51 arrests at dance event
FIFTY-ONE festival goers were arrested during Creamfields over the Bank Holiday weekend in a marked reduction on the previous year’s tally.
Cheshire police said most arrests were for drug offences but others were in connection with assaults, theft and suspects wanted for outstanding offences.
A constabulary spokeswoman said a further 68 revellers were dealt with via on-site voluntary attendance interview with enquiries ongoing,
In addition, organisers processed 199 festivalgoers through an ‘eviction centre’, 140 of whom were ejected for ‘unacceptable behaviour’.
She said planning for this year’s dance music extravaganza began earlier this year to devise the what policing would be needed alongside the event organiser Festival Republic’s own security arrangements, with a goal to ‘ ensure festival goers had a safe and enjoyable time and to minimise any disruption for local residents’. The sum of 51 arrests is in stark contrast to 2017, when officers made 153 arrests, resulting in a slew of court cases and prison sentences.
An assault that resulted in a deep gash to a reveller’s face as well as broken bones also caused widespread shock.
Events in previous years have also been marred by tragedy including drug deaths on and off-site, and a pedestrian who died after a collision involving a car on the A56 in 2014, triggering a safety overhaul to the highway including the installation of an overhead bridge.
This year’s four-day festival in Daresbury was expected to attract 70,000 revellers.
The Cheshire police spokeswoman said there was no impact on the level of service in residential neighbourhoods.
She said: “Warrington and Runcorn residents did not see a change in the level of policing provided over the weekend.
“Police officers, PCSOs and the Special Constabulary continued to deal with calls from the public and provide visible reassurance in the local community.” ●