Safer Spaces Policy

Infest Festival Safer Spaces Policy

Infest Festival is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for everyone attending, performing at, working at, or supporting the festival.

We want everyone to enjoy the event free from discrimination, harassment, abuse, intimidation, or unwanted behaviour.

We do not tolerate:

  • – Discrimination of any kind.
  • – Harassment, bullying, or abuse.
  • – Sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment.
  • – Threatening, intimidating, coercive, or aggressive behaviour.
  • – Hate speech or hate-motivated conduct.
  • – Any behaviour that makes others feel unsafe, unwelcome, or at risk.
  • – This policy applies to all attendees, artists, traders, volunteers, contractors, and staff.

Protected Characteristics

We do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, including:

  • – Age
  • – Disability
  • – Gender reassignment
  • – Marriage and civil partnership
  • – Pregnancy and maternity
  • – Race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin)
  • – Religion or belief
  • – Sex
  • – Sexual orientation

We also do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or abuse directed at any individual for any other personal characteristic, identity, or background.

Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Harassment

Infest Festival has a zero-tolerance approach to sexual misconduct.

Sexual misconduct includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment, unwanted sexual attention, sexual intimidation, sexual assault, inappropriate touching, unwanted physical contact, stalking, or any other unwanted conduct of a sexual nature.

In line with the Equality Act 2010, sexual harassment is defined as unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment.

Everyone attending the festival has the right to set their own boundaries and to be treated with respect.

Reporting Concerns

If you experience or witness behaviour that breaches this policy, please let us know.

Reports can be made by email to: the Infest team.

During the festival, attendees are also encouraged to speak to festival staff, venue staff, security personnel, or organisers as soon as possible so that support can be provided and appropriate action can be taken.

We take all reports seriously and encourage anyone affected by, or witnessing, unacceptable behaviour to come forward.

Knowingly false or malicious reports may themselves be treated as a breach of this policy. However, reports made in good faith will always be welcomed, even where the facts are disputed or it is not possible to reach a clear conclusion.

What Happens When a Report Is Made

When a concern is raised, we will:

  • – Listen to what has happened.
  • – Gather information from those involved and any relevant witnesses where appropriate.
  • – Consider any immediate risks to the safety and wellbeing of attendees.
  • – Take appropriate action based on the information available.

Depending on the circumstances, action may include:

  • – Providing support and assistance to those affected.
  • – Issuing a warning.
  • – Removing an individual from part of the event.
  • – Removing an individual from the venue.
  • – Refusing entry to future Infest Festival events.
  • – Referring matters to venue security, emergency services, or the police where appropriate.

Our priority will always be the safety and wellbeing of those attending the festival.

After the Event

Reports will be recorded and reviewed by the festival organisers.

Where appropriate, we may carry out further investigation and retain appropriate records where necessary for safeguarding, event management, legal obligations, or the protection of attendees, staff, artists, volunteers, and contractors.

Individuals found to have breached this policy may be refused entry to future Infest Festival events.

Privacy and Confidentiality

All reports will be handled sensitively and information will only be shared where necessary for safeguarding, investigation, legal obligations, or the protection of others.

Personal information will be processed in accordance with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and applicable UK data protection requirements.

Working With Our Venues

This policy operates alongside the policies, safeguarding procedures, and conditions of entry of the venues hosting Infest Festival.

Where necessary, we will work with venue management, venue staff, venue security, emergency services, and relevant authorities in responding to incidents.

Our Commitment

Infest Festival exists to bring people together through a shared love of music, culture, and community.

We ask everyone attending to look out for one another, respect personal boundaries, and help create an environment where all attendees feel safe, welcome, and able to enjoy the festival.

If something doesn’t feel right, please tell us. We’d much rather hear about a concern and be able to help than have someone feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or unsupported.