Police issue almost £100,000 of Covid fines in Yorkshire after Halloween parties and illegal rave

Police in Yorkshire have issued almost £100,000 of Covid fines following a spate of Halloween parties and an illegal rave over the weekend.

South Yorkshire Police said they had been called out to numerous reports of gatherings in Sheffield - despite the county being under Tier 3 restrictions.

-> Leeds health charities say more needs to be done to stop 'second mental health pandemic'The parties which saw the maximum fixed penalties issued were reported at three separate locations, Endcliffe Crescent, Club Garden Road and Stalker Lees Road, late on Saturday evening (31 October).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Attending each property, the officers dispersed the gatherings, spoke to the occupants and issued fines to organisers.

Police in Sheffield have issued nine £10,000 fines this weekend after being called to out to numerous reports of gatherings and Halloween parties, despite the county being under Tier 3 lockdown restrictions.Police in Sheffield have issued nine £10,000 fines this weekend after being called to out to numerous reports of gatherings and Halloween parties, despite the county being under Tier 3 lockdown restrictions.
Police in Sheffield have issued nine £10,000 fines this weekend after being called to out to numerous reports of gatherings and Halloween parties, despite the county being under Tier 3 lockdown restrictions.

Superintendent Paul McCurry, said: “We fully appreciate how difficult the last few months have been and this current situation is incredibly frustrating for everyone, however organising house parties at a time when the infection rate is rising so rapidly is extremely irresponsible.

“Hospital admissions are continuing to increase and in order for these to slow down, we must reduce the spread of the virus between different households.”

The parties had all been pre-organised, with one hosting in excess of 70 people.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

-> 'When I heard we were going into a second lockdown my heart sank' - Leeds carer tells of pandemic's toll on mental healthAt one location, a woman is captured on body worn video, in fancy dress, stating that she should be at home self-isolating.

Issuing a warning to others, Supt McCurry continued: “Now more than ever, we all need to do our bit to slow the spread of this virus, and protect our health service. I hope that this serves as a warning that where necessary, we will take action against those who show a clear disregard for the measures which are in place to protect others.”

In the early hours of Sunday, officers were also called to an illegal rave at a disused warehouse in Kelham Island.

The gathering – made up of over 300 people - was dispersed and a 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of obstructing a police officer.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Police seized a sound system worth thousands of pounds and are currently carrying out enquiries to locate the organiser.

Elsewhere in the county, twenty £200 notices were issued in Ingbirchworth, Barnsley after police disbanded a gathering in the early hours of Saturday morning.

A new national lockdown is set to come into force on Thursday.

Under the new restrictions set out by the Prime Minister:

-> Next step for £50m Leeds mills renovations– Millions of people classed as clinically vulnerable to coronavirus will be told to take “extra precautions” but will not be formally asked to shield.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

– Travel and overnight stays in the UK and abroad will be restricted as people are advised not to travel unless for essential reasons.

– “Rapid turnaround tests” for coronavirus will be rolled out in “a matter of days”, and the Army will be brought in to help distribute the swabs, which could help partners attend labour wards.

– Churches will remain open for private prayer, funerals will be limited to 30 people – although it is advised that only close family members attend – and weddings are only allowed in “exceptional circumstances”.

– Single-adult households will continue to be allowed to form a “support bubble” with one other household, and children can move between homes if their parents are separated.

– Job centres, courts and civil registration offices will remain open, and elite sport will be allowed to continue behind closed doors.