Police have issued over £15,000 in fines after 300 people attended an illegal rave in London over night.
Acting on intelligence they received about the event, officers raided the gathering under railway arches in Hackney at around 1.30am this morning (24 January).
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According to reports, police made numerous attempts to engage with organisers, but they were repeatedly ignored, with the doors being locked from the inside to prevent police from getting in.
It's understood that 78 people were issued with fixed penalty notices amounting to £200 each.
While dozens of those in attendance jumped over fences and walls to escape the officers.
Chief Superintendent Roy Smith, who attended the incident, said: "This was a serious and blatant breach of the public health regulations and the law in relation to unlicensed music events.
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"Officers were forced, yet again, to put their own health at risk to deal with a large group of incredibly selfish people who were tightly packed together in a confined space - providing an ideal opportunity for this deadly virus to spread.
"Our frontline officers continue to police this public health crisis with compassion and professionalism but it is completely unacceptable they have to face such needless risks to their own health and to their families too.
"Whilst we will always seek to engage and explain, the message to those who have a total disregard for the safety of others and breach the law so blatantly is clear, our officers will act swiftly and decisively.
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"Not just organisers, but all those present at such illegal parties can expect to be issued a fine."
Down in Arlesey, Bedfordshire,two men were fined £10,000 each after 150 people turned up to a funeral.
The family that hosted the service was warned by police beforehand, with officers telling them that only 30 mourners could attend due to the current restrictions surrounding the pandemic.
However, police were forced to get involved and send people home after they turned up to find almost 150 in attendance.
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As a result, the 41-year-old funeral director, from Mansfield, was fined £10,000 by the Hertfordshire Constabulary for 'not managing this event correctly or advising their clients of the rules'.
According to reports, another man in his 30s was also fined £10,000 for his part in it.
Superintendent Nick Caveney, of the Hertfordshire Constabulary, has warned about 'flagrant breaches' of coronavirus rules and said police will not hesitate to act.
He said: "This is a very difficult time for everyone, and whilst we completely understand that people would like to mourn their loved ones, we have to remember that the current circumstances are out of the ordinary and that we must adhere to the rules to keep each other safe.
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"We have issued a £10,000 fine to a funeral director from Mansfield for not managing this event correctly and advising their clients of the rules."
Topics: Police, covid, lockdown, Coronavirus, Health, Covid-19