Leeds Festival steps up security to “weed out” drug dealers
Reading & Leeds festival have announced that they have increased security to “weed out” drug dealers operating at the site.The new measures have been introduced following the death of a teenager at the festival last year, an inquest has heard.16-year-old David Celino fell ill after taking ecstasy at the 2022 edition of the festival at Leeds, which his group of friends purchased from a dealer in the Camping Plus area of the site. He was later taken to a hospital, where he died on August 28.In an inquest into his son’s death, Celino’s father, Gianpiero, shared his concerns that the festival was not safe for under-18s, and pushed for a bar on 16 and 17-year-olds from attending the live music event.Now Melvin Benn, the managing director of Festival Republic, has told Celino’s parents of the “genuine sorrow” he felt after their son’s death.