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Illegal raves in England
A rave in Norfolk, attended by about 100 people, was disrupted by police almost as soon as it had begun.
Officers were called to Roydon Common in King’s Lynn early on Monday and officers were able to identify key organisers and seize sound equipment.
Four people were arrested and released on bail while investigations continue.
“The message we want to put across is that we take robust action to deter and prosecute organisers and people at these events,” Supt Nick Davison said.
“Raves cause a lot of distress to local residents, businesses, wildlife and habitats. Norfolk Constabulary is committed to finding as many avenues as possible to tackle this problem.”
An air ambulance crew and their helicopter were pelted with cans and bottles as they tried to help an injured man at a rave in Norfolk.
Police condemned the “reckless and irresponsible behaviour” which put the crew and their vehicle at risk at Feltwell, near Thetford.
The crew, who were unhurt, were called while police were on site on Sunday.
Officers made several arrests and seized equipment at the rave, which was attended by about 500 people.
A rave at nearby Bodney on Saturday night had been broken up by police, with organisers and attendees moving on to the second site.
‘Very worrying’
Supt Nick Davison said the “foolish” actions had potentially serious consequences.
“Not only was the safety of ambulance staff put at risk, but the fact that the helicopter was targeted is very worrying,” he added.
Our crews are dedicated to saving lives so it’s inexplicable to us that they would be threatened in this way
Simon Gray
East Anglian Air Ambulance
“Had the air ambulance been damaged, then a vital resource for the whole of East Anglia could have been lost.”
Simon Gray, managing director for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, which has two helicopters, said he was horrified by the events.
Dr Richard Browne and paramedic Dan Cody, supplied by the emergency medical charity Magpas, were trying to help a man who had fallen from a height and injured his leg and back.
The patient was given “accident and emergency-level” assistance and taken to hospital by land ambulance.
“Our crews are dedicated to saving lives so it’s inexplicable to us that they would be threatened in this way,” said Mr Gray.
“Equally, the aircraft is funded purely by the hard work of the charity’s many supporters, who work tirelessly so that we can keep it flying.
“Our pilot remonstrated with some of those throwing bottles and fortunately none of the crew was harmed and the aircraft was not damaged.
“The outcome could all too easily have been very different.”
More than 150 vehicles were stopped during the operation, with arrests made over suspected vehicle offences and drink driving.
Video: BBC NEWS | UK | England | Norfolk | Bottles thrown at ambulance crew
Norfolk Police have warned people planning to hold raves over the Bank Holiday weekend that a “zero-tolerance” approach will be adopted.
Ch Supt Tony Cherington said extra resources were available to prevent, disrupt and close down illegal raves in the county.
The public has been urged to report any activity which makes them believe a rave is being planned.
This could include people seen looking for a possible rave venue, police said.
Police monitored the party in a boarded up holiday home at Two Mile Bottom, near Thetford, from the early hours.
They turned away a number of people who had been trying to get to the secluded site in an area of forest land.
At the height of Saturday’s event there were believed to have been about 150 people attending, police said.
“No complaints were made in relation to noise nuisance and the nearest dwelling was around half a mile away,” Supt Nick Davison said.
“Police take such incidents very seriously and will act to deal with anyone intent on causing disruption and nuisance within our communities.
“Such events are unsafe and we will continue to prosecute and seize and destroy the equipment of anyone found to be involved.”
Those arrested are suspected of theft, burglary, being unfit to drive, causing criminal damage and organising an unlicensed music event.
Source: BBC – Homepage
I live in this area (which if you “look acros the North Sea” is in fact directly opposite you) and there used to be loads of raves.
Whilst there is considerable disagreement over whether the air ambulance crew was actually attacked/threatened (it is more likely someone dropped a plastic bottle on the ground near them), during that year a lot of Entonox (nitrous oxide gas) cylinders were stolen from hospitals and Ambulance stations in this area, the contents of which were then sold at raves.
I suspect that people within the health service may have deliberately been encouraged to exaggerate the scale of the air ambulance incident to also get revenge on the ravers, especially as they were getting pissed off at being called out to remote areas since 2007 as drug users had injured themselves or there has been violence at the raves (for instance in 2008 someone hit another raver with a baseball bat at an outdoor rave due to jealousy over a girl).
unfortunately the rave culture is not as friendly or constructive as it once was (you may also have seen all those youtube videos I found of violence at raves in NL…)
@General Lighting 416851 wrote:
(for instance in 2008 someone hit another raver with a baseball bat at an outdoor rave due to jealousy over a girl).
unfortunately the rave culture is not as friendly or constructive as it once was (you may also have seen all those youtube videos I found of violence at raves in NL…)
Haha! that was my mate, he deserved it tho, and he knew it was coming as well, silly bugger!
@Tocooltom 417635 wrote:
Haha! that was my mate, he deserved it tho, and he knew it was coming as well, silly bugger!
street justice bruv! its allways been like that at parties, and anyone who says otherwise is just nieve
@Minghead 417639 wrote:
street justice bruv! its allways been like that at parties, and anyone who says otherwise is just nieve
yes, a risk of interpersonal violence happens at all public gatherings with younger crowds, licensed or unlicensed but thats precisely why the rest of society normally accepts a need for licensing, security/stewards, sometimes CCTV and Police liaison for public events.
Even then it doesn’t stop problems like someone getting beaten to death at Pams House in the 90s or the violence at legal EA venues (such as Zest in Ipswich) the rapes at Latitude, so more and more control structures end up being put in place (for instance form 696 in London which has actually been successful at reducing the level of violence at licensed music events) – short of removing extended licensing hours.
However at more recent free parties its still taxpayer funded authorities like the Police and NHS which end up picking up the pieces of peoples attempts at DIY justice.
This (especially as the combatants aren’t separated by formal restraining orders or even prison) often results in attacks and counterattacks until people get hurt to the point where they require hospital treatment and despite the urban myth that people “don’t squeal”, people still make allegations and counter-allegations to cops. (I won’t go into it here but I’m well aware it happens).
Add to that injuries from stupid, avoidable accidents, and accidental overdoses – especially in otherwise well run, safe, relatively crime free areas outside inner cities, it soon becomes as much of a cost burden to the authorities to let an unlicensed event continue as it is to close the events down, even by force.
This is why there is a lockdown here, not any big conspiracy…And unlike townie shitholes or licensed events they don’t even get any tax money back from license fees or sales of alcohol.
Until recently there were however slightly less negative incidents at a free party compared to a townie shithole, so the raves were begrudgingly left alone as they were less of a burden to wider society.
Now the behaviour has closed the gap between trouble at licensed and unlicensed events (anything from violence to needless property damage or environmental contamination) the authorities are clamping down.
@Tocooltom 417635 wrote:
Haha! that was my mate, he deserved it tho, and he knew it was coming as well, silly bugger!
i’d personally not keep such muppets who get themselves into such situations as friends these days (appreciate its different when you are younger, there are a few “friends” who in hindsight I should have distanced myself from a lot earlier as they simply attract trouble).
Unfortunately, if you or anyone else tolerate people whacking each other with blunt objects to sort out relationship disputes, it becomes very difficult to criticise the Police for doing the same thing when they are simply acting in the course of their duties, defending the rule of law and private property rights after giving people a few warnings (I’ve not in 20 years seen riot cops come in without giving a warning first..)
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