Greater Manchester Police issued a dispersal order following trouble outside the Parklife festival at Heaton Park, Manchester, after around 30 ticketless individuals attempted to breach the perimeter fence
Police have enforced a dispersal order in response to disturbances outside Parklife, including a group of 30 ticketless youngsters attempting to break through the perimeter fence before being held back by security.
Footage making the rounds online shows the barrier being torn down by ticketless youths striving to gain access to the Heaton Park venue, only to be stopped in their tracks by security personnel on the other side of the fence.
The video captures the three-metre high fence being pieced back together before youths aim kicks at it, futilely trying to breach it once again. Shrieks can be heard as more individuals gather in a failed attempt to infiltrate the festival.
The incident occurred on Saturday (June 20) when police apprehended eleven individuals for a range of offences, including drug-related crimes.
A ‘section 34’ dispersal order was authorised by a senior officer on Saturday and it grants officers on the scene the authority to compel people to vacate the area or face arrest.
The order will stay in effect until 11pm on Sunday, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Every year, the festival – which accommodates 80,000 music enthusiasts on each of its two days – and other large-scale events at Heaton Park are plagued by ticketless ‘jibbers’ attempting to bypass security or penetrate the perimeter fence.
This year seems to be no exception as Calvin Harris, Sammy Virji, and Zara Larson headline the 2026 Parklife festival.
Ahead of the big weekend, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) issued a safety reminder for anyone planning to attend the festival. In a social media post, festival-goers were urged to heed safety advice from Counter Terrorism Policing and report any suspicious activity.
The festival has had its share of trouble in the past, with 52 arrests made in 2024 after police confiscated illegal drugs and weapons.
This year, attendees were also reminded that those attending both days would still be subject to searches upon entering Heaton Park for the second day.
A spokesperson for GMP told the MEN: “A Section 34 dispersal order was put in place after a number of incidents on Saturday, when around 30 people tried to get into the site without tickets.
“We are working closely with event organisers to prevent this happening again. The dispersal order will stay in place until 11pm on Sunday as a precaution.
“There were 11 arrests on the first day, including four for drug offences. Officers will continue to be on hand to keep people safe and support the local community.”
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