Outrage as police are forced to break up huge street rave outside University of Portsmouth
POLICE were forced to step in and break up an illegal rave outside the University of Portsmouth in the early hours of the morning.
Officers reportedly arrived at the street party, opposite the university accommodation block in Isambard Brunel Road, at about 3am.
Video footage, shared by The Sun newspaper, showed more than a dozen people dancing to music in clear breach of social distancing rules.
Revellers can be seen drinking with one person carrying a boombox-style sound system before a stream of police raid the gathering.
The crowd then scrambles to flee from police as officers appear to detain at least one person.
It is not known whether the party-goers were students at the university – which has seen 155 students self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19.
However, the situation has sparked outrage in Portsmouth, with a senior council chief warning ‘action will be taken’ to punish all those responsible for the rave.
Councillor Steve Pitt, deputy leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: ‘Incidents like this are very, very concerning.
‘We know the infection rate in Portsmouth, like elsewhere in the country, is rising and people need to do everything they can to follow the rules.
‘Infections are rising most rapidly among young people who, for the most part, aren’t badly affected by the virus.
‘However, the more young people help spread the virus the greater the risk is that an elderly person may become infected and may die.
‘So this behaviour is utterly irresponsible and we will, where appropriate, be looking to take action with the police.’
Stephen Morgan, Portsmouth South MP, added: ‘This is very disappointing to see and I urge all residents of Portsmouth to recognise that we all share a collective responsibility as a community to keep each other safe. We will beat this virus by working together, not acting alone.’
Portsmouth is currently in Tier 1 – meaning the city is at ‘medium’ risk.
Those living under this category must stick to the ‘rule of six’ when socialising.
There is also a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants.
Under Tier 1 households are allowed to mix as long as they are not in groups of larger than six.
Tiers 2 and 3 have more stringent rules, banning this.
The News has approached Hampshire Constabulary and the University of Portsmouth for comment.