Riot squad chases ravers out of Swaffham
A POLICE chief spoke this week about the effective action taken to prevent a full-scale rave in the Swaffham area in the early hours of Sunday.
After several hours of intense work, police 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.
Tactics included using the police helicopter and dogs, and officers served notices and warnings to those who were congregating to move off the land or face possible arrest and prosecution. They also issued tickets for road traffic offences and seized some vehicles.
In addition, people who intended offering drink and food at the rave will be investigated by environmental health officers and the Inland Revenue.
Reflecting on the night's activities, Superintendent Jo Parrett, police commander for the operation, said: "Our actions on Saturday were purposefully pro-active and designed to prevent an illegal rave or unlicensed music event taking place.
"Our intelligence in relation to these events is constantly improving and in this case it certainly helped us to fully disrupt this event which would have caused damage and disruption to ordinary law abiding people in Norfolk."
She stressed: "We will not tolerate those individuals who choose to break the law and ruin the peace of our county. This should serve as a warning that we will do everything we can, including robust action, to ensure that Norfolk remains a safe and enjoyable place for everybody to be."
Swaffham area was targeted on New Year's Eve when 800 revellers descended on a barn in Little Dunham for a rave and left piles of rubbish, excrement, needles, laughing gas canisters and discarded condoms.
On that occasion, van loads of police and the police helicopter went to the farm but could not stop partygoers raving on until 4pm New Year's Day. Angry farmer Jeremy Mason had no option but to look on as his 300-year-old barn and surrounding land was taken over.
An estimated 200 to 300 vehicles, including burger vans, congregated on his land despite him having installed barriers on private roads leading to the barn after previous raves on his land.
Mr Mason, who had to clear up the mess left behind, had called for policy makers to take action to give officers the resources to break up such events.
mike.last@lynnnews.co.uk
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
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