Laneway Festival sets up hotline for reporting 'inappropriate behaviour'

  • 26/01/2018

The Laneway Festival has announced a 0800 number's been set up to allow patrons to "report and escalate any inappropriate or disrespectful behaviour".

It comes after the groping of a woman wearing glitter at Rhythm & Vines earlier this year was caught on video and made headlines around the world.

St Jerome's Laneway Festival itself was caught up in a high-profile controversy over the safety of its female attendees after Sean Phillip and Thomas Insel, two drunk young men, yelled vulgar and offensive slurs during a live broadcast of Three show Story in 2016.

Phillip later apologised to reporter Kim Vinell, but also stated that only men should be sent to report on Laneway because it "gets pretty hectic".

"0800 LANEWAY is a free call hotline for patrons to report and escalate any inappropriate or disrespectful behaviour," Laneway NZ's official Twitter account announced on Friday.

"We believe that everyone has the right to have fun, feel safe, feel included and enjoy the music.

"Creating a culture of respect is something we strive for, not only for our event, but for the music industry as a whole... If you do not have access to a phone, please notify a staff member or security guard with a handheld radio."

Following the outcry over the Rhythm & Vines groping, a Glittery March For Consent is taking place this Sunday - the day before Laneway.

Newshub.