Police stop rave on Ranmore Common
By icsurreyonline.co.uk – Aug 20 2002
Copyright: icsurreyonline.co.uk
A planned rave on Ranmore Common at the weekend was stopped before it was even started thanks to vigilant proactive patrols by Surrey Police.
As good weather seems to have finally arrived for the summer Surrey Police is increasing patrols in areas which are likely to be targetted by party organisers.
Two officers who had been tasked with proactively seeking potential rave sites discovered a party was about to start without permission on Ranmore Common around 11.30pm on Saturday night (August 17).
More officers were called in and they warned organisers that unless the party was stopped immediately they would seize sound equipment. They agreed to go peacefully and most of the around 100 people who had gathered had left by about 1.30am on Sunday.
Sergeant Andy Davis said: “We understand the concerns of local residents about these kind of unauthorised late night parties and we are not waiting to be told about them but are proactively seeking them out. Our aim as in this case is to stop the raves before they start by confiscating equipment.”
He added: “Even those which are held away from residential areas can cause irreversible damage to the countryside just by having a large group of people in one place. Organisers may not be aware they can be prosecuted under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
“They MUST get permission from the landowner first. We will identify irresponsible organisers in partnership with English Nature, the National Trust and other landowners and seek to prosecute if there is any damage to the land or disruption to the community.”
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