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Thousands of people from across the UK attended illegal raves this weekend, and police trying to break up mass gatherings were hit with missiles.
Despite new coronavirus laws to deter unlicensed music events, some 3,000 people flocked to Banwen in Neath Port Talbot, South Wales, for an illegal rave this weekend.
Officers were still at the scene last night reporting that around 1,000 people were still there.
Two organizers received notices of fixed fines of £ 10,000, South Wales police said, in line with the new rules that went into effect on Friday.
Superintendent Jason James said illegal events like the one that took place in Banwen “have a significant impact on the community.”
He added: ‘Those who gathered know that their actions are irresponsible and we are working with other agencies and using the legislation available to us, including Covid-19 legislation, but we must ensure that any action taken is carried out safely.’ .
Elsewhere, Norfolk police were attacked and sworn in when they shut down a rave at a site in the Thetford Forest where about 500 people had gathered for an event that officers believe was planned for Monday.
Bottles and cans were thrown at the officers, but none were injured, but officers from other forces had to be recruited to help close the event, police said.
A “series” of arrests were made and agents seized sound equipment.
Deputy Police Chief Nick Davison said: ‘It is extremely disappointing to see these types of events take place when the coronavirus continues to pose a real threat to our communities.
“We are working to identify the organizers and we will do everything in our power, when evidence is available, to prosecute them and bring them to justice.”
In London, the Metropolitan Police said they had shut down 21 music events without a license, having received 58 reports on Saturday.
Commander Bas Javid said that while officers worked to interact with people and remind them of the restrictions, they would take action when necessary.
Speaking ahead of the weekend, which would normally have seen large crowds in the streets of West London for the Notting Hill Carnival, which has moved online this year, he said: ‘Where necessary, we will take enforcement action.’
Earlier, West Yorkshire Police said eight people were fined a total of £ 10,000 after various parties at Headingley and Burley on Saturday and into the early hours of Sunday.
The force also said a man was charged with causing public nuisance after officers broke up a street party at Wepener Mount, Harehills, on Saturday. Five other people at the party have been fined.
Police seized what they believe to be around £ 20,000 worth of music equipment from a garden at an address in the Chapeltown area of Leeds on Sunday, which officers suspect was kept for an unlicensed music event.
Essex police said they had also seized equipment worth thousands of pounds, but did not give an exact figure, ahead of an unlicensed music event that police say would take place in Harlow on Saturday afternoon.
West Midlands Police said they had dealt with about 90 reports from the public about possible breaches of the restrictions on Sunday morning, “but we have not had to use our enforcement powers.”
Interior Minister Priti Patel has said the new rules on raves represent an offensive against “the most serious violations of social distancing restrictions.”
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, he said: “We will not allow this wildly selfish behavior of a mindless minority to jeopardize the progress we have made together.”
The new legislation is called the Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations (Meeting Restrictions and Amendment) (England) 2020.
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