Helping all the people enjoy their Parklife

Manchester’s biggest music festival passed safely and without any major incidents this year – thanks largely to the standard of the policing operation.

The security operation for Parklife at Heaton Park is a mammoth task that takes months of planning and involves numerous partners, including the festival’s organisers, North West Ambulance Service, Transport for Greater Manchester and Manchester City Council.

More than 70,000 people attended each day of Parklife 2023 in June, and this year there were some unique challenges to overcome on what was probably Manchester’s busiest weekend of the year, including:

• Sweltering temperatures on the Saturday turned into thunderstorms on the Sunday, which forced the entire festival to be put on pause until the heavy rain and lightning stopped

• A tunnel was discovered underneath some of the parameter fencing

• Intelligence of an organised crime gang threat led to the introduction of a Section 60 and the standing up of a firearms response

• The tram network failed on the Sunday evening, meaning alternative travel arrangements had to be organised quickly, in time for the crowds heading home.

Despite the challenges, Parklife 2023 still left people smiling, apart from the 60 people who were arrested and the 120 people who were ejected.

The majority of the arrests resulted from the proactive policing operation that led to the seizure of illegal drugs and weapons – it could have had fatal consequences if these had made it inside the festival.

Superintendent Andy Sidebotham, the Gold Commander for Parklife 2023, said: “Over 900 officers and staff were deployed to support the security operation.

“My message to all of them is that you did yourself, your colleagues and GMP proud.

“I know it’s not easy working in an exceptionally hot, noisy environment and helping people who are increasingly worse for wear.

“I want to thank you all for the key roles you played in making Parklife 2023 such a success and for keeping the attendees safe, and to let you know that your professionalism and hard work have been positively commented on by the event organisers, festivalgoers and the wider community.”