Police issue illegal rave warning |
 25 June 2008Thames Valley Police is warning people that they will not tolerate illegal raves this summer after one was closed on 22 June. Police were called to an illegal rave set up in Whaddon, Milton Keynes, at around 12.35am on 22 June. Local officers attended and monitored the situation which involved around 1,000 people, and in excess of 400 vehicles. An operation was then carried out to close the event down. Superintendent Dick Auger, who led the operation, said: “Our officers found that access to the site had been restricted, with the organisers blocking access deliberately to prevent police intervention. As a result, we put together an operation to clear the site. "We seized around 20 vehicles that were causing obstruction. Officers also seized the equipment and the van it came in and arrested both occupants. We also arrested the occupants of another car which contained some further sound equipment and decks.” This is the second illegal rave that police have successfully closed down in recent weeks. On 15 June, officers closed down an event near Wantage, Oxfordshire. Inspector Pete Downing, from HQ Operations, said: “These two incidents demonstrate that we do not tolerate illegal raves. We will closely monitor this kind of activity over the coming summer months. We investigate and assess all illegal raves in accordance with the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. “We are concerned about the people attending events like these, as they often involve excessive amounts of alcohol or drugs consumed by large numbers without safety precautions in place.” He added: “Our intention is to minimise disruption to the local community by stopping loud noise from revellers and preventing large amounts of traffic coming into small villages during the night. “This will prevent damage to local landowners’ property and allow members of the public who wish to use the land for dog walking, and other lawful recreational purposes, to do so.” Report your knowledge of any unlicensed events to police by calling 0845 8 505 505, Thames Valley Police’s 24-hour general number. |