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Police disperse 'reckless' gathering of dozens of people on rooftop in Salford

Worrall Street in Ordsall, Salford, where police said they dispersed an illegal gathering at the weekend. (Google Maps)
Worrall Street in Ordsall, Salford, where police said they dispersed an illegal gathering at the weekend. (Google Maps)

Police have branded a planned gathering “reckless” after officers dispersed dozens of people from a roof in Salford, Greater Manchester.

Greater Manchester Police said officers were called to the property on Worrall Street in the city following a report that a group of people were setting up audio equipment on the roof just after 7pm on Saturday.

The force said the group was safely dispersed and no arrests had been made but enquiries are ongoing.

The incident comes as police shut down a house party in north London on Friday night believed to have been attended by more than 160 people.

The incidents are the latest of what have previously been dubbed “quarantine raves”. In June a 20-year-old man died of a suspected drug overdose and three others were stabbed in Oldham after thousands of people attended a gathering in Manchester.


Announcing the dispersal of the latest attempted gathering, Greater Manchester Police said a dispersal order covering the whole city of Salford had now been put in place.

Superintendent Colette Rose said: “First and foremost, I would like to thank the vast majority of people who are complying with the Covid-19 restrictions and reporting those who aren’t.

“They are providing us with vital intelligence which is allowing us to safely disperse gatherings which we know could result in serious incidents.”

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She said the gathering consisted of dozens of people, many of whom it is believed travelled to Greater Manchester from a neighbouring county.

“I hope tonight’s action reassures members of the public that Greater Manchester Police takes reports of breaches seriously and that officers are deployed to follow them up,” she added.

“These specially trained officers attend and, in cases where offences are identified, take appropriate action and work to identify those responsible for this reckless behaviour.”

Police were called to Tavistock Terrace in Archway, London, on Friday night after more than 160 people attended a house party on the street. (PA)
Police were called to Tavistock Terrace in Archway, London, on Friday night after more than 160 people attended a house party on the street. (PA)

In London, Metropolitan Police officers broke up the event, said to have been held at an Airbnb property in Tavistock Terrace, Archway, on Friday night following complaints from neighbours.

Footage of the party shows dozens of people in the garden of the terraced house not wearing masks or socially distancing before police officers enter the property and move people away.

A Met Police spokeswoman said officers were called to Tavistock Terrace shortly after 11.50pm on July 31 to reports of a “large gathering of people playing loud music”.

She said officers spoke to the organisers, asking them to close the event, and put a “closure notice” in place, but no arrests were made.