Police raid firepit party at student house and stop an illegal rave in quarry

Police shut down a firepit party being held by students in Nottinghamshire this weekend as officers across the country continued to crack down on people breaching coronavirus restrictions.

The firepit party was just one incident to be shut down over the weekend, which also saw a children’s football match being thwarted in Lincolnshire and six people being arrested in Ireland in connection with an anti-lockdown demonstration.

Officers also handed out a number of fines to rule breakers, with four people receiving them after being caught hunting ghosts; two men being fined for going on a ‘test drive’ from Essex to Scotland; and fines totalling £2,400 being handed out to revellers at a quarry party.

When police arrived to shut down the 10-person Nottinghamshire firepit party last night, one third-year student attempted to excuse their behaviour by saying: ‘We are not going to see our grandparents any time soon’.

Police shut down a firepit party being held by students in Nottinghamshire this weekend as officers across the country continued to crack down on people breaching coronavirus restrictions

10 third-year students were found to be attending the firepit party at the property in Nottinghamshire last night

10 third-year students were found to be attending the firepit party at the property in Nottinghamshire last night

One student claimed she had only been at the party when officers arrived because she was picking up a pizza

One student claimed she had only been at the party when officers arrived because she was picking up a pizza

Covid infections have been falling in Nottinghamshire, but 281 patients in hospitals in the county are still being treated for the virus.

The county’s Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping has warned the summer could be affected if people continue to break Covid restrictions – with house-to-house mixing being cited as one of the main avenues of virus transmission.

Despite this stark warning, other students at the firepit party seemed unfazed, with one claiming they didn’t care about breaking Covid rules because ‘it has been a year now’, while another claimed they had only been at the party to collect a pizza.

One student attempted to provide a false name to an officer who was giving them a £200 fine for breaching coronavirus restrictions – but later provided their correct details after being warned they were risking perverting the course of justice. 

In total, officers handed out three £200 fines to students at the property, who were also asked to leave. 

When police arrived to shut down the party, one student attempted to excuse their behaviour by saying: 'We are not going to see our grandparents any time soon'

When police arrived to shut down the party, one student attempted to excuse their behaviour by saying: ‘We are not going to see our grandparents any time soon’

One student attempted to provide a false name to an officer who was giving them a £200 fine for breaching coronavirus restrictions - but later provided their correct details after being warned they were risking perverting the course of justice

One student attempted to provide a false name to an officer who was giving them a £200 fine for breaching coronavirus restrictions – but later provided their correct details after being warned they were risking perverting the course of justice

In total, officers handed out three £200 fines to students at the property, who were also asked to leave. Pictured: A student covers her face with a jacket as she leaves the property after police descended on the firepit party

In total, officers handed out three £200 fines to students at the property, who were also asked to leave. Pictured: A student covers her face with a jacket as she leaves the property after police descended on the firepit party

Sergeant Rich Shaw said: ‘They are all intelligent and educated individuals and they have all apologised – but why then do it? ‘Because we have not seen each other in a while’.

‘One chap was in a house with five other people and the other two lads are in a shared house.

‘This one party has the potential to infect more people and that is the catalyst.

‘You might not see your grandparents, but the next person who comes to your house might go and see theirs.

‘I think we are starting to see more students coming back because the lockdown is ending.’

On the same night, officers were also dispatched to a flat in the city centre to break up a party.

Upon arrival at the flat, a total of nine people were discovered inside, with five attempting to hide in a bathroom from the officers.

When asked why they had broken coronavirus restrictions, one of the rule-breakers said: ‘Why not? I don’t care. I don’t care anymore, it has been a year.’

All nine of the people inside the flat were handed £200 fines and asked to leave the property. 

The parties in Nottinghamshire weren’t the only examples of Covid rule flouting this weekend.

Four people were issued with a fine after being caught having travelled 50 miles from Cwmbran to Mumbles, near Swansea, in the early hours of March 5 to hunt for ghosts. Pictured: A police van arrives is parked in the area where the ghost hunters were found

Four people were issued with a fine after being caught having travelled 50 miles from Cwmbran to Mumbles, near Swansea, in the early hours of March 5 to hunt for ghosts. Pictured: A police van arrives is parked in the area where the ghost hunters were found

12 fines of £200 each were issued to revellers at an illegal rave at Healey Nab quarry, north of Bolton, this morning. Pictured: Rubbish left behind by the illegal rave after police broke it up

12 fines of £200 each were issued to revellers at an illegal rave at Healey Nab quarry, north of Bolton, this morning. Pictured: Rubbish left behind by the illegal rave after police broke it up

Four people who had travelled 50 miles from Cwmbran to Mumbles, near Swansea, in the early hours of March 5 were confronted by police for breaking travel rules.

When questioned by officers, the group of four claimed they had travelled to the city during the early hours to hunt for ghosts. 

With ghost hunting not considered a reasonable excuse for travelling long-distance, the group were fined – with the usual fixed penalty standing at £200 each.

Before sending the group on their way home, police also seized their car after a computer check found the driver had no insurance and only held a provisional licence. 

One cop joked: ‘It’s going to be a long walk home for them.’ 

More fines were handed out to rule breakers by police in Lancashire this morning after officers broke up an illegal rave being held at Healey Nab quarry, north of Bolton.

Upon arrival, 12 fines of £200 each were handed out to people attending the illegal gathering. 

A spokesperson from Lancashire Police said: ‘Tactical Operations from around the county have supported local patrols in breaking up an illegal rave in Healey Nab Quarry.

‘The area is littered with bottles, NO2 capsules and rubbish.

In Ireland, six people have been arrested in connection with an anti-lockdown demonstration on Saturday afternoon. Pictured: A signed placed in a shop window during the anti-lockdown demonstration in Cork on Saturday

In Ireland, six people have been arrested in connection with an anti-lockdown demonstration on Saturday afternoon. Pictured: A signed placed in a shop window during the anti-lockdown demonstration in Cork on Saturday

Shops boarded up their windows as an estimated crowd of several hundred gathered in Cork to demonstrate against the coronavirus lockdown

Shops boarded up their windows as an estimated crowd of several hundred gathered in Cork to demonstrate against the coronavirus lockdown

‘Twelve Covid breach tickets issued and two males dealt with for possession of cannabis.’

Elsewhere, two men have been fined after completing a 700-mile round trip from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, to Scotland to ‘test drive’ cars for TikTok, according to BBC News

The pair were issued with £200 fines, but police would not give additional details on the illegal journey.

Essex Police confirmed that: ‘A 38-year-old man from Southend and his 35-year-old friend attracted the attention of our officers after travelling all the way to Scotland and back to test-drive cars.

‘Their excuse? They were making videos for TikTok.’

Pictured: Members of the Gardai on bicycles stop and search people before the demonstration in Cork against the lockdown

Pictured: Members of the Gardai on bicycles stop and search people before the demonstration in Cork against the lockdown

A woman wears a homemade face covering as she takes part in the anti-lockdown demonstration in Cork on Saturday

A woman wears a homemade face covering as she takes part in the anti-lockdown demonstration in Cork on Saturday

In a statement, Essex Police warned people considering making non-essential journeys to reconsider and help prevent the unnecessary spread of coronavirus. 

In Lincolnshire, police put a stop to a children’s football match being played under the cover of darkness. 

Officers were alerted after the youngsters played football in the grounds of St Lawrence Church of England Primary School in Skellingthorpe at around 9pm on Wednesday night.

A witness shone a torch on the group and challenged the children who quickly fled.

The parent contacted the school to inform them what had happened and police were also notified.

Two men were arrested in Cork city, one for a breach of coronavirus regulations and the other for public order offences. Pictured: The crowd of anti-lockdown demonstrators marching through Cork city centre on Saturday

Two men were arrested in Cork city, one for a breach of coronavirus regulations and the other for public order offences. Pictured: The crowd of anti-lockdown demonstrators marching through Cork city centre on Saturday

Garda said four other arrests were made linked to the event in Cork, with three men and one woman having been arrested in Kildare, Kerry and County Cork for failing to comply with Garda directions. Pictured: People carry signs and banners during the anti-lockdown demonstration in Cork over the weekend

Garda said four other arrests were made linked to the event in Cork, with three men and one woman having been arrested in Kildare, Kerry and County Cork for failing to comply with Garda directions. Pictured: People carry signs and banners during the anti-lockdown demonstration in Cork over the weekend

Condemning the incident, Saint Lawrence wrote on its Facebook page: ‘It seems like they had a lovely game of football, taking both the goal and ball from another area of school and moving to where they wanted it.

‘What a shame they didn’t tidy it away when they had finished.

‘Please share and help these young people be aware that this is not helping us to keep everyone safe in our school.’

Lincolnshire Police said that they received a call about the match at 9.07pm on March 3, at which point the children had already been challenged and run off.

They also confirmed that no fines were handed out. 

Meanwhile in Ireland, six people have been arrested in connection with an anti-lockdown demonstration on Saturday afternoon.

There was a heavy police presence, with some 200 officers on the scene, and some shops boarded up their windows as an estimated crowd of several hundred gathered in Cork.

Two men were arrested in Cork city, one for a breach of coronavirus regulations and the other for public order offences. 

Garda said four other arrests were made linked to the event in Cork, with three men and one woman having been arrested in Kildare, Kerry and County Cork for failing to comply with Garda directions.

Last weekend in Dublin, there were chaotic scenes at an anti lockdown protest, and 23 arrests were made as well as three Garda officers injured.