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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Rajeev Syal Home affairs editor

Home Office U-turn on festival drug tests ‘puts people at risk’

Home Office the Home Office The Loop Fiona Measham Sacha Lord Parklife Police
Pills in different shapes and colours
Drug-testing charity The Loop had worked with Manchester’s Parklife festival for eight years, but days before 2023’s event was told to obtain a separate Home Office licence. Photograph: Fiona Measham/The Loop

The Home Office has been accused by leading festival organisers of endangering the lives of revellers after in effect blocking on-site drug testing last weekend.

The Parklife festival in Manchester last weekend was for the first time since 2014 unable to test confiscated pills because the government department said they needed to apply for a special licence.

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