Police praise Manchester Pride as 17 people arrested mostly for drug crimes

Police aimed to make the festival 'the safest it can be'18:13, 01 Sep 2026Updated 18:14, 01 Sep 2026A police boss has praised Manchester's Pride festival with just 17 people arrested during the bank holiday extravaganza.‌Some 30,000 people attended the celebration across the weekend, concluding with a candlelight vigil on Monday night. Policed drafted in extra officers to the city centre as well as drones and drugs sniffer dogs to make the festival 'the safest it can be'.‌Today Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle, of GMP, praised the security around the celebration after he revealed just 17 people were arrested, most for drugs offences.‌Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily NewsletterDrugs sniffer dogs, named Max and Doodle, also helped officers make 15