Police break up lockdown party at student housing on Lancaster quay

Nearby residents reported the party, which went on between 12.30am and 3.30am on St George's Quay on Saturday.

One eye-witness said several neighbours called the police, and saw some of the students being chased by officers along the quay to the bus station, before being rounded up.

Police estimate that "well over 50 people" were in attendance at the party, and during this incident alone 38 tickets were issued.

A Lancaster University spokesman said students can expect to face a penalty for breaking Covid regulations - and could be excluded from university.

"The police have made us aware of an incident off campus that constitutes a very serious breach of university and national Covid regulations and we continue to support their investigation," the spokesman said.

"We know that the vast majority of students are continuing to act responsibly and with concern for each other but we have reminded those that do not, that they will be subject to serious penalties both from the police and university.

"University penalties for breaches of the university’s Covid regulations can range from fines of £300 for minor breaches, through to permanent exclusion from the university for the most serious offences including, but not limited to, large gatherings.

"In addition, the police can issue fines of up to £10,000 for gatherings of 30 or more people.

"While these incidents involve a small minority of students, they are very serious and could potentially put others at risk.

"As a university we continue to work to prevent these incidents and at the same time, we remain very grateful for the responsible and supportive behaviour of the overwhelming majority of our students who have followed the rules and acted responsibly throughout."

Across the county as a whole, police received 461 reports of breaches and issued a total of 277 tickets between 6am on Friday and 6am on Monday - an increase from last weekend of 96.

A police spokesman said: "We’re continuing to see breaches of the coronavirus regulations and this weekend have had to issue almost 100 more tickets than we did last weekend."

Incidents around the county also included:

*An illegal drinking den in an industrial unit in Bacup, with a full bar set-up, snooker table, football table and large TV. Ten people were issued with tickets.

*A report of fighting following a party at an address in Poulton. While breaking up the incident an officer was assaulted. A 36-year-old man from Poulton was issued with a Covid ticket and was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting and obstructing a police officer. He has since been released under investigation.

*A 30th birthday party being held at an address in Fulwood, with several people in attendance.

*A car containing five people from different addresses who claimed they had been from Blackburn to Bury to "inspect some upholstery", and were en route back to Blackburn when stopped. However, checks showed their car had not been anywhere near Bury that day.

*Reports of screaming coming from an abandoned warehouse in Ribbleton, which turned out to be a meeting of people from a number of different households in different vehicles.

*Multiple house parties right across the county and dealt with several instances of people from different households travelling in cars together.

Last weekend the penalty changed for those in attendance at house parties, meaning officers can now issue increased fines of £800 to anyone in attendance at a party of 15 people or more. Organisers of such events still face a £10,000 fine.

Ch Supt Sam Mackenzie of Lancashire Police said: “Disappointingly we have seen a rise this weekend in the number of tickets issued, so once again would like to remind people that we are in the middle of a pandemic and that the rules and regulations apply to everybody to keep us all safe.

“While we are continuing to spend most of our time dealing with crime and keeping people safe, having to attend breaches of Coronavirus rules takes us away from that.

"When the call came in about the warehouse party in Lancaster, there were already several other incidents ongoing in the area – and as a result one team of officers had to stay on well past the end of their shift to help with the demand.

“We have always taken a proportionate approach to breaches of the regulations – educating, explaining and engaging first, with enforcement as a last resort – but when people blatantly break the rules we will not hesitate to take a firmer approach.

“The majority of people who are continuing to follow the regulations have our most sincere thanks and as ever we are incredibly grateful to them for doing their bit in fighting the virus.”

If you want to report a suspected breach of the regulations you can do it online here