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A 32-year-old man has been charged over a sexual assault at the Falls Music Festival in Tasmania, after being apprehended in a citizen's arrest by the alleged victim and her friend.
Key points:
- 32yo man charged after allegedly grabbing a woman's breast
- Members of the public delivered the man to security
- Police are encouraged by victim's willingness to come forward
The man, from Carlton in Tasmania, is alleged to have grabbed a woman on the breast in the mosh pit.
The incident was the third sexual assault reported to police at the festival.
It followed a 19-year-old woman being assaulted in the mosh pit about 9:30pm on Friday night and a sexual assault in the camping area being reported on Saturday night (the complaint was withdrawn but police still followed up on elements of the incident).
Senior Sergeant Darren Latham said the man charged with Sunday night's offence had been apprehended by members of the public.
"The women involved, the person involved and her friend, actually apprehended the male, then handed them to security, who then handed them to police for the matter to be investigated," he said.
Last year, the Tasmanian Falls festival was marred by two reports of sexual assault in the mosh pit, and one of rape in the camping area.
Senior Sergeant Latham said it was good to see women reporting sexual assaults.
"It is encouraging that people are taking positive action, but we of course wish that it didn't happen at all," he said.
In a statement, Falls Festival co-producer Paul Piticco welcomed the arrest.
"These incidences have been happening at mass gatherings for years and we are encouraged by the fact that this unacceptable behaviour is being identified and people are coming forward," he said.
"It takes a lot of courage and we are happy to be seeing a cultural change where victims feel comfortable to report."
The statement also said there was still more work to do around the issue of sexual assault.
"As a society we need to continue to educate people about consent to eradicate this dreadful behaviour and provide victims with a safe space," Mr Piticco said.
Police said while they were disappointed by the behaviour of some people, the crowd was "well-behaved and in good spirit".
Falls' response 'a little disappointing'
The statement is the first comment from Falls since the assaults, and media were denied access to the festival over the weekend following the assaults.
Susan Fahey from the Women's Legal Service Tasmania said the response from Falls organisers was a "little disappointing".
"I think a stronger condemnation of the recent assaults could be really helpful," she said.
"That's the kind of thing that does give people confidence that if they report it they will be listened to."
But Ms Fahey said the festival should be commended for the steps it has taken following last year's assaults.
"They have actually been doing what they can to make the venue as safe as they can," she said.
Plain-clothed police were in the mosh pit this year and stickers and badges saying "Sexual assault is a crime" and "enjoy the festival, don't assault anyone" were being handed out.
Ms Fahey said the stickers could help people to rethink their behaviour, but it was sad people needed the reminder.
"I think it's a really sad thing that as a community we need stickers telling people that it's wrong to sexually assault someone and they should just go and have fun," she said.
"We shouldn't be asking what can Falls do to prevent this, what can the victim do to prevent this, it is what can we do to stop these people from offending."
The issue of sexual assaults at music events has been receiving international attention, with a number of artists calling out incidents in crowds.
Ms Fahey said it was "heartening" to see people reporting.
"I think from the assaults at Falls last year, along with the #MeToo campaign that people actually feel confident that if they come forward they will actually be listened to and there's the support and action there to help them," she said.
She said everyone was responsible for calling out bad behaviour and reporting incidents.
"You don't necessarily have to take them on yourself, there are always security and police there," Ms Fahey said.
"That's one of the things you see coming out of Falls, that there are other people assisting the people who have been assaulted."
Topics: sexual-offences, crime, carnivals-and-festivals, marion-bay-7175
First posted