University of Portsmouth threatens to expel students caught in illegal street rave

UNIVERSITY officials have condemned students for staging an ‘illegal street rave’ on the campus – and have warned party-goers could face permanent expulsion.
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Police were forced to break up more than a dozen students caught partying in the street at 3am in Portsmouth city centre.

The rave, which was in breach of social distancing rules and government guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus, took place in Isambard Brunel Road, outside the University of Portsmouth student accommodation building.

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Footage of the disorder, showing revellers fleeing from police, has since been shared online, sparking widespread outrage in Portsmouth.

How The Sun reported the illegal street party in the centre of PortsmouthHow The Sun reported the illegal street party in the centre of Portsmouth
How The Sun reported the illegal street party in the centre of Portsmouth
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City fury at students’ ‘illegal street rave’

Now the university has warned that it will not tolerate the disobedience and said it will throw the book at all its students involved.

A university spokesman said: ‘The university is aware that police dispersed a gathering of young people last night, many of them students from the university.

‘This behaviour by students is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

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‘Students are expected to take responsibility for their own safety and the safety of the community by adhering to the university’s student contract and code of student behaviour, safety measures put in place, and by following government guidelines on social gatherings.

‘Any Portsmouth students found to have broken the law will face penalties that can include permanent exclusion from the University alongside any action taken by the police.’

The video footage, shared by The Sun newspaper, showed students drinking and dancing, with one reveller even carrying a boo box-style sound system.

The ravers were then shown scrambling away as a line of police cars charged towards to break up the rave. One man is shown being detained by police.

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The situation enraged local politicians who branded the behaviour ‘reckless and irresponsible’ and claimed it could put lives at risk.

Cllr Steve PItt, deputy leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: ‘Incidents like this are very, very concerning.

‘We know the infection rate in Portsmouth, like elsewhere in the country, is rising and people need to do everything they can to follow the rules.

‘So this behaviour is utterly irresponsible and we will, where appropriate, be looking to take action with the police.’

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Stephen Morgan, Portsmouth South MP, added: ‘This is very disappointing to see and I urge all residents of Portsmouth to recognise that we all share a collective responsibility as a community to keep each other safe. We will beat this virus by working together, not acting alone.’

The university insisted it was in ‘regular communications with students’ urging them to follow the rules.

It added the ‘majority’ of students ‘continue to take seriously their personal responsibility to keep the campus and city safe’.

The rave came as The News revealed the university was battling a wave of infections, with 155 having tested positive for Covid-19.

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The government has imposed a three-tier system of rules to limit the spread of the virus.

Portsmouth is currently in lowest category Tier 1 – meaning the city is at ‘medium’ risk.

Those living under this category must stick to the ‘rule of six’ when socialising. There is also a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants.

However in recent days the city has seen a surge of infections, with its infection rate of 135.9 per 100,000 people now marginally below those of towns entering stricter lockdown.