West Midlands Police break into a non league football club after being tipped off about there being ‘criminals’ having a quiet secret party.
Footage obtained by the police has gone viral, being viewed nearly 300,000 times within 20 hours of it being published on Twitter.
The status reads: “This is the moment our officers broke up an illegal ‘lock in’ at a football club in Walsall at the weekend.
“We’d had reports that drinkers were illegally gathered in the bar behind the shutters, but our attempts to get in were initially met with silence.”
#WATCH | This is the moment our officers broke up an illegal ‘lock in’ at a football club in #Walsall at the weekend.
We’d had reports that drinkers were illegally gathered in the bar behind the shutters, but our attempts to get in were initially met with silence. pic.twitter.com/afF9f115SP
— West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) December 9, 2020
But the government restrictions are in place to reduce the spread of the virus and keep people safe.
To report breaches visit our website here ⬇️ https://t.co/5AMXpwFrOK
— West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) December 9, 2020
In a lengthy statement posted to the club’s official Twitter account, Mr Justin Hodgin, Walsall Wood’s chairman said: “Further to the statement made by West Midlands Police regarding the events at our club on Saturday, December 5 2020, we would like to make the following statement.
“Walsall Wood FC can confirm the police did attend our club on Saturday evening to find a number of people inside the club when they should have not been there.
“The club can confirm that no club officials or club staff were on site at the time and therefore we are conducting our own internal investigation regarding the event and we are awaiting information from the police to conclude these.
“In the police statement is states that following a visit to my home, I refused to give the police keys for entry and refused to give details of key holders, which I completely refute. I informed the police that I do not hold keys to the club and in fact gave them the names of the people who held keys. I can also confirm that the police did not try and contact these people after the information was given. I have also spoken to our committee members and none of these were contacted either.
“Also in the statement from West Midlands Police it stated we have been issued a fine and our license is under review. This is the first time we have heard this. We have called the police every day since the event and we have yet to have a response.
“We are also in the process of asking the police for information of the other events since April that they have reported to have occurred at the club, apart from one visit where there was no evidence of any wrong doing, we are completely unaware of any other instances and would welcome any information that they have so we again can do our own investigation.
“We do take this pandemic seriously and we will take all necessary action as we do not condone what has happened.
“We have reviewed our onsite security and taken all necessary action so this type of occurrence will not happen again.”
@WalsallWoodFC CLUB STATEMENT pic.twitter.com/Mmu9PkdRRw
— Walsall Wood FC (@WalsallWoodFC) December 9, 2020
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.
“We’re committed to doing that in Walsall and I’d urge anyone with any similar concerns to contact us via Live Chat on our website or by call us on 101.”
Fans reacted after seeing police break into the football club after being tipped off about ‘criminals’ having a party…
@SpectrumAut1: Nice to see taxpayers money spent in proportionate manner and using communist tactics to crush people. The real villains out there must be having a field day, my god what a time to be alive 🙁
@juliesmith472: Terrible waste of resources. After all this is over I never want to hear how any of the public services don’t have enough personal or money if they can afford to do this they can afford to do their jobs in normal times to a far better standard.
@Victoria_KL_: You should be really proud guys… Dont you have proper policing to do, like catching domestic violence perpetrators? *slow clap*
@BobMaso41285065: Dont you need warrants any more, or just smash or breakdown anything you fancy? I thought you could only break-in if life was in danger??
@HasanHussain07: The West Midlands Police apparently too busy to come to the woman’s aid when being attacked by an evil criminal with a machete! Footage shown really is disturbing and what happened at the party at Walsall Wood Football Club is disgraceful!
@tracyhudson1984: Why are you telling us this, you should be embarrassed at the lengths your going to. If only you could apply the same commitment to real crime
My fellas work van was broken into twice within 3 months they stole the catalytic converter and ripped the ignition and electrics out the total damage cost was £4500 all he got was a crime number they weren’t interested
— Lisa 💙 (@LMarie18x) December 10, 2020
Just astonishing that not only would they do this, they think it works as propaganda.
— Ministry Of Dissent, #EndTheLockdown #KBF (@MinistryDissent) December 10, 2020
Muggings, rape, burglary, drug crime, soaring knife crime, and you waste valuable officers, time and resources on this
Do your job, tackle crime not people enjoying themselves
You are destroying any trust you had
Refuse to enforce these destructive rules like some cops abroad— ¸„.-•~¹°”ˆ˜¨ Ｊ𝕆ᕼᶰ 𝐜ＲⓞⓌ ¨˜ˆ”°¹~•-.„¸ (@JohnCawCrow) December 10, 2020
The fact that the WMP are actually proud of this is shameful. I’m sure that these officers must have a professional conscious & realise this is NOT policing.
— Pass Judgement 🉑 (@petedjackson) December 10, 2020
Can’t you see what’s happening? You’re losing public respect hand over fist. The police are no more than government agents now which is tantamount to a police state. There’s no policing by consent anymore because we don’t consent to this
— cooj (@CoojeeBear) December 10, 2020
What have you become @WMPolice? Why do you persist in bragging online about covid-bothering? You are losing the respect of the people you are meant to serve. Read the room!
— Anne Webb (@a_webb) December 10, 2020
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