Coronavirus: Police shut down ‘70-person rave with DJ’ in Shropshire park during lockdown
Attendee reportedly tells officers he went to event because he was ‘sick of self-isolation’
![Telford police said the group was not fined because they shut down the event after being told to disperse](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/05/17/19/telford-rave-mass-gathering.jpeg)
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
![Head shot of Andrew Feinberg](https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/support-us/andrew-feinberg.png)
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
A group of about 70 people have been caught breaking lockdown rules by gathering for a “rave” in a park in Shropshire, police have said.
West Mercia Police said they dispersed what appeared to be a pre-planned mass gathering at Granville Country Park in Telford, Shropshire, where attendees had set up DJ equipment.
“We are attending a mass gathering/rave at the Granville park. I'm told 70 people here!” an officer wrote on the Telford police Twitter account on Saturday evening.
“We have worked so hard and sacrificed so much and this group decide it doesn't apply.
“I'm shocked that people would care so little.”
The officer added: “They had a DJ set up and appears to be pre-planned. We dispersed them for now.”
One attendee at the gathering apparently told police that he had come to the event because he was “sick of self-isolation”.
The officer also said the group was not fined because they shut down the event when they were told to disperse.
“We don’t fine unless there is no other action open. We engage and explain,” they said.
“We would ask anyone who is thinking of organising one of these events to think of the bigger picture.”
Government guidance, as of Sunday, says people should not gather in groups of more than two outside, except with members of their household, to help slow the spread of Covid-19.
People are also urged to maintain social distancing by staying two metres apart from anyone outside of their household.
Ministers have warned that the coronavirus infection rate is likely to increase if people break these rules and meet in large groups.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments