A total of 55 arrests were made over two days at this year’s Parklife Weekender Festival that took place at Heaton Park.
The two day event that kicked off on Saturday June 7 saw more than 75,000 music lovers attend each day.
Arrests made during the festival weekend ranged from supplying drugs, to theft and assault.
According to police, the majority of the event went without incident; however a number of people, including a 26-year-old woman, were rushed to hospital after consuming poppers that were sold at the festival by Parklife.
Chief Inspector Gary Simpson said: “Most of the people that were at Parklife were good-natured and well-behaved and it was great to see people enjoying what Manchester has to offer.
“Most of the arrests were targeted towards drug-dealers in an operation to tackle the supply of drugs, after concerns were raised.
“Sadly, we had number of people taken ill after drinking poppers at the festival.”
It is thought that the woman ingested the drug which is formed by a group of alkyl nitrates that dilate a person’s blood vessels, allowing more blood to get to the heart.
Four others who were also taken to hospital after consuming the drug but have since been discharged, however, the 26-year-old remains in hospital where her condition is said to be ‘serious but stable’.
In total, police say they confiscated 400 bottles of poppers which were being sold on site by Parklife themselves.
CI Simpson said: “Fortunately no-one is in a life-threatening condition, but I cannot stress enough the risk you are taking with any ‘legal high’ including taking poppers.
“We are investigating the sale of these poppers and I want to stress the seriousness of selling or distributing them and urge people to stay away from them.”
Image courtesy of Of Other Days, with thanks.
