Police issue eight £10,000 fines in crackdown on illegal parties

Eight people have been fined £10,000 each in a crackdown on illegal parties in Leeds.

Police said they were called to several addresses in the Headingley and Burley areas in the early hours of Sunday.

Four people were fined £10,000 for their role in organising one party on Grimthorpe Place, Headingley, while 15 people who attended were fined £100 each.

Elsewhere police arrested a DJ after breaking up a street party on Wepener Mount, Harehills, on Saturday afternoon.

A 27-year-old man from Lincoln was later charged with causing a public nuisance.

And £20,000 of music equipment was seized in Chapeltown

It comes after West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council warned people that new orders had been put in place to give officers extra power to stop unlicensed music events.

Superintendent Chris Bowen said: "Our priority remains keeping our communities safe from the spread of Coronavirus and we can only do that by abiding by the current restrictions.

"We continue to work with our local authority and public health colleagues to engage with the public, explain the risks associated with taking part in such events and encourage our communities to comply with the restrictions.

"I would urge those thinking about organising or attending house parties or unlicensed music events to seriously consider the impact their actions are having not only on themselves, but their family, friends and the wider community.

"Not only are you putting your health at risk, but you are breaking the restrictions and you risk being fined and risk being arrested."