Twelve arrests were made during last night’s Oasis concert at Heaton Park – but police say the vast majority of the 50,000 fans in attendance enjoyed a safe and successful night as the third of the Manchester Live 25 shows took place.
The arrests involved men aged between 22 and 55 for a range of offences including fraud (4), assault (2), possession of class A drugs (2), theft (1), drunk and disorderly behaviour (1), assault of an emergency worker (1), and a public order offence (1).
It follows 15 arrests made across Friday and Saturday’s gigs, which drew even bigger crowds of 80,000 each. As with previous shows, a Section 34 dispersal order was in place to help prevent antisocial behaviour and allow officers to remove individuals from the area for up to 48 hours if necessary.
Despite the arrests, Greater Manchester Police praised fans for their behaviour, with Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle describing the crowd as “sensible and responsible.”
“We are now three concerts into Oasis’ Manchester homecoming, and I am pleased that the overwhelming majority of people attending have enjoyed themselves sensibly and responsibly,” said Boyle. “Our officers have tackled issues from unauthorised drones and attempted illegal entries to supporting ambulance teams and local residents. We’re continuing to work with partners including the Bee Network and Manchester City Council to ensure the final weekend goes as smoothly as possible.”
The final two Heaton Park shows are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, bringing Oasis’ long-awaited Manchester return to a climactic close. A Section 34 order is expected to remain in place across the weekend, with local officers continuing to monitor the area and support residents and fans alike.
