Police in Lancashire have hit out at house party revellers who were found still drinking at 7.50am.
Officers were called to the home in Burnley on Saturday morning following reports that a group of people were breaching coronavirus restrictions.
In a lengthy Facebook post, Burnley and Padiham police Inspector Chris Valentine said attendees, “in their drunken stupor”, claimed “Covid was made up”.
He said they felt “no remorse for hosting the party despite being parents to two teenagers”.
The prospect of social distancing breaches over the Bank Holiday made him “worried about keeping his own family, his team and the people of East Lancashire safe,” Insp Valentine added.
"People have become too blasé about things,” he wrote. “Just because Covid isn’t always fatal doesn’t mean we can ignore it.
"I just cannot understand anyone who would risk infecting themselves or the people they care about.
"Take the people at the house party for example.
"As a parent I do everything humanly possible to protect my son and hate seeing him when he’s ill no matter how serious it is.
"Why would anyone deliberately expose their family to disease for the sake of having a few drinks?”
His remarks came as Priti Patel promised a crackdown on illegal raves in the UK.
The Home Secretary lashed out at the organisers of illegal raves, warning them they are “not above the law”.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Ms Patel cited London’s Metropolitan Police, who have responded to more than 1,000 unlicensed music events since June.
Addressing those thinking of organising such events, Ms Patel wrote: “It is critical that you consider the potential impact of these events, otherwise we risk undoing all the hard work the majority have done to stop the spread of this deadly virus.
“I urge you to seriously consider the risks you’re creating for everyone in attendance, as well as the wider community.”
The Home Secretary also defended new legislation aimed at deterring illegal music events.
Under the new measures, which came into force on Friday, organisers of illegal raves will be hit with £10,000 fines.
Meanwhile, people not wearing masks and participants in unlawful gatherings can be fined starting at £100, doubling for each repeat offence up to a maximum of £3,200.
Ms Patel said the legislation represents a crackdown on “the most serious breaches of social distancing restrictions”.
She added: “We will not allow this breathtakingly selfish behaviour from a senseless minority to jeopardise the progress we have made together.”
