The police have withdrawn their bid for Boomtown's premises licence to be reviewed at the eleventh hour.

After a 22-year-old man died at this year's festival in August, police put in a bid for the licence to be reviewed by Winchester City Council's licencing sub-comittee.

This was due to take place today (Monday, November 25) - but the committee put the decision on ice after police withdrew their application late on Thursday.

Members of the public had turned up to the meeting in support of the police's application.

READ MORE: Boomtown's premises licence to be reviewed after death of 22-year-old

Cllr Jonny Morris, who was chairing the sub-committee, said: “In the interest of justice, we have decided that an adjournment is required.”

Luke Mitchell, one of the directors of Boomtown, told the Chronicle: “This was to be expected.

“Our relationship with the police is good. We are going to work together and continue to work together to make a safe event. This is our highest commitment.”

As previously reported, Hampshire Police requested a review of Boomtown’s licence after the death of a 22-year-old man at this year’s event in August.

Their application stated that it relates to the prevention of crime and disorder, with police branding Boomtown as “unacceptable” for allowing festival-goers to enter the event after being caught with illegal drugs.

The application said: “This is not the first death that has occurred at Boomtown Fair and not the first from an overdose of unlawful drugs.

“A recent event de-brief involving all partner agencies and the event organisers also revealed some other shocking statistics.

"There were 29 reported fractured bones from this five-day event which would have clearly overrun the already stretched facilities at the local hospital.

"When it came to this statistic they were, in the words of the police licensing officer, in attendance at the de-brief, PC Phil Dennett ‘glossed over’.”

SEE ALSO: Boomtown festival goer died after medical emergency, police confirm

Prior to the sub-committee, a Boomtown spokesperson told the Chronicle: “Minimising the risk of harm from drugs is of vital importance in every area of public life and is built into the foundations of everything we do at Boomtown.

"Preventing illegal substances entering the festival is, of course, the first line of harm reduction and our security and search arrangements are as robust as any event of this kind. However, as the Chief Officer Of Police is quoted in the application for review of our premises licence: ‘…not all unlawful drugs will or could be prevented from entering this event or any event or venue for that matter…’.

“As Boomtown has grown over the years, in full cooperation with the police, Winchester and Hampshire Councils, the Safety Advisory Group and independent experts in the field, we have made significant investment to develop a multi-layered approach beyond the gates to tackle this challenge head on.

"In this, we have often led the industry in practical and data-driven measures which have provided valuable results and insight for all those working, like us, to reduce the harm from illegal substance use.

“We know that this work can never be said to be complete. We will continue to learn from our own and wider industry experience with the welfare of everyone at Boomtown at the centre of our operations. We look forward to providing the committee with a comprehensive response to this application on Monday.”