Derbyshire police seize music gear after breaking up lockdown rave

Officers from Derbyshire Police targeted the site of a former quarry near Matlock after receiving reports of a number of people dancing to music.

They were called to Snitterton Road, Matlock in the early hours of last Sunday, seizing DJ equipment and dispersing the crowd that had gathered.

It comes after it emerged that officers have issued £10,000 fines to two Derbyshire students who have breached COVID-19 rules by hosting large gatherings.

One fine was issued when officers attended a flat in Gower Street, Derby, in the early hours of Sunday and found more than 30 people at a party inside. A £10,000 fine was given to the 20-year-old man whose flat it is.

The first £10,000 fine was issued on December 6 when officers were called to reports of loud music from a flat in the Wardwick, Derby, at 1.15am.

When officers attended they found a large gathering of up to 70 people at a flat which had been organised by a 19-year-old. The partygoers were forced to leave and the student was issued with the fine.

A force spokesman said: “In both cases, officers found the students to be from the University of Derby and we are liaising with the university.”

Detective Chief Inspector Emlyn Richards, said: “I was really disappointed when the county saw its first £10,000 COVID fine handed out, but to be followed by another a week later is very disheartening.

“Over the course of the pandemic, the public of Derbyshire have, on the whole, conducted themselves very well.

“However, if these fines do anything I hope they act as a real warning to anyone who thinks about hosting a party of any kind.

“Officers will always try and engage, educate and encourage people around the regulations – but where we find serious breaches such as this we will not hesitate to enforce the maximum possible fines.

“We should all be doing our utmost to protect ourselves, our friends and our families from this virus and organising events like these is simply not acceptable.”