POLICE chiefs fear widespread disorder as dozens of illegal raves are planned to replace the cancelled Notting Hill Carnival over the Bank Holiday.
Met Police detectives are "very, very concerned" after having reportedly received intelligence of at least 35 events which will the biggest street party in Europe.
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Sources have said police officials are drawing up a "comprehensive plan" to help crackdown on the events, reports the Telegraph.
It comes as fines of up to £10,000 can now be levied against the organisers of illegal raves as part of police powers to help control the coronavirus outbreak.
Cops are reportedly scanning social media and other platforms to gather intelligence on possible illegal events.
The operation has been unofficially dubbed "Not the Notting Hill Carnival".
The Met Police have responded to more than 1,000 illegal events in London since the end of June.
Ken Marsh, chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said the force was “very, very concerned” about the number of potential raves over the Bank Holiday.
Many events have branded themselves as the “real" Notting Hill Carnival after the annual street party was cancelled due to the global pandemic.
Notting Hill Carnival attracts around one million people each year and has taken place over the August Bank Holiday Weekend since 1966.
Tough new laws doubled the fines for people hosting illegal parties of more than 30 people.
And now just going to one of them can land you with a fine of up to £3,200
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the "tough action" last week as hhe urged everyone to "follow the rules".
Mr Marsh said: "If the weather is half decent, we’re going to have a real problem.
"We already know of around 35 unlicensed events to replace the Notting Hill Carnival popping up all over London.
“We’re trying to prevent them happening by looking at social media and other things, but it’s a pretty hapless task.
"What can we do? It’ll end up with more police officers having bottles thrown at them, and putting themselves in harm’s way.”
Meanwhile, police in Birmingham said they broke up 70 parties on Saturday night as the city faces a lockdown.
And then cops also broke up an illegal rave with 300 people in attendance – getting pelted with missiles as they did so – in Huddersfield.
Waheed Saleem, the Birmingham's assistant police and crime commissioner, urged Facebook to do more to help police catch organisers of illegal raves.
He said: "It has a lot of power, and it needs to use it for good. It's got algorithms to flag these events up before they happen.
"It could be carrying more messaging to tell people of the risks.
"And it should be doing more to hand over the organisers’ details to police so that they can be caught and punished."
Commander Ade Adeleka, lead for unlicensed music events on the National Police Chiefs Council, said: “Unlicensed music events are unlawful and unregulated. These events are hosted without regard for the safety of those attending, and police have observed cases of anti-social behaviour, sales of drugs and gang activity.
“It is vital that forces obtain information about any illegal events at the earliest opportunity.
“To the organisers of this sort of activity, I strongly advise that you seriously consider the risks you’re creating for everyone in attendance and the wider community.
"There is a risk of prosecution for those who organise these events and equipment will be seized.”
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