Police made 52 arrests at the Parklife festival, with 'weapons and illegal drugs' among the items seized. A number of suspects were taken into custody over the weekend, for a range of offences including robbery, assault and the possession of drugs.
There was a significant police presence at the festival, at Heaton Park, on Saturday and Sunday (June 8 and 9) amid a huge policing operation.
Greater Manchester Police said that the 'vast majority of attendees enjoyed themselves responsibly' but that the drugs and weapons seized could have had 'serious and fatal consequences if they managed to get inside the festival site.'
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The Manchester Evening News previously reported how one group of people set on attending the festival were arrested after traffic cops caught them ‘high as kites’ behind the wheel. A man was also arrested after being found with 'significant quantities of nitrous oxide' which is now a class C drug.
Of the 52 arrested, 41 suspects were taken into custody. The further 11 suspects will be 'dealt with in a non-custodial matter', GMP said. At the festival in 2023, a total of 61 suspects were arrested.
33 people were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs; six on suspicion of possession of drugs; two on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and two on suspicion of robbery.
Also arrested were two people on suspicion of having weapons; two on suspicion of assault; two on suspicion of public order offence; one on suspicion of dangerous driving; one on suspicion of breaching a dispersal order and one on suspicion of ticket touting.
Saturday (June 8) saw big names including Becky Hill, Disclosure and Rudimental take to the stage, while the wet weather hit Heaton Park hard on the Sunday (June 9) leaving fans sodden and turning Heaton Park into a 'mudslide'.
Superintendent Andy Sidebotham, who led the policing operation for Parklife this year, said: “I want thank the vast majority of attendees who enjoyed themselves responsibly over the course of two wonderful days in Heaton Park.
"Many people came up to our officers, asked them questions and posed for pictures, and our officers were more than happy to engage with revellers from across the country.
“The illegal drugs and weapons intercepted over the weekend could have had serious and fatal consequences if they managed to get inside the festival site.
“The vast majority of these 52 arrests were the result of proactive work between GMP and event security staff, and a thorough search regime in place on the entry gates across Heaton Park.
“Parklife is a huge item on Greater Manchester’s calendar, and I would like to thank our partners, including Parklife organisers, North West Ambulance Service, Transport for Greater Manchester and Manchester City Council for their months of hard work in ensuring a robust security plan was in place to protect the public, making Parklife 2024 a successful event.”
