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Police fear illegal raves will replace cancelled Notting Hill Carnival

A dancer at 2018's Notting Hill Carnival, west London - John Stillwell/PA Wire
A dancer at 2018's Notting Hill Carnival, west London - John Stillwell/PA Wire
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter

Police chiefs fear that dozens of illegal raves planned for the cancelled Notting Hill Carnival weekend may cause a Bank Holiday spike in coronavirus cases.

The Metropolitan Police has received intelligence about nearly 40 unlicensed music events held to replace Europe’s largest street party, the Telegraph can disclose.

Officers are scanning social media and other platforms to try and prevent the gatherings taking place, it is understood. The operation has been informally branded “Not the Notting Hill Carnival”.

It comes as police forces across the country battle to close down gatherings of hundreds of revellers defying social distancing rules. In Birmngham, officers closed down around 70 illegal parties in a single evening on Saturday.

Ken Marsh, chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said the force was “very, very concerned” about intelligence suggesting dozens of raves are due to take place in the coming days.

Many have branded themselves as the “real Notting Hill Carnival” after the annual parade was cancelled over coronavirus fears.

“If the weather is half decent, we’re going to have a real problem,” he told the Telegraph.

“We already know of around 35 unlicensed events to replace the Notting Hill Carnival popping up all over London.

“We’re trying to prevent them happening by looking at social media and other things, but it’s a pretty hapless task. What can we do? It’ll end up with more police officers having bottles thrown at them, and putting themselves in harm’s way.”

The Metropolitan Police have responded to more than 1,000 illegal events in London since the end of June.

A source at the Metropolitan Police confirmed officers were developing a “comprehensive policing plan” for the Bank Holiday weekend. Officers are liasing with community leaders to try and prevent rule breaking, the source added.

Last year, more than a million revellers attended the Notting Hill Carnival. This year, the three-day event will be streamed live over the internet, without the traditional crowds.

Meanwhile, fines of up to £10,000 for organisers of illegal raves will come into force in England ahead of the coming Bank Holiday weekend, as authorities clamp down on unlawful gatherings.

Officers across the country have responded to a surge in unlicensed music events in recent weeks amid warm weather and an easing of lockdown restrictions.

Many of the unlicensed raves across the country are understood to have been organised on private Facebook pages, where only invited attendees can see the details.

In Birmingham, Waheed Saleem, the city’s assistant police and crime commissioner, urged the social media giant to do more to prevent the unlicensed events, and to help police catch the organisers.

It came after the force was called to more than 70 street and house parties and other unlicensed gatherings on Saturday evening.

The force tweeted that they had dispersed dozens of parties, including one at Northfield on the outskirts of Birmingham, which included two marquees and a DJ, and a funeral wake with around 30 people in attendance.

“Facebook needs to do more to stop this,” Mr Saleem told the Telegraph.

“It has a lot of power, and it needs to use it for good. It's got algorithms to flag these events up before they happen. It could be carrying more messaging to tell people of the risks. And it should be doing more to hand over the organisers’ details to police so that they can be caught and punished.”

A Facebook company spokesman said: “We work closely with the police to detect and keep illegal material off our platform and encourage anyone to report this to us immediately, so we can review and take appropriate action."

"We are committed to supporting the global public health community’s work to keep people safe and informed, including on the importance of social distancing, and we have directed over 3.5 million visits to resources from the NHS and UK government.”

Meanwhile, police in Huddersfield broke up an illegal rave involving some 300 people.

West Yorkshire Police tweeted they were called to the gathering in Deighton, where missiles were thrown at officers.

Police said the music was "quickly turned off" and the crowd was dispersed, a move "met by applause from local residents".

Commander Ade Adeleka, lead for unlicensed music events on the National Police Chiefs Council, said: “Unlicensed music events are unlawful and unregulated. These events are hosted without regard for the safety of those attending, and police have observed cases of anti-social behaviour, sales of drugs and gang activity.

“It is vital that forces obtain information about any illegal events at the earliest opportunity.

“To the organisers of this sort of activity, I strongly advise that you seriously consider the risks you’re creating for everyone in attendance and the wider community.

"There is a risk of prosecution for those who organise these events and equipment will be seized.”