Party Vibe

200 revellers resist officers at warehouse

RIOT police from across the Thames Valley had to be drafted in last Saturday night to stop an illegal rave at a disused warehouse in Wokingham.
A total of 43 officers from Reading, Bracknell and Maidenhead joined colleagues at the empty warehouse in Ashville Way, on the Molly Millars Industrial Estate, at around 10pm after security guards in the area spotted revellers on CCTV.
Police officers with riot shields and Thames Valley Police’s dog unit spent more than two hours battling against the 200-strong crowd which was trying to get into the venue, from which loud music was blaring.
Most of the revellers were kept out of the building and at around midnight police smashed their way into the warehouse — previously owned by Crown Fork Lift Trucks — to get to 30 party-goers who had barricaded themselves inside.
Insp Robert Bosley, of Reading police, headed the operation and said officers had to be “robust” to get the crowd in order.
Insp Bosley said: “Wokingham’s police officers were first at the scene but it soon became apparent they needed back-up from other officers across the force, or it could have got out of hand.
“The crowds grew to quite a size and were pushing the officers trying to get through. They were shouting abuse and swearing.
“We had to deploy officers at the five entrances to the building to make sure revellers didn’t get into the warehouse.
“While officers were fighting people off, there were many others arriving in vans, and we had to use riot shields to ensure the safety of our officers against such a large crowd.
“Once the revellers had realised they were not getting in and had backed off, we managed to get into the warehouse to catch the small crowd that had already got the rave going inside.
“When they saw us coming they tried to run off.
“I am happy with the way this operation was carried out. All the officers involved did a brilliant job.”
A nearby resident said he heard a thumping noise at around 11pm and made his way down to the industrial estate to find out what was going on.
He said: “As I got closer I could see crowds of people congregating on the pavement and there were a lot of police around so clearly something was going on.
“The music finished just after midnight and from what we could see the crowd were clearly unhappy that their fun had stopped.
“Lots of revellers drove off down Oaklands Drive and things then quietened down.”
Another 50-year-old resident said she had turned into Molly Millars Lane from Finchampstead Road at about 12.20am only to find it closed off by police.
She said: “As I turned the car round I saw crowds of people outside the warehouse, and police officers with dogs standing in front of them trying to stop them getting in.
“I could see smashed windows to the warehouse and the police waved me on before I could see any more.
“It was intimidating as we drove past the crowds of people and it looked like trouble could spark off at any time.”
John McLaughlin, from the nearby Furniture Superstore Ltd in Molly Millars Lane, said staff had to clear lager cans, wine bottles and other debris which had been strewn all over the pavement outside by revellers.
l Three people have been arrested on suspicion of public order and violent disorder offences, including a 24-year-old man from Stokenchurch, a 16-year-old from Dorset, and a 32-year-old man from Bournemouth.