Officer attacked as police shut down '1,000-person rave' in Staffordshire
Around 1,000 people gathered at a lockdown rave in Staffordshire on Saturday night.
Officers were spat at when they arrived to shut down the party near Lichfield, Staffordshire Police said.
Police said the ravers had shown a "complete disregard" for public safety when they met at a field on Brookhay Lane in Whittington.
Traffic on the nearby A38 was slowed down as a safety precaution and British Transport Police officers were also at the scene due to the nearby railway line.
A spokesman for Lichfield Police said: "The gathering breaches coronavirus health regulations that prevents gatherings of more than six people to stop the spread of the virus which risks lives.
"The event has been closed down and those arriving have been turned away."
One of the attendees, Jordan Jewkes, was arrested at around 1.45am and has now been charged with attacking an officer.
The 18-year-old, of Medina, Tamworth, has been charged with assaulting a police officer (spitting) and being drunk and disorderly.
He is due to appear at Cannock Magistrates' Court at 9.30am on Wednesday.
Meanwhile a 20-year-old man died of a suspected drug overdose and three others were stabbed as thousands attended two raves in Manchester.
Police said they are also investigating the rape of an 18-year-old woman who attended one of the events where officers were met with violence from revellers.
