According to police, 33 people were detained during the operation at Parklife in Manchester and stop and search warrants were used to investigate gang activity.
The gathering in Heaton Park over the weekend drew about 70,000 people.
According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), drug possession and trafficking were the main reasons for arrests.
A senior officer, however, claimed that the use of temporary stop and search powers was justified by "very credible evidence of gangs carrying machetes and knives.".
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods informed the Greater Manchester Police, Fire and Crime Panel that the action was taken as a result of receiving intelligence, which gave officers "a more proactive power to search people.".
Because of this, he claimed, "we didn't have what was intended to happen.".
"I would say that was stopped. We'll never find out, he continued.
Mr. Woods continued by praising the organization of Parklife and stating that it had "a particularly sound plan.".
There were elements of drug testing capabilities and, in his opinion, a very mature response to an event that was attended primarily by younger people, he said.
"We weren't detaining hundreds of kids, that's what.
Manchester, in my opinion, handled the incident and the need to keep people safe with great maturity. ".
A GMP representative noted that the festival had provided "plenty of memorable moments and surprises over the course of the weekend and not just from the acts taking to the stage" and cited the festival's temporary suspension on Sunday due to safety concerns and the ensuing issues on the region's tram network as examples.
In spite of the "challenges," they claimed that the festival "still left people smiling" and that the weekend "passed off safely and without any major incident.".
They confirmed that 33 people were detained for the following reasons:.
- 7 on suspicion of having illegal drugs in their possession.
- two on suspicion of having a bladed object in their possession.
- Suspicion of a public order infraction is one.
- One on suspicion of assaulting a paramedic.
- One under investigation for a sexual offense.
- On suspicion of drinking and driving, one.
- 22 people are under investigation for drug supply-related possession.
The LDRS has contacted Parklife's organizers for comment.
