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Organisers of illegal parties fined £10,000 for first time in police crackdown

t least ten different people told to pay 10k for their roles in setting up raves and parties across England during the weekend.

The Manc The Manc - 31st August 2020

The first £10,000 fines have been issued to people who helped organise illegal parties during Bank Holiday weekend.

Police were granted new powers last week to distribute the five-figure penalties to anyone arranging gatherings of more than 30 people.

It has only taken a matter of days for the maximum fines to be handed out – with at least eleven different people told to pay 10k for their roles in setting up raves and parties across England during the weekend.

West Yorkshire Police have confirmed that several individuals were issued the penalty notices after holding gatherings in Headingley and Burley on Saturday.

The force also said that they’d seized £20,000 worth of music equipment from the Chapeltown area of Leeds.

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Two organisers of a rave in Banwen, South Wales – which apparently saw as many as 3,000 people in attendance – were handed penalties of £10,000 on Sunday.

Jeremy Corbyn’s brother, Piers Corbyn, was also among those charged after helping to set up a protest in Trafalgar Square.

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Dean Machala / Unsplash

Superintendent Chris Bowen said: “I would urge those thinking about organising or attending house parties or unlicensed music events to seriously consider the impact their actions are having not only on themselves, but their family, friends and the wider community.

“Not only are you putting your health at risk, but you are breaking the restrictions and you risk being fined and risk being arrested.”

Under new legislation, £100 fines can also be handed out to anyone found not wearing masks or attending unlawful gatherings, doubling up to £3,200 for repeat offences.