Illegal raves continue across the UK despite threat of £10,000 fines

Illegal raves and house parties continued unabated across the UK this past bank holiday weekend despite new laws threatening organisers with fines of up to £10,000.

Police were called to dozens of events in Leeds, London, Norfolk and beyond, Sky News reports. Many of the organisers were given £10,000 fines, including two promoters of a 3,000-person rave in Banwen, South Wales. West Yorkshire Police alone issued eight people with the maximum penalty.

In some cases, police also seized thousands of pounds worth of sound equipment.

The new rules came into effect last Friday, August 28th, in a bid to stem the tide of illegal raves happening up and down the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current regulations in England and Wales allow up to 30 people to congregate outdoors.

It wasn’t only ravers who fell foul of the new laws. Piers Corbyn, brother of former Labour Party leader Jeremy, was also issued with a £10,000 fine for his role in an anti-lockdown protest in London, Sky News reports. The 73-year-old is a climate change denier.

Follow our rolling news coverage on the coronavirus’s impact on electronic music here.