POLICE have revealed the scale of their crackdown on crime at Creamfields – with 38 people arrested and £246,000 worth of illegal drugs seized during the four-day festival.
The policing operation surrounding the annual Daresbury festival has now concluded, with Cheshire Constabulary describing the operation as a success.
But behind the spectacular performances and 80,000-strong crowds, police dealt with 122 reported incidents, with drug-related offences the most common.
Around 55,000 people camped on site during the festival, which ran from Thursday, August 27, through to Monday, August 31.
And police have made it clear that their investigations do not necessarily end when the festival-goers go home.
Supt Andy Blizard, Creamfields Silver Commander, said those arrested and others still under investigation would now have to face the consequences of their actions.
“All of those who were arrested at the festival and are being investigated will now have to face the consequences and pay the price for their actions.”
Drug supply was a major focus of the operation, with officers targeting people suspected of bringing illegal substances onto the site or supplying them to other festival-goers.
Police carried out pre-event searches, while surrender bins were made available and security staff carried out extensive searches at festival entrances.
In total, officers seized illegal drugs with an estimated street value of £246,000.
The force also worked with organisers before and during the festival in an attempt to prevent criminal activity and keep the event safe.
Supt Blizard added: “As with previous years, we targeted those who were intent on supplying illegal substances at the festival – before and during the event.”
A total of 38 arrests were made during the operation.
Police officers from across Cheshire were deployed alongside partner agencies, event staff and Cream Global, with the operation involving months of planning as well as a substantial policing presence over the Bank Holiday weekend.
The force also introduced a new tactic this year, using retrospective facial recognition for the first time to help identify outstanding suspects.
Officers also supported Creamfields’ efforts to tackle trespassing.
Police praise festival-goers
Despite the arrests and drug seizures, police stressed that the vast majority of the tens of thousands attending behaved responsibly.
Supt Blizard said: “The vast majority of festival-goers were cooperative, and we also worked alongside the event organisers to minimise the impact to the wider community, with local residents praising the engagement and support provided by our neighbourhood policing teams.”
With 55,000 people camping at Daresbury, the policing figures are likely to fuel further debate about the impact of Creamfields on the local area – particularly the scale of drug use and the environmental consequences of the festival.
The police operation may now be officially over, but the force has stressed that investigations arising from the festival will continue. And for those arrested or still under investigation, the festival may be over – but their problems could only just be beginning.
