Advertisement

Moment police find people hiding in cupboard during illegal student party

Police issued 50 Fixed Penalty Notices to those who attended the party (Policve)
Police issued 50 Fixed Penalty Notices to those who attended the party. (Police)

Police have released a video showing people hiding in a cupboard after an illegal student party was raided in Birmingham.

The footage showed party-goers coming out of their hiding place when they were rumbled by officers at student accommodation in Lower Loveday Street just after midnight on Saturday.

West Midlands Police said people had travelled from as far away as Newcastle, Nottingham and London to attend the rave which breached lockdown rules.

They added an officer was assaulted as one student made off and they’ll be looking at CCTV to identify him.

The officer was not seriously hurt.

Watch: Moment police find people hiding in cupboard during illegal student party

Police issued 50 Fixed Penalty Notices to those who attended the party after they had gathered them inside the student accommodation building.

Officers confirmed they would be working with Birmingham University to identify the organiser of the party and help them improve their security to prevent further breaches.

Inspector Steve Barnes, who was in charge of last night’s operation, said: “We understand that young people are frustrated at not being able to enjoy themselves and I do feel their pain, but we have to stick to the rules so that we can get back to some sort of normality sooner rather than later.

“People are dying and we have to prevent the spread of this virus.”

Meanwhile, a funeral director has been fined £10,000 after 150 turned up to a burial in breach of COVID-19 restrictions on Thursday.

Police issued the penalty to the funeral director, 41, from Mansfield, when they showed up to the location in Welwyn Garden City and found there were more people than allowed under the national lockdown.

Hertfordshire Constabulary said they were made aware of a funeral prior to the date.

They worked with the family in advance, in an attempt to ensure the safety of those attending and that of the wider public.

Read more:

Why Boris Johnson is wrong to blame record COVID deaths on the new variant

The 8 key upcoming dates in Britain's 2021 COVID battle

Government restrictions around COVID-19 were reiterated as part of this and it was explained that clear breaches would result in regulations being enforced.

Under lockdown rules, only 30 people are allowed to attend a funeral but when officers arrived they found there were close to 150 people in attendance.

Superintendent, Nick Caveney added: “This is a very difficult time for everyone, and whilst we completely understand that people would like to mourn their loved ones, we have to remember that the current circumstances are out of the ordinary and that we must adhere to the rules to keep each other safe.”

An illegal party took place on Beauchamp Place in Chelsea. (Google Maps)
An illegal party took place on Beauchamp Place in Chelsea. (Google Maps)

Two Metropolitan Police officers were also injured while breaking up a party involving about 200 people in the London borough of Chelsea last Sunday.

Police said that officers responded to reports of a mass gathering taking place at an address on Beauchamp Place at 3.30am on 17 January.

Several units had to be deployed to the venue where more than 200 people were attending the illegal party.

As the units worked to clear the crowd pouring into the street, guests became hostile, pushing through officers in an attempt to flee and avoid fines, leading to the injuries.

Watch: What you can and can't do during England's third national lockdown