Police break into Walsall football club to stop illegal 'lock-in' in defiance of COVID-19 rules

West Midlands Police officers broke up an illegal ‘lock in’ at a football club in Walsall over the weekend.

After receiving several reports since April about Walsall Wood football club secretly opening and not complying with COVID-19 restrictions, police finally took matters into their own hands.

Local officers thought the club was open at the weekend, so they surrounded the premises just before 7pm on Saturday evening (5 December) and saw the rear shutter coming down and the lights inside being switched off.

According to the force, the people inside were watching them arrive on CCTV before quickly closing the shutters and turning off the lights and music before officers could get in. Further enquires were carried out regarding the club’s CCTV, which we discovered had been deleted.

Police then visited the home of the chairman in an attempt to get access into the venue but he was unable to provide addresses of key holders and denied having keys which would allow officers entry into the club; leaving officers no alternative than to force entry into the club, located on Lichfield Road in Walsall Wood.

Police using an angle grinder to get into the Walsall property

While attempting to cut through various padlocks the people inside starting chanting, they switched the lights and music back on and continued to defiantly party.

Officers from the WMP operational support unit were called to assist and had to cut the shutter doors open with an angle grinder and then force the door open.

Police issued a total of 17 individual £200 fixed penalty notices to the people inside along with a £1,000 fine to the organiser, with a review of their licence now underway.

Chief Inspector Rod Rose, from Walsall police said “This was a blatant breach of the current tier 3 restrictions in place in Walsall.

“We believe the club have been flouting the rules throughout the pandemic and have attempted to outsmart us when we’ve previously attended.

“While they may think it’s harmless fun, their actions were reckless and are endangering lives.

“We understand the frustrations of people who are wanting to socialise – especially in the run up to Christmas – but the government restrictions are in place to reduce the spread of the virus and keep people safe.

The Chief Inspector also urged anyone with similar concerns to contact West Midlands Police.