Leading police officer demands more power to tackle illegal raves

POLICE need tougher powers to combat illegal street parties and raves, one of the country’s most senior officers has warned.

Chief Constable Dave Thompson, who heads up West Midlands Police, the second largest force in England, said it was difficult to tackle illegal gatherings because the penalties were no stiffer than for failing to wear a face mask on public transport.

In recent weeks, police have struggled to contain an increase in unlicensed music events at which large numbers of young people gather to party.

As well as breaching social distancing and Covid restrictions, the gatherings often lead to community tension and unrest, and in some cases have seen the police attacked by violent, missilethrowing yobs.

Mr Thompson said part of the problem was that police officers have few powers to combat such events, and in some cases they were only able to issue minor fines to those responsible.

Writing on his blog, he urged the Government to consider bringing in stiffer sanctions.

He wrote: “I am very concerned over the illegal gatherings in the form of car cruises or street-based parties.

“These are disorderly, dangerous events that risk spreading infections.

“We have to effectively intervene and deal with these issues. If we do not then this will result in increased delinquency and risk to the public.

“In these circumstances people are taking deliberate, concerted mass action to breach the regulations.

“I am encouraging government to consider additional powers and stronger deterrence for these circumstances.”

Mr Thompson added: “If you organise an illegal street party the sanction must be more serious than not wearing a face mask on a bus.”

Reflecting on the pandemic he said the public response had been very encouraging, but his officers were in the “hard yards” of enforcing new regulations.

He said: “The public followed the lockdown better than any of us could have imagined.

“People are still being amazing – look at face mask uptakes in shops – but there is fatigue and some aspects of lockdown are openly challenged by a minority.

“This is all very tough to manage and it is coming at a time where we are missing social contact with friends and family and some sun.

“These are the toughest times in the history of policing. The longest emergency outside a war and one that is being fought against an invisible disease.”