Lister

By Sofie Skamris
Translated by Nadia Duthiers

“I love a man in uniform – please pop my cherry.”

A blond girl shouts, running out of her camp to wave at three hunks in police uniform. We have joined forces with Peter, Martin, and Jesper, who are all police officers at Roskilde Festival, as they are patrolling East. Jesper – who is a first timer at the festival as a police officer – likes the job. He thinks it is especially fun to talk to the many happy and goofy people festival-goers.

“There are about 1500 people an hour who want a hug, a kiss or to try on my cap,” Jesper says, who, however, does not lend out his cap. He has already lost one to a festival guest who came running and snatched off his white cap.

Oink!

The officers pass a camp with a group of guys hanging out in heat.

“Oink!” one of them suddenly yells.

This sort of thing happens now and then. Although Jesper mostly has positive experiences and meet positive people, there are some people who think that the police have no business at the festival.

“In some places the atmosphere is decidedly negative, and there are people who just want to provoke us.” He quickly realised, though, that it is best to ignore them and move on.

Jesper tells us that the festival police in general are very broadminded compared to out in the ‘real world.’ They do not deal with minor offenses such as people riding their bikes with no lights or two people on one bike.

“We’re here to help the ones who really need help. We turn a blind eye to a lot, as people should be allowed to party,” says Jesper who likens the festival to a cowboy land.

Cheeeers

Yet another bunch of happy campers cry out to the officers lifting their cool beers as a salute. Jesper smiles and salutes right back. He is certain that he will be at the festival as a police officer again next year:

“Yeah I really think it’s fun!”

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