deployed.

The night festival showcases heritage, music and light installations along the streets of Bras Basah and Bugis. Road crossings in the area pose a safety concern, said Ms Teo, who added that some of the safety measures were instructions by the police.

Visitors to the Globe performance, which will be held next Thursday to Saturday (Aug 24 to 26) at an enclosed area on Cathay Green, will have their bags checked — a security measure adopted for the first time at the festival.

The performance by international street theatre company Close-Act is “reminiscent of a pop concert” and will feature circus techniques, pyrotechnics and video projection, according to the festival’s website.

“We are always very mindful… in everything we do, the safety of our festival goers is key. So when we feel that we are worried about these things (during certain acts and performances), we will not continue,” said Ms Teo.

The night festival has drawn about 550,000 to 600,000 visitors each year, over the last three years.

Festival assistants will also be on site to guide festival-goers and ensure safety, she added. The festival ends next Saturday (Aug 26).

In response to additional queries from TODAY, the festival’s spokesperson said: “As with previous editions, we work closely with the Singapore Police Force to ensure appropriate security measures, such as roving security officers in the festival grounds and bag checks, are implemented. This is in line with the security practices in other international outdoor festivals.”

BeerFest Asia, which is held from Thursday (Aug 17) to Sunday, will see a team of 50 security officers patrolling its grounds during the festival hours.

Barricades have been set up for crowd control and security at entrances to the festival, which will be held for the first time at Marina Bay Cruise Centre. Participants will have their bags checked before they are allowed into the event grounds, a spokesperson told TODAY. Organisers have also put in place an evacuation plan to “ensure that everything is in order even during duress,” the spokesperson said.

About 34,000 festival-goers are expected this year, with Friday and Saturday pulling in the bulk of the crowd. About 5,000 attendees showed up at its opening on Thursday night.

Wide-ranging amendments to the Public Order Act were passed in April, including possibly requiring organisers of large-scale public events — deemed to be at high risk of a terror attack or public order incident — to deploy armed security officers and barricades, and conduct full-person and bag checks. The amended laws have yet to come into force.

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