Police swoop on illegal rave in Wigan as hundreds of revellers party through the night
Revellers slash police cars’ tyres as officers break-up illegal raves in Wigan and the Cotswolds just hours after Boris Johnson announced new winter lockdown
- Illegal raves in Bristol and Greater Manchester took place last night
- Police attended the scene as revellers poured out of a woodland in Wigan
- Seven police vehicles had tyres slashed and a machete was found nearby
- A crowd of 500 people was broken up in a warehouse in Yate, near Bristol
- Eight arrests were made for illegal event in Yate, Avon and Somerset Police said
Illegal raves in Bristol and Greater Manchester were broken up by police last night after the Prime Minister announced plans for a month-long national lockdown.
Police swooped on raves as hundreds of revellers partied through the night just hours after Boris Johnson announced the winter lockdown on Saturday night.
A rave in a woodland in Wigan, Greater Manchester was shut down by police in riot vans in the early hours of the morning.
Tyres of police vehicles were slashed as officers dispersed hundreds of people from the illegal event.
It comes after police were left trying to clear the building where another illegal rave was taking place in Yate, near Bristol, more than 16 hours after being called to the site.
Officers were finally able to enter the warehouse at around 1.50pm this afternoon and cleared the building of people by 3.10pm.
A total of eight people have been arrested, including a man in his 30s on suspicion of being involved in organising the event, Avon and Somerset Police said.
An illegal rave in a woodland in Wigan, Greater Manchester was shut down by police last night. Snapchat videos from the rave show people dancing to thumping music into the early hours of Sunday morning
Seven police vehicles had their tyres slashed and officers searching the site found a machete in an area of bushes
Police officers rush to the warehouse on an industrial estate in Yate after reports of an illegal rave
In Greater Manchester, around 300 people people attended the illegal lockdown rave and revellers could be seen pouring from a wooded area in Astley on Warrington Road.
The unlicensed music event was reported to police at 8.45pm by the owner of a farm, on the border with Glazebury in Cheshire, who had returned to the 320-acre site to find a large number of people gathered and loud music playing.
Seven police vehicles had their tyres slashed and officers searching the site found a machete in an area of bushes.
Snapchat videos from the rave show people dancing to thumping music into the early hours of Sunday morning.
Footage, captioned ‘lockdown rave’, on the social media platform showed a long line of police vehicles stationed nearby.
Around fifteen riot vans could be seen parked on Warrington Road to break up the party.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts said: ‘This event was unacceptable and a blatant disregard of, not only restrictions for Covid-19 and the safety of others, but also the safety of those present as we saw serious examples over the summer period of the dangers posed by attending such events.
‘This event was a clear and flagrant breach of the regulations in place to keep people safe and a comprehensive investigation has been launched to bring the organisers to justice.
‘I would also like to reiterate our message from the summer to those thinking of attending these events and those willing to drop their children off at these illegal gatherings; while many may attend to have a good time, not everyone goes with the same intentions.
‘As well as being illegal, these events are not safe and the fact a machete was recovered from the site of this event is a worrying but important reminder that this very much remains the case.’
Hundreds of people attended and revellers could be seen pouring from a wooded area in Astley
Around fifteen riot vans could be seen parked on Warrington Road to break up the revellers
A man sits in a police van following the rave that was broken up in Wigan in the early hours of Sunday morning
Police officers hold down a person after finding approximately 500-700 people attending the unlicensed music event in Yate
Officer wear protective gear and hold shields as they try to remove party-goers from the site in Yate
Police officers try to break up another illegal rave in Yate, near Bristol, after being called to the scene on Saturday
Avon and Somerset Police were informed of the event at a warehouse in Millbrook Road around 10.30pm on Saturday
A man is detained by police after officers are called to the industrial estate in Yate on Saturday night
Police said a 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of not providing personal details for a fixed penalty notice and a 36-year-old man was arrested for possession of class A drugs.
One woman was treated by emergency services for injuries not believed to have been caused in suspicious circumstances.
A Section 35 dispersal order was imposed until 6am on Sunday.
A police helicopter was also seen circling for hours observing from above.
Police from both Cheshire & Manchester police are in attendance.
Meanwhile police were still trying to break up another illegal rave in Yate, near Bristol, more than 14 hours after being called to the site.
Avon and Somerset Police were informed of the event at a warehouse in Millbrook Road around 10.30pm on Saturday.
Officers arrived within 12 minutes of the call and found around 500-700 people and a number of vehicles at the site. A dispersal notice was issued requiring them to leave.
Units from the dedicated team dealing with unlicensed music events were deployed and roads were closed, but large numbers continued to arrive on foot.
Officers were finally able to enter the warehouse at about 1.50pm this afternoon and cleared the building of people by 3.10pm.
Sound equipment was quickly seized by officers and was taken away to a secure location.
Chief Inspector Mark Runacres said: ‘Our priority is always to protect the safety of the public and officers have acted with skill and bravery today to bring this unlicensed event to a safe conclusion.
‘These sorts of police operations are incredibly difficult to manage as we seek to bring those responsible to justice, while ensuring public safety.
‘Anyone organising an unlicensed music event does so with no thought to others and to stage something of this nature at a time when COVID-19 cases are rising in the South West will rightly make those making sacrifices incredibly angry.
‘Officers and staff will continue to examine footage captured on body worn cameras and drones in the coming days to allow appropriate action to be taken against those responsible.’
Another 500-strong crowd was broken up using rave legislation at an illegal rave in a warehouse in Yate, near Bristol
A police helicopter was also seen circling for hours observing from above
During the operation, Western Power attended and cut electricity to the building but an alternative source was found by the rave organisers.
Police asked for help from neighbouring forces to try to close down the event.
Chief Inspector Mark Runacres previously said: ‘This has been an incredible challenging operation with a large number of people in a confined space and several officers being assaulted.
‘We are working with neighbouring forces and the ambulance service to look to bring this event to a close in a controlled way that does not jeopardise the safety of people in the area.
‘We’re sorry for the disruption caused by the selfish actions of the organisers of this event and those attending. This unlicensed event was organised in secret, despite people being fully aware of the ongoing risk to public health due to Covid-19.
‘Their actions were wholly irresponsible and I am sure will disgust the overwhelming majority of people who are making huge sacrifices to limit the spread of the virus.
‘Our investigations team will be involved in reviewing officers’ body-worn footage and other inquiries as we seek to take appropriate action against those responsible.
‘We’d ask anyone with evidence and information that can help, to call 101 and quote log number 1369 of October 31.’
