Police vehicles were damaged and attendees fled across railway lines as officers dispersed an illegal rave in Wigan on Saturday night. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) reported that around 300 people had gathered at a farm on the border with Glazebury, with dozens more turned away.
Officers were called at approximately 20:45 GMT by the farm owner, who returned to the 320-acre site to find loud music playing. GMP's Covid-19 breach unit collaborated with Cheshire Police, British Transport Police, the National Police Air Service, and Network Rail to block access to the site for over nine hours on both sides of the border between Wigan borough and Warrington.
Despite police advice, many individuals fled on foot across railway tracks while trains were still running in the area, a GMP spokesman said. Seven police vehicles had their tyres slashed, and officers searching the site discovered a machete in bushes.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts condemned the event, stating: "This event was unacceptable and a blatant disregard of not only restrictions for Covid-19 and the safety of others, but also the safety of those present as we saw serious examples over the summer period of the dangers posed by attending such events."
A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of failing to provide personal details for a fixed penalty notice, and a 36-year-old was arrested for possession of class A drugs.
