Police in Northamptonshire were recently appealing to countryside dwellers to help them keep raves out of the county. The force said that they are determined to maintain their robust approach to raves โ but would welcome any support from rural communities.
Territorial Commander, Chief Superintendent Paul Fell, was heading the policing operation over the bank holiday weekend. Beforehand, he appealed for anyone who notices any suspicious activity around farmland or large open spaces to report it.
He said: โWe wonโt tolerate illegal events taking place in Northamptonshire.
โWith the long weekend, organisers of raves will be on the look out for easy to access rural locations capable of staging the event.
โWe need local communities to be our eyes and ears, to give us the best possible chance of nipping this activity in the bud.
โPeople who organise or attend an illegal rave are committing an offence and are likely to cause annoyance or even danger to other people living in the area, damaging property or endangering wildlife.
โWe will be patrolling โhot spotโ locations but anyone noticing unusual traffic movements should call us as soon as possible.โ
How YOU can help:-
โข landowners should check vulnerable locations and make sure proper security arrangements are in place
โข check on previous known location for raves to ensure that lightning isnโt looking to strike twice
โข be extra vigilant and report any suspicious activity in your community โ is someone sizing up a location, has someone been testing out security measures such as fences or gates for access points, is a vehicle you do not recognise repeatedly driving around a certain area?
Tell-tale signs of a possible rave being organised:-
โข posters or messages advertising an event
โข locks and chains on fields cut or tampered with
โข large convoys of cars on quiet rural roads
โข sound equipment and tents being set up
โข power generators being hired and brought into rural locations
โข flattened or disturbed hedgerows.
