A group of people set on attending Parklife were arrested after traffic cops caught them ‘high as kites’ behind the wheel.
The music festival, which has been dubbed the UK’s biggest metropolitan event, got underway at Heaton Park yesterday (June 8) with a line-up of big and emerging music acts.
The festival, which will continue today, draws in up to 80,000 people each day. Before the event had even got underway, Greater Manchester Police said security staff at the festival detained a suspicious male within the event site shortly after 3pm on Friday (June 7).
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Staff seized significant quantities of nitrous oxide, which is now a class C drug, from the individual, the police force said. A 34-year-old man was arrested by police on suspicion of possession with intent to supply.
Posting on social media on Sunday morning (June 9), GMP Traffic said three men - two aged 22 and one aged 23 - had been arrested after their car was stopped on their way to Parklife.
The people, who had been travelling from Bristol, were ‘seen driving all sucking on balloons with NoX [nitrogen oxide]’ and ‘high as kites’. The post said they had been arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply.
The post read: “Driver & mates arrive @Parklifefest after travelling from Bristol, seen driving all sucking on Balloons with NoX, high as kites. Positive Search, All Locked up PWITS class B and C.”
In referencing a scene from 1983’s Scarface, starring Al Pacino, the post added: “We think Gen X dealers need to watch some 80's films - Don't get high on your own supply!”
In a statement, GMP said the three men were arrested by our traffic officers this morning (June 9) on suspicion of being in possession of nitrous oxide. It is thought they had intended to sell canisters at the event. The three men remain in police custody.
Superintendent Andy Sidebotham, who leads the Parklife policing operation this year, said: “Nitrous Oxide is now a class C drug, making possession and use a criminal offence. For the sake of a few balloons, why risk not getting into Parklife? We will work tirelessly this weekend - alongside event security and our partners - to prevent and tackle any criminality brought by a small number of people who attend the event or the local area.
“This is to help ensure that the majority of genuine festival-goers and residents have a safer and more enjoyable weekend."
News of the two arrests comes after police issued a dispersal order for Parklife Festival until Monday morning. The dispersal order gives police heightened powers to break up large groups and deal with any anti-social behaviour, and will be in place across Heaton Park and its surrounding streets until 4am Monday June 10.
