150 attended Organisers get dressing down lockdown rave from the police on Town Moor
UP to 150 youths flouted the rules by flocking to an illegal lockdown rave in Newcastle.
Teenagers descended on the Town Moor, blasting music from a sound system before police shut down the “totally unacceptable” bash.
Organisers, however, escaped with just a dressing down.
Legislation passed since means they would now face a £10,000 fine.
The rave was held on June 25, during what should have been The Hoppings had it not been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, details of the event have only just been made public, following a freedom of information request submitted to Northumbria Police.
“At about 10.30pm on June 25 we received a report that a group of youths were holding an illegal rave on Cow Hill, Newcastle,” confirmed a force spokesperson.
“Officers attended and found a large group of teenagers present.
“A dispersal notice was put in place and those in attendance left the area, with officers offering appropriate advice to the organisers who were reminded about the importance of adhering to the latest lockdown guidelines.”
The rave is said to have ended “peacefully”.
However, while raves have been a problem for many forces around the country during lockdown, it is believed to be the only major outdoor event that Northumbria Police have had to break up banned.
In June police also dealt with a gathering of 300 people in Jesmond but the force has stressed this was not a rave.
Other, smaller, incidents may have passed without the need for the police to punish those responsible.
It is understood Northumbria Police only used enforcement action as a last resort during lockdown, as it sought to ‘engage and encourage’ in a bid to get them to follow the rules.
For example, police simply told one Newbiggin Hall mum to take her speakers indoors after a kids’ dance event spiralled out of control back in April.
New laws were recently passed to allow police to issue the massive fines to anybody suspected of organising gatherings of more than 30 people, while those who attend and do not wear face masks could be slapped with a £100 fine.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson added: “We would like to remind the public that such types of illegal gathering are totally unacceptable and those found to be involved could now face a £10,000 fine as a result of new Government legislation.”
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