Hatters legend Kingsley Black, chief operations manager Kevan Platt and press & communications manager Stuart Hammonds were shocked this morning, when they were cuffed, loaded into the back of a van and taken into custody by Bedfordshire Police. The arrests were also filmed live on social media.
The morning had started well enough for the Luton Town trio, who were in attendance at Kenilworth Road for a presentation from Level Trust founding director Jane Malcolm. Over coffee and biscuits, the attendees were enjoying a presentation when the room was raided and all of the assembled attendees were removed from the premises and taken off to Dunstable police custody where they’ll be placed behind bars.
Their only crime? Putting themselves forward to take part in Level Trust’s latest fundraising initiative.
Shortly after the suspects had been removed from the Club, Malcolm explained what was going on.
“Beds Police have this morning staged a mock arrest of a number of volunteers, who are on their way to Dunstable where they will spend the day trying to raise their bail money to be released from custody. All of the money raised today will go towards helping the thousands of children in Luton who live below the poverty line. We’re incredibly grateful to the group, who had no idea what they had signed themselves up for, but the police assure me they will be well looked after today!” said Malcolm.
Gary Sweet, the Hatters chief executive said: “We’ve been working in partnership with Level Trust all season, so when Jane came up with the idea of this lock in, we were only too happy to see Kingsley, Kevan and Stuart behind bars. Our partnership with Level Trust is coming to an end soon, with well over £16,000 raised – so this feels like a fitting way to finalise our fundraising for this season.”
Det Chief Supt Basra, who is also being incarcerated, said: “We’re really supportive of the work that Level Trust do in the communities that we serve, and we’re happy to have been in a position to be able to help them with this fundraising initiative, and have some fun with the suspects along the way today. The detainees will have a very real experience of what it’s like to spend time in our custody cells, and hopefully it will encourage people to dig deep for this vital cause.
Other ‘convicts’ taking part today alongside the Club’s representatives, Bartham Group’s Mostaque Koyes and Annette White from PC Help Centre.
DONATE NOW:
You can help with the fundraising by visiting the inmates' JustGiving.com fundraising pages:
https://www.justgiving.com/Kevan-Platt
https://www.justgiving.com/Stuart-Hammonds
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kingsley-black
Every penny raised will go towards helping disadvantaged children in the borough through a number of important schemes delivered by the Luton based charity.
You can keep up to date with progress via our social media channels throughout the day.