Police crackdown on Feltwell rave
POLICE disrupted an illegal woodland rave over the weekend when officers swooped on a crowd of around 400 people and seized a large quantity of sound and lighting equipment.
The rave was the second unlicensed music event to be targeted by police inside a week and underlines Norfolk Constabulary's zero-tolerance policy on such gatherings.
A large number of police units and the force helicopter arrived at Fire Ride 48, in Feltwell, at 2.50am on Sunday following reports that a large crowd had gathered in the woodland, where amplified music was being played.
The event was immediately shut-down and the surrounding area was sealed off to prevent further revellers and vehicles gaining access.
Sound and lighting equipment, along with a number of vehicles, were seized by officers and arrests were made for alleged possession and supply of controlled drugs and failing to stop for police.
A number of revellers were also reported for prosecution for offences including road traffic matters.
Chief Inspector Mike Brown said: "This activity was part of an ongoing operation to address concerns raised legitimately by law-abiding citizens of the disruption and damage caused by such illegal music events.
"For the second weekend, good intelligence and pro-active policing has enabled us to move in and disrupt an unlicensed musical event.
"This robust stance will continue and I encourage members of the community to support this by passing to police any information which points towards the potential for such an event to take place."
The illegal rave went ahead despite police issuing a stern warning on Friday, which stated that additional resources would be deployed to stop such events.
Revellers were told that raves not only cause distress to local residents, through loud music and the large number of people present, but can potentially put lives and property at risk.
The latest crackdown came after effective action by police prevented a full-scale rave in the Swaffham area a week earlier.
Officers in riot gear successfully dispersed more than 1,000 would-be revellers who had gathered in large groups on car parks in and around Swaffham.
But on New Year's Eve more than 800 people descended on a barn in Little Dunham for a rave and left piles of rubbish, excrement, needles, laughing gas canisters and discarded condoms.
Anyone who has information about an illegal rave or witnesses suspicious activity on farmland or in buildings should contact Norfolk Police on 0845 555111.
richard.long@
lynnnews.co.uk
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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