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Charlie Wilson

Five police officers injured breaking up illegal street party in Leeds

Five police officers were injured as they dealt with large crowd gatherings in Leeds over the Bank Holiday Weekend.

West Yorkshire Police said officers were called to reports of a large crowd gathering in the Potternewton Park Area on Sunday evening.

This comes after police shared an image from a massive event as hundreds of people ignored social distancing rules to party at nightclub in south Leeds.

Officers were called to the large-scale event at a premises in Kitson Road, Hunslet, at around 5.30pm on Saturday, August 29.

Police also attended an incident after reports of parties in Headingley and Burley with people fined £10,000 for their roles in organising events.

Police in Leeds shutting down a street party which occurred over the weekend (CrimeLdn/Twitter)

Officers also seized around £20,000 worth of music equipment from an address in Chapeltown and a licensed event in Kitson Road was closed down after reports it was in breach of coronavirus restrictions.

On Sunday night, police had to deal with crowds in the Potternewton Park area of the city after an illegal party was hosted.

This led to five police officers suffering minor injuries.

Despite this, West Yorkshire Police thanked the vast majority of people who followed the Covid-19 restrictions over the Bank Holiday Weekend.

Police said the extended weekend is typically one of the busiest times of the year, with several events that would have taken place being affected by the ongoing pandemic.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Kingsman of West Yorkshire Police, said: "This is normally a very busy time for the Force and I understand people being frustrated at not being able to enjoy themselves in the same way as they might have done in previous years.

"But major events would not only have breached restrictions – they could have put people’s health at risk too.

"That is why I am pleased that the extended weekend passed off without any major incidents – and I would like to thank the vast majority of residents for their understanding and patience who stayed at home and complied with the restrictions."

Police added that the vast majority of residents stuck to the restrictions which included dispersal orders being put in place in Leeds to give additional support to officers to stop unlicensed music events or large gatherings that breached coronavirus restrictions.

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