21 Aug 2023 David Joseph Celino · Prevention of Future Deaths report West Yorkshire Eastern
View report summary
Concerns raised 5 Lack of authoritative guidance on permitted front-of-house drug testing View source Failure of festival staff and volunteers to proactively identify and assist people showing signs of adverse drug reactions View source Lack of reliable records of drug-related festival casualties View source Lack of governing oversight of music festivals View source Lack of accurate information about the number of under-18 festival attendees View source See 2 more concerns
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements No action or position from this recipient is clearly linked to the concerns in this report.
×
AI-generated summary
David Joseph Celino · Prevention of Future Deaths report
This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.
Report summary
David Joseph Celino, aged 16, took tablets sold as an illicit drug at Leeds Festival in August 2022, developed an adverse reaction, and died after being treated at the festival field hospital and in hospital. The concerns included inadequate information about the number of under-18 attendees, the absence of national oversight and reliable data on drug-related casualties at music festivals, insufficient action to deter drug supply, and a failure by festival staff to identify and assist David as his condition deteriorated.
Read the report on judiciary.uk
× Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Department for Culture, Media and Sport; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of authoritative guidance on permitted front-of-house drug testing
Wider context from the report “(6) Various witnesses raised the issue of “Front of House” drug testing, expressing views as to the benefits and disadvantages of this being permitted. It would help all those involved in the management of events similar to the Leeds Festival to have authoritative guidance on this subject, from the Home Office , along with clarification as to exactly what is permitted .
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Department for Culture, Media and Sport; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure of festival staff and volunteers to proactively identify and assist people showing signs of adverse drug reactions
Wider context from the report “(5) Evidence at the inquest indicated David Celino had walked about the Leeds Festival site between approximately 7pm and 8.45pm on the evening of Saturday 27 August 2022. As the signs of his adverse drug reaction developed, he was unable to walk straight, was pale, sweating profusely and agitated. In the latter stages he needed help from two other 16-year-olds to prevent him falling over. In this period, he passed through at least one check point manned by stewards or security staff. It is likely he encountered other festival staff and/or volunteers in this period also. Lamentably, no staff or volunteers spotted the need to intervene to ask about his well-being or offer assistance. This history suggests further instruction or training for festival staff and volunteers is required as to the need to be proactive, particularly in view of the prevalence of illicit drugs and teenagers. As it was, David Celino’s friends only obtained advice as to his condition from the drug dealer they happened to encounter, who reassured them that his reaction as “normal”.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Department for Culture, Media and Sport; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of reliable records of drug-related festival casualties
Wider context from the report “(2) It was said in the course of the evidence that some 4-5 people die annually from illicit drug related causes at the various music festivals held in Britain. It is understood that there is no governing body with oversight of music festivals and hence no record of drug related casualties , which might reveal the extent of the problem.
(3) Without reliable numbers, it is not possible to interrogate the data or establish what proportion of the drug related casualties belong to the under 18 cohort of attendees. National oversight would enable comparisons to be made between different festivals and their respective demographics, as well as providing useful information as to the breadth and depth of the drug problem at different events. This in turn is likely to assist in an assessment of the effectiveness of control measures to prevent (or at least restrict) illegal drugs being brought onto festival sites.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Department for Culture, Media and Sport; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of governing oversight of music festivals
Wider context from the report “(2) It was said in the course of the evidence that some 4-5 people die annually from illicit drug related causes at the various music festivals held in Britain. It is understood that there is no governing body with oversight of music festivals and hence no record of drug related casualties, which might reveal the extent of the problem.
(3) Without reliable numbers, it is not possible to interrogate the data or establish what proportion of the drug related casualties belong to the under 18 cohort of attendees. National oversight would enable comparisons to be made between different festivals and their respective demographics, as well as providing useful information as to the breadth and depth of the drug problem at different events. This in turn is likely to assist in an assessment of the effectiveness of control measures to prevent (or at least restrict) illegal drugs being brought onto festival sites.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Department for Culture, Media and Sport; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of accurate information about the number of under-18 festival attendees
Wider context from the report “(1) Neither the organiser of the festival (Festival Republic) nor Leeds City Council which licenced the event had accurate information about the number of people under 18 who were attending the festival. It was estimated to be 20% of the 90,000 attending, so about 18,000. In consequence, the magnitude of the problem of potentially vulnerable, naïve teenagers exposed to possible exploitation by drug dealers, was not appreciated.
” Open source report
Pin
Request correction
Information checked against published PFD reports and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations