Valentine weekend rave at 'The Covid Arms' with 150 drinkers raided in Jewellery Quarter

An illegal makeshift nightclub nicknamed ‘The Covid Arms’ – constructed for a Valentine weekend of revelry with DJ, bar and VIP lounge area – was raided by police in the early hours of Sunday in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.

Police were pelted by the angry revelers as the crowd tried to escape the building in Buckingham Street in the early hours of Sunday (14th February).

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police stated that information had been received that part of a building on Buckingham Street in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter had been turned into an illegal bar during the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

The VIP ‘entrance’ to the illegal nightclub

After spotting taxis dropping people at the building, officers forced their way into the makeshift nightclub to find around 150 people packed into the building across two floors.

As well as the bar, with neon signs and a dance room, officers came across a recording studio and gym.

Some officers were pelted with bottles and one suffered an injury as a door was smashed open by people trying to break out.

Thermal imaging from police drones captured people trying to flee via the roof in the early hours of Sunday (14th February).

The revelers were photographed trying to escape via the roof by a thermal imaging drone

In all, 50 people are believed to have fled when police arrived, but some 70 were issued with £200 fines and the DJ could now face a £10,000 fine.

Officers used their discretion to allow the dozen people in there to leave, but the owner was hit with a £1,000 fine.

Assistant chief constable Chris Todd said: “Our officers continue to work long and hard to protect the public and reduce the spread of this deadly virus by breaking up these gatherings, often in really difficult circumstances.

“It’s unacceptable that our officers came under attack, and that one suffered a minor injury, just for doing their job and enforcing laws that are in place to keep us all safe.

“While there’s much to be hopeful of in terms of the rollout of coronavirus vaccines, people must remember that we are still in lockdown and the virus is still a real threat to communities across the West Midlands.

“We thank those people who are supporting our efforts to keep the public safe by sticking to the rules and staying home. They are saving lives.”