Booze and drugs party hits Fincham
MORE than 300 revellers targeted another rural village hall in West Norfolk on Friday night causing damage estimated at more than £5,000.
Fincham Village Hall had been booked for a Downham girl's 16th birthday party – but Police Community Support Officers seized 98 bottles and tins of alcohol and 58 nitrous oxide (laughing gas) canisters from children attending the event.
A Norfolk Police spokesman said: "Police also arrested a male for possession of a controlled substance."
It follows similar recent incidents including a West Dereham birthday bash, which became a full-scale rave attracting 300-plus party-goers, shortly before Christmas and 800 revellers descending on a barn in Little Dunham on New Year's Eve and leaving piles of rubbish, needles, laughing gas canisters and discarded condoms.
After the Fincham incident, three people helping to clear and clean the hall so that a four-year-old's birthday party could go ahead at 11am on Saturday found drugs and traces of drugs left on the floor.
One of those cleaning up was the hall's key-holder Debbie Doughty, who was yesterday checking on damage that had been caused to the floor and walls which were refurbished last year at a cost of nearly 5,000.
She said: "They have taken paint off the walls at the lower level and they have virtually destroyed the floor. The varnished and polished surface has disappeared and it's damaged underneath – it was lovely but now it's a mess."
Mrs Doughty said police had been notified in advance of the party booking and spoke to the organiser, who assured them it would be well organised and was for about 100 invited guests.
Sergeant Paul Graves, of Lynn Police, said: "This is another example of party-goers abusing the trust of local people who let them use their hall.
"They gave no thought to the fact that a children's party would take place the next day and left it damaged, stinking of alcohol and smoke and with drugs discarded on the floor."
He reminded village hall committees to be extra vigilant when taking bookings. Advice is available from the licensing office on 01553 665061.
Police in riot gear and using a helicopter successfully prevented a rave in the Swaffham area in the early hours of Sunday.
More than 1,000 people who had gathered in the area were dispersed after officers served them with notices and warnings to move off the land or face possible arrest and prosecution.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -5 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 5 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 0 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
