Police shut down 125 illegal gatherings in West Mids during heatwave weekend

A UK police force shut down 125 parties and raves as hundreds of people flouted the law over the weekend.

West Midlands Police chiefs criticised revellers for holding “reckless gatherings” amid concerns over a second spike in coronavirus infections.

Among them was a rave attended by 600 people in Aston, Birmingham, which was shut down on Saturday night.

A few miles away, 60 revellers were also caught partying in Erdington, a suburb of Birmingham. The party was complete with a DJ.

Officers also swooped on an illegal rave in Sorrell Park in Erdington.

On the same night, police also closed The Holly Bush pub in Cradley Heath, Sandwell, for 48 hours as a result of loud music and anti-social behaviour.

On Friday night, meanwhile, the force broke up a rave in Bordelsey Green and a block party in Nechells, both in central Birmingham.

Birmingham has been one of the UK’s worst affected areas during the pandemic, with 5,508 confirmed cases as of Monday.

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West Midlands Police said it was using drones, as well as officers who usually work in its football unit, to prevent illegal meet-ups of more than 30 people.

Ch Supt Claire Bell said: “We remain in a pandemic and reckless gatherings such as parties and unlicensed music events only increase the risk of spreading the virus.

“You could be putting the lives of your family and friends at risk.

“Such gatherings are not only illegal, they are a nuisance to others and a public health risk. We have resources in place to shut these events down.

“We have an operation in place and while we seek to engage and educate people to follow the guidelines, we will seek to prosecute if this is ignored.”

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