Traffic warden ‘Covid marshal’ team halts nine illegal parties in east London

Barking and Dagenham council has redeployed parking control officers as a new enforcement team
UIG via Getty Images

Traffic wardens have been retrained as “Covid marshals” in East London to help break up illegal raves and parties.

Barking and Dagenham council has redeployed parking control officers as a new enforcement team which has already shut down nine illegal parties.

Club Kaafi Studio Lounge in Barking was served with a temporary closure order after Covid marshals visited at 2am as part of a programme of late-night weekend inspections last month.

The council said the shisha bar was trading four hours after the 10pm curfew and although officers were refused access they observed more than 100 people leaving.

The team also broke up a 260-person rave in Broad Street in August. Supported by police, they made the DJ pack up equipment and handed out 25 parking fines to drivers blocking driveways.

Council leader Darren Rodwell said: “We are trying to be as visionary as possible. Businesses profiteering or not abiding by the rules will not be tolerated. We have closed down nine premises and parties, which is more than any other borough.”

Meanwhile, Hounslow council is planning social media content aimed at younger residents showing how easily Covid can spread in groups and encouraging them to wear face coverings.

Kelly O’Neill, director of public health at Hounslow, said “a group of people aged 11 to 18 are going to create coronavirus content for us and share on platforms including TikTok and Instagram”.

Harrow council said it is attempting to “improve engagement with young people” and is looking to get a “local social media influencer on board”.

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