POLICE arrested 43 people for drugs and other offences and helped to evict 133 people from V Festival at the weekend.

The event, which is the biggest music festival in Essex, was made the subject of a public spaces protection order for the second year in a row.

This meant visitors to the venue, at Hylands Park, Chelmsford, could be removed for a variety of suspected criminal offences and anti-social behaviour.

Essex Police officers arrested 27 people for drug-related offences.

Others arrests included five on suspicion of assault, four for handling stolen goods, two for conspiracy to defraud, one for fraud, three for theft and one for failing to comply with direction to leave.

Carl O’Malley, assistant chief constable, said: "This year we introduced Project Servator to the event and I’m really pleased with the overall success of the policing operation.

"The innovative tactics made the festival an uncomfortable environment for criminals to operate in and it’s something we’ll definitely adopt next year.

"This was the second year where a public space protection order was enforced to combat anti-social behaviour and use of psychoactive substances.

“As a result, 133 people were ejected from the festival sending out a clear message that these drugs are not tolerated.

"I want to thank all officers who worked extremely hard over the weekend and liaised closely with the organisers, security team and retailers to ensure festival-goers enjoyed a safe event. We look forward to V-Festival 2017.

"If you have been a victim of crime, please do report it to us by calling 101.”

About 50,000 visited the festival between Thursday and Sunday to watch some of the world’s biggest artists perform, including Justin Bieber and Rihanna.

Project Servator is an on-the-spot policing operation that can be rolled out at specific locations and uses special methods and tactics to disrupt criminals.