Police condemn ‘appalling’ illegal raves in virus hot spot
A TOP police officer has expressed his disbelief over two nights of illegal raves which saw police pelted with missiles as they tried to disperse crowds.
Ian Pilling, the Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, said the “outrageous” behaviour, which is said to have involved hundreds of people, was the worst he had seen in 30 years of policing.
Mr Pilling said objects were thrown at officers as they attempted to intervene to stop a party in Harlow Drive, Gorton. The disorder followed large gatherings in the Wilmslow Road area of the city on Friday. He said: “Quite frankly, it is beyond comprehension and I am incredibly disappointed that people feel they can gather in this way – blatantly flouting the rules. I can honestly say in 30 years of policing I have never seen anything quite as outrageous as this behaviour. It is appalling.”
Some areas of Greater Manchester are still under strict lockdown rules after a number of new coronavirus cases.
More than 200 people were also dispersed in Birmingham over the weekend. West Midlands Police shut down a party in Hampton Street in the city centre on Friday night.
Last night violence broke out at an illegal rave attended by more than 600 in Borehamwood, Herts. At least two people received knife injuries and were taken to hospital but police believe more revellers were injured but left without reporting their wounds.