Police break up rap event over claims youths were breaking rules
Fears crowd of 150 fans were not socially distancing
POLICE closed down a rap music event and broke up a 150-strong crowd of youths over concerns they were not socially distancing.
Officers were called to Loughborough town centre where rappers from D-Block Europe (DBE) were doing an album signing and promotional event at a student accommodation block.
Band members were due to meet fans at the Loc8me venue in Ashby Square last Tuesday night (October 13) but, after members of the public raised concerns that those attending were not sticking to coronavirus regulations, the police moved in and dispersed them.
A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said: “Officers attended Loughborough town centre at around 6pm yesterday (Tuesday) following calls from the public reporting a large crowd not adhering to social distancing guidelines outside a venue in Ashby Square.
“It is understood that the group of around 150 youths, aged between 15 and 18 years old, were gathered for an event organised by a company from London.
“A number of police resources attended the area and the event was closed down with the organisers being issued with a fixed penalty notice under Covid-19 regulations.
“A section 35 dispersal order was authorised enabling officers to disperse the group away from the town centre. No arrests were made.
“Officers will continue to engage, explain and encourage in relation to government guidelines.
“Enforcement action will be taken when guidelines are not
being followed and advice is not being taken.”
DBE and Loc8Me have been contacted for a comment.
The Loughborough incident followed an appearance by DBE in Leicester city centre earlier in the day.
The band turned up at r/ bar in Granby Street for a similar event and there were also crowds outside not socially distancing.
A spokesman for r/bar said the event inside had been held in Covid-secure conditions but that people without tickets had turned up.
He said: “We asked the people with no tickets to go home but they didn’t.
“They just kept edging forward to try to see if they could see DBE, who were inside doing signings and photo and social distancing.”
A Leicester City Council spokesperson said: “Our licensing enforcement officers and police attended the event.
“The issue was the queues outside. Tickets had been sold in advance but the event also attracted a number of people who hadn’t booked but who still expected to get in.
“The venue itself had good controls in place inside and didn’t appear to have breached any regulations, so we will review whether any further action needs to be taken.”