The last of five sold-out Oasis homecoming concerts at Heaton Park concluded safely on Sunday night, with Greater Manchester Police reporting the lowest arrest figures of the series, just five individuals detained, despite disruption caused by a fatal incident on the nearby M60.
More than 300,000 fans attended the landmark reunion gigs across two weekends, marking the Manchester band's first local shows in over a decade. Sunday’s concert ended with four men and one woman arrested for various offences, including a racially aggravated assault on a steward.
A section of the M60 motorway was closed between Junctions 19 and 21 for several hours following the unrelated fatal incident, causing severe delays. Emergency services were deployed in large numbers to manage the situation and minimise disruption for concert-goers and the local community.
Over the five nights, officers seized ten unauthorised drones and enforced a Section 34 Dispersal Order to curb anti-social behaviour in the area. One such drone was spotted at Sunday’s performance, prompting swift intervention.
An isolated incident occurred at the now-infamously dubbed “Gallagher Hill,” where bottles were reportedly thrown. However, police quickly brought the situation under control.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle, who led the police operation, praised the majority of fans for their behaviour. “These concerts have been months in the making for us and our partners to ensure that hundreds of thousands of fans who have come to Manchester can safely enjoy these iconic homecoming shows,” he said.
Boyle added that officers had maintained a “high-visibility presence” throughout all five gigs. Police provided assistance to event security, responded to public concerns, dealt with unauthorised entries, and supported medical teams in emergencies.
The events were delivered in partnership with Manchester and Bury Councils, with Boyle expressing gratitude to security personnel and public services for their role in keeping the area safe. “The rare and isolated incidents of abuse have been disappointing, particularly the reported racially aggravated incident tonight,” he said. “But this has been a huge event... I’d like to thank the public for their cooperation and patience.”
Despite fears of large-scale disorder or overcrowding, police said the events ran smoothly and without any major incidents across all five nights.
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