Low-crime Leeds Festival passes with just 56 arrests

Police have thanked both local residents and visitors alike for playing their part in ensuring the success of two of Leeds’ largest annual events.

Around 60,000 people daily visited Bramham Park for the three-day Leeds Festival. In total there were 56 arrests during the festival, just up on the 51 people arrested last year.

Speaking about the Leeds Festival policing operation, Superintendent Keith Gilert said: “Three quarters of those held were questioned in relation to possessing drugs with intent to supply them. These arrests were the result of the close working relationships that we have with staff at Leeds Festival and they reflect the continuing efforts being made to keep people safe when they come to Leeds Festival. A number of arrests were also made in relation to reported assaults and thefts.

“Although the number of arrests has increased very marginally compared with last year, it remains an extremely small figure for such a major event, attended this year by around 60,000 people daily. Protecting people from the dangers of drugs is always a specific priority for the festival’s organisers, who work closely with West Yorkshire Police to target the issue.

“We also have a roads policing element to the operation that is designed to minimise the disruption that the large volume of traffic in the local area may cause and also respond to any incidents that arise. This operation has gone very well this year, with the Force’s Protective Services Operations department contributing officers both in marked vehicles and on motorbikes. We have for the first time used ‘off-road’ motor bikes to help with deploying officers across what is a large site, and these have undoubtedly helped keep down car crime in the festival’s large car parks.

"It was of course great to see the festival take place in good weather this year and the atmosphere was fantastic. The planning and preparation by the event organisers, supported by the police and other partners worked extremely well and I hope that the hundreds of people who followed us on Twitter at #LeedsFestivalPolice felt that was useful.”

Revellers were also out in force over the weekend for the Leeds West Indian Carnival. Despite the wet weather on Bank Holiday Monday, thousands of people lined the streets of Chapeltown to see the parade and join in the celebrations at Potternewton Park.

The event itself passed without incident; however police are investigating a stabbing that occurred near the parade route in the Harehills area.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Battle said: “It was a shame that the good weather didn’t last the whole weekend but the changeable weather failed to dampen the spirits of the crowds.

“We would like to extend our thanks to those who visited both Leeds Festival and Chapeltown Carnival for their part in helping make both events so enjoyable and largely crime-free.

“The August Bank Holiday weekend sees far more people come in to Leeds than any other weekend. At all times public safety is our top priority and we are pleased to see that the months of planning and preparation with the organisers of both the festival and carnival have ensured that these events have been delivered safely.”