Senior Met officer promises clampdown on illegal raves after officers break up 200 in a single weekend

No social distancing: a party in Notting Hill in June breaking coronavirus rules
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A senior Met officer today pledged a clampdown on illegal raves after revealing that police were called to break up 200 parties in a single weekend.

Commander Ade Adelekan said more than 1,000 unlicensed lockdown events have been held in London since June.

He described them as “dangerous and exploitative” and said they frequently led to gang violence, drug-dealing and anti-social behaviour.

It came after two teenagers were stabbed at a warehouse rave attended by 600 revellers yesterday in Borehamwood. One suffered a head wound and the other was knifed in the hand. Both were taken to hospital but police think more people were injured and left without treatment.

Organisers of illegal parties have been threatened with £10,000 on-the-spot fines as part of a crackdown on gatherings staged against coronavirus rules. They have spiked across London while nightclubs are still unable to open.

Since June, officers have been pelted with bottles and other missiles at illegal raves in Brixton, White City, Notting Hill and Finsbury Park. Illegal street parties were also broken up in Waltham Forest, Clapham, Tooting Bec, Kensal Green, Newham, Maida Vale, Wembley and Tottenham.

Commander Adelekan said on one weekend, police received information on more than 200 events across the city. At Clapham Common, up to 200 people had gathered with sound systems. Meanwhile, between 50 and 100 descended on an estate in Southwark with speakers and generators.

Mr Adelekan told the Standard: “I make no apology for the Met’s exhaustive efforts to shut down the dangerous and exploitative unlicensed music events which we have seen across London. Since the end of June, the Met has responded to more than 1,000 events.

“The truth is that these events are incredibly unsafe, attract high levels of anti-social behaviour and can end in violence. Sadly, some events have ended with officers being targeted with mindless violence.

“To an outsider these events may appear harmless, but they are not. We know that gangs have used the crowds to disguise drug dealing or worse, to settle scores with rivals.

“I have also seen how local residents feel trapped or frightened because of one of these events on their doorstep. Some of the 999 calls we have received highlight to me why we cannot allow these events go unchecked. This is why we will always work hard to shut them down.”

Often social distancing is not adhered to at many of the events, which were in breach of coronavirus regulations on large gatherings, according to the National Police Chiefs’ Council

Mr Adelekan added: “Nearly eight out of 10 events are shut down as a result of calm negotiation, without needing to use powers. We talk with organisers and those attending, educating them on the law and the dangers. But we need people to work with us.

“Despite the easing of lockdown, our city remains in a public health crisis. Large gatherings risk ruining all the progress London has made in reducing the spread of coronavirus.”

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