Found this on r/drugs, here's original link: https://www.reddit.com/r/Drugs/comments/6gsxp2/undercover_copsdetectives_at_music_festivals/
I thought this might be useful for those of you who visit festivals but dont read those sub.
Original text:
Recently attended Spring Awakening Friday/Sunday,( had an unreal time btw, see Martin Garrix if you can, show gets better every time). My uncle is high up in law enforcement, specifically in the undercover/detective field of it, so just from speaking to him and seeing him in person/being around him a fair amount I have picked up on his mannerisms and the way he speaks and acts.
So, at the festival, me and my friends were all having a good time, but none of them seemed to notice the two/three(possibly) cops around us. For me, it was just so obvious because detectives have these similar mannerisms/features about them that I want to share and have some other peoples opinions weighed in on/ if you've experienced something similar.
THINGS I NOTICED FIRST AND FOREMOST
1) Undercovers (At least at this festival) had black shoes, some weird brand.. and low, prestine tight looking low cut black socks. Obviously this isn't the standard, but the two I suspected were cops, one being a cop I know for a fact because of point 3(trying to acquire drugs from me directly then asking if I had a source), wore the same shoes/sock combination. The other 2 had the same attire on and similar mannerisms.
2) They also seem to most the time wear sunglasses and some sort of accessory that typical festival goers wear (bandanas, candy, etc.), hiding their face somewhat, sunglasses seemed standard as to cover their eyes and where they were looking, which would make sense as an undercover.
3) This is where I knew he was an undercover. The way detectives are taught to speak stands out the most. It is an objective, sharp way of speaking. There is almost no emotion in their tone, and they speak steadily. It's very "official". The undercover tapped me on the arm, and whispered in, what seemed to me, the exact way my uncle spoke which was eerily similar, "U have any molly?", I proceeded to say "no sir", he then asked, "Do u know anyone selling molly?" also proceeded to say "no sir", and got my friends the fuck out of there a few seconds later. It seemed as if I was having a conversation with my uncle almost, they talked exactly the same.
4) Just their "vibes" and facial expressions, way they dance and react to the music. After attending concerts for a fair amount like I have (6+ years), the authenticity of people dancing and enjoying the music has become a lot more noticeable to me, not just pertaining to the police, but with people in general like: people away from friends, got skimped on drugs, too fucked up, etc.)
EDIT: also, I ABSOLUTELY HATE this shit. I was talking to my girlfriend about creeps at concerts for girls, as I saw some dude like 27-28 dancing with his shirt off hitting on these girls that were probably not even 18 yet, it's astounding some of the shit I hear from people walking in that are like 10- even 20 years older looking to take advantage of younger girls that are too fucked up, not saying meeting new people and dancing with random girls is a frowned upon thing, who doesn't like that stuff now and then and there's nothing wrong with meeting new people.. but this guy was in front of us was like forcing himself on them and just being overall a creep, clearly not there for the music and just trying to hit on young girls.
All in all, I was happy with the fact that there were police around me for my safety with all this crazy terrorist crap going on, you can never be too safe, but obviously was not comfortable being around them given my "circumstances".
Hope this post weighs into you about undercovers a little bit, and if you have any undercover stories or tips on spotting them yourself I would love to hear them.
if they arent holding a beer. probably a cop. if they are by themselves people watchin during a set. probably a cop.
All that being said everyone does their shows differently