Illegal rave discovered in old bank vault
PATROLLING OFFICERS HEARD MUSIC COMING FROM BUILDING
POLICE out on patrol stumbled upon an illegal rave being held in the vault of a disused bank in Southall, when they heard loud music coming from the building.
Met Police officers were in Hortus Road when they were alerted to the music at 8.51am on Sunday March 7.
After looking around for the source of the music, they discovered that it was coming from the site of the bank, which is no longer open.
The officers found 44 people inside the bank, having made their way inside through a gap in the fence surrounding the property.
The partygoers had set up DJ equipment with speakers inside.
Additional officers were called to break up the party.
Police entered the venue and fined everyone in attendance for consideration of a fixed penalty notice for £800 for breaking lockdown rules before removing them from the premises.
The police are currently making inquiries as to who organised the event.
Det Ch Insp Thomas Bowen, from the West Area Command Unit, which covers Ealing, said: “It is disappointing that some selfish people still insist on breaking Covid regulations.
“We are all excited about the prospect of returning to normal in June – and some changes to restrictions are imminent – but behaviour like this risks undermining the roadmap out of lockdown and could potentially cause further delays.
“We will continue to do our part in shutting illegal events like this down and taking action where necessary.”