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Police urge parents to 'check their children aren't getting drunk' after heatwave lockdown parties

Crowds on Primrose Hill in London enjoying the sun on Thursday. (Getty)
Crowds on Primrose Hill in London enjoying the sun on Thursday. (Getty)

Police have appealed to parents to keep track of their children after forces across the country were forced to disperse large crowds in cities across the country during the mini-heatwave over the past few days.

Large crowds gathered in places like London, Manchester and Nottingham over the past few days as the small end of March heatwave coincided with the easing of restrictions on Monday.

Officers were forced to disperse large illegal raves in Manchester's Castlefield Bowl and London's Hyde Park on Wednesday evening.

People enjoying the sunshine in Battersea Park, central London on Tuesday. (Getty)
People enjoying the sunshine in Battersea Park, central London on Tuesday. (Getty)

Police in Harborough, Leicestershire, appealed to parents on Thursday morning to keep track of their children after they were forced to break up gatherings and sent several kids home the previous night.

They said they dealt with incidents in a local park and after 10pm, when the noise became unreasonable and people started engaging in anti-social behaviour, they moved several people on.

In a Twitter post, they asked people to encourage others to take their litter with them.

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Harborough Police said they spent most of the night dealing with crowds at a local park. (Twitter/LPHarborough)
Harborough Police said they spent most of the night dealing with crowds at a local park. (Twitter/LPHarborough)

They also said: "Please check where your children are, are they getting drunk? We all probably tried alcohol when we were young, but some are so drunk they cannot look after themselves, they were going to walk significant distances home."

They added they took two drunk children home on Wednesday night and two more needed medical attention.

The police forced concluded with: "Please think of others, whilst most are using the park legally and enjoying freedom, large groups cause noise and upset, we are not the fun police, but people are suffering from this."

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In Sheffield's Endcliffe Park, in the student-heavy Ecclesall area of the city, was packed with thousands of people on Tuesday and Wednesday, causing widespread concern over COVID-19 risks.

While most were there to have fun, the police have opened an investigation into a reported rape that took place near the park and a famous war memorial was vandalised.

The council also appealed to people to take their rubbish with them after tonnes of waste was removed from the park on Wednesday and Thursday morning.

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Endcliffe Park in Sheffield attracted thousands of visitors in the past few days. (Getty)
Endcliffe Park in Sheffield attracted thousands of visitors in the past few days. (Getty)

Fights broke out in Hyde Park, Leeds, on Wednesday as crowds swarmed the area, while in Nottingham, police had to intervene in gatherings for the third day in a row.

In Cardiff, three police officers suffered minor injuries after being pelted with missiles including bottles while responding to “violent disorder” near the Welsh Parliament.

Two people were arrested and the police maintained a heavy presence in the area late into the night.

Members of the public enjoy the hot weather in Hyde Park, Leeds. (PA)
Members of the public enjoy the hot weather in Hyde Park, Leeds. (PA)

The stay at home order in England ended on Monday, with the rule of six coming back into force, the next round of lockdown lifting is due to happen on 12 April when shops, hairdressers and gyms reopen.

Communities secretary Robert Jenrick has urged people to make the most the latest easing of lockdown restrictions in England in a "sensible, cautious' manner, enjoying the sunshine but also being careful and sticking to the rules.

He told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'We've all waited a long time to meet family and friends outdoors with these very limited freedoms we have now. We just need to exercise caution and be sensible and pragmatic.

Council across the country appealed to people to clean up after themselves after the heatweave. (Getty)
Council across the country appealed to people to clean up after themselves after the heatweave. (Getty)

'I think the vast majority of people will do that. They will enjoy the sunshine this week and over the Easter weekend, but they will do that in a sensible and cautious way.'

Health secretary Matt Hancock also tweeted on Wednesday night: "Let's enjoy the sun but let's do it safely. We have come so far, don't blow it now."

The weather over the coming bank holiday weekend is looking to take a turn for the worst as sunny days are set to be replaced by gale-force winds and snow.

Parts of the UK saw temperatures reach nearly 24C on Wednesday, but the Met Office said the “marked change” in temperature was due to the country entering an “Arctic trough” and colder conditions were expected to last through next week.