Guilfest drugs operation 'a success'

Twenty-nine people were arrested during the Guilfest music festival in Surrey, police have said.

The vast majority were for drugs offences, but there were also arrests for theft, assault, being drunk and disorderly and public order crimes.

Surrey police said they were happy with their "passive" approach to the three-day festival, at Stoke Park, Guildford, when they used dogs to uncover drugs.

Police are still processing some of the cases so do not yet have final figures.

The force said a total of 95 offences were reported to them during the event, the majority relating to cannabis possession.

Of more than 700 people searched, 67 were given warnings, 53 ordered to report at a later date and 20 arrested.

Dog deterrent

Cocaine, cannabis and MDMA - a form of ecstasy - were seized.

Acting Det Ch Insp Karen Hughes said the arrests and seizures helped ensure "a drug-free environment" during the festival.

She said: "We ran a specific operation, working closely with festival organisers and stewards, using the passive drugs dogs... which was extremely successful. Often just the sight of these dogs is enough to make people hand their drugs over."

However, police are still appealing for help in solving the most serious crime of the weekend, when a 39-year-old man was attacked after leaving the festival with his young family.

The man is in a critical condition in London's St George's Hospital after suffering head injuries when he was punched and head-butted in King's Road, Guildford on Friday.

Det Sgt Anna Leahy said: "It's been five days since the victim was assaulted and he remains in a critical condition with life-threatening injuries.

"Four men have so far been arrested and released without action."