ILLEGAL raves and unlicensed music events risk the health and wellbeing of those involved and cause disruption to local communities.
If you go to an illegal rave you’re risking your life and those of your loved ones.
They present a danger to our communities through the risk of further spreading COVID-19 as well as from violence and drug taking that often takes place at the events.
They also cause disruption to local communities who are not only disturbed by the noise and numbers of people attending, but are often left with rubbish and waste in their aftermath.
We’re working with our partners and local communities to identify these events before they take place and prevent them from happening.
Where an event does take place, we will prioritise our response based on the information received and the risks identified.
Our aim is to engage with the organisers to end the event at the earliest possible opportunity.
Where necessary we have powers to seize equipment, put dispersal orders in place, or set up road-blocks to prevent any more people attending.
Anyone who organises one of these events could face prosecution.
Assistant Chief Constable Andy Prophet said: “We understand many people will want to go out and enjoy the good weather and the fact you can go out and do more things.
“But these events pose a very real risk to those attending and to our officers who have to deal with them.
“They could also cause additional pressure on the NHS through possible infections and as a county and as a nation we’ve spent the last few months working together to prevent that.
“Added to that is the possibility you could be targeted by criminals who we know go to these events.
“If you are planning on going to an illegal rave or an unlicensed music event I’d urge you to think again.”
If you have any information about a planned illegal rave or unlicensed music event or about one which is currently taking place, please call us on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
