POLICE have praised revellers at this year's V Festival after a considerable reduction in arrests.

POLICE have praised revellers at this year's V Festival after a considerable reduction in arrests.

The event attracted around 80,000 people at Hylands Park, Chelmsford, over the weekend.

The number of offences was much lower than in previous years, with 51 crimes reported, compared to 76 last year.

A total of 52 arrests were made during the weekend, a large number of them being linked to reported crimes.

Thirty-five people were arrested for drug offences, ten were detained for ticket touting, fraud or money laundering offences, one for a public order incident, four for assaults, one indecent assault and a person wanted by police in Manchester was also arrested.

Chief Supt Michelle Dunn, central divisional commander, said: “A great deal of work has been carried out by police and all other emergency services to make the V Festival the enjoyable and safe event that is was.

“But great credit must go to the festival-goers themselves, the majority of whom have enjoyed the fun in a good-natured and well-behaved way.

“We are delighted to report a considerable decrease in crime and disorder and that we were able to deal appropriately with the minor problems that did arise.”