UK: Ravers blamed for party damage – January 2002 Ravers blamed for party damage
By thisisoxfordshire - Monday 07 January 2002
Copyright: thisisoxfordshire
Partygoers who held a rave on an industrial estate are alleged to have caused hundreds of pounds' damage.
Up to 500 carloads of people arrived on the Crendon industrial estate, in Long Crendon, near Thame, on New Year's Eve for an impromptu party in two warehouses.
Despite complaints from nearby businesses, police say they were powerless to act because the event was taking place on commercial premises and there was no evidence of any crime.
Philip Goodall, chairman of Toyzone, one of the firms on the estate, said the revellers took pallets from outside his premises, two doors away, to light fires during the party.
He said loud music was played until 4am on New Year's Day and a trail of damage, broken glass and empty bottles left behind.
Mr Goodall said he contacted police when he saw the cars arriving, but was told they could do nothing.
Thames Valley Police spokesman Lucy Ferguson said: "We understand this must be extremely frustrating for all concerned but police powers are very limited in situations such as this.
"This was a commercial property and it is up to the owners to obtain a court order to remove people.
"There was no evidence of possession or supply of drugs and although we received several complaints, they were largely concerned with noise levels which is an environmental health matter.
"Investigations are continuing into allegations of criminal damage."
She added: "The laws regarding domestic property are different and we have extensive powers to remove trespassers immediately."
http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/
UK: ‘Rave event will not be repeated’ – January 2002 'Rave event will not be repeated'
By thisisoxfordshire - Wednesday 09 January 2002
Copyright: thisisoxfordshire
The owners of an industrial estate invaded by partygoers staging a New Year's Eve rave have vowed such an event will never happen again.
Stephen Webster, director of Marlborough Gleeson, which owns the Crendon Industrial Park at Long Crendon, near Thame, has pledged to step up security.
He said he did not accept police claims they were powerless to stop events taking place on commercial premises when there is no evidence of any crime.
Up to 500 car loads of people arrived on the estate for an impromptu party in two warehouses, which are in the process of being re-let.
Mr Webster said: "I don't accept the word "rave" -- what happened was breaking and entering and causing criminal damage.
"The police can do something and we are co-operating with them.
"They know who the organisers are and have got to make a stand and have a serious presence in this area.
"This has never happened on this estate before and it is something we take very seriously."
Thames Valley Police spokesman Paul Anthem said at the time the problem had been that officers had not been able to contact the owners of the units to find out whether permission had been given for the rave. Complaints had come from neighbours.
Also, on the night, there was no evidence of breaking and entering or criminal damage.
He added: "If the owner is making allegations a criminal act has been committed, that is something we will look into and we will take on board all the evidence."
Mr Webster said Marlborough Gleeson would be investing in making the units more secure, including appointing security guards.
http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/
UK: Union angry at farm raves – January 2002 Union angry at farm raves
BBC News - Friday, 4 January 2002
Copyright: BBC News
Farm leaders are calling on police to deal more effectively with illegal raves after two farmers were prevented from removing party-goers from their properties. Police arrested an Essex farmer on Boxing Day when he tried to confront ravers who took over his barn for a party.
The National Farmers' Union plans to investigate the incident, after a similar case in Lincolnshire on New Year's Eve in which a farmer was stopped from evicting 70 ravers from his sheds. Police said the 40-year-old Essex farmer, Graeme Stephen, from Great Dunmow, was arrested to prevent a public order disturbance.
'Extraordinary' method
An NFU spokeswoman said: "Where farmers are suffering from illegal raves, or from similar situations, we would urge the police to effectively police these events. "It would seem an extraordinary way to deal with the situation." An Essex Police spokesman said police found up to 70 ravers in the barn at midnight being "confronted verbally by the barn owner".
"After repeated attempts to calm the situation the officer arrested the barn owner for breach of the peace in the interests of public safety, fearing the situation was getting out of hand.," he added. Mr Stephen was taken to a police station and later released without charge. He turned off a generator being used to power the event. The farmer said the ravers had broken through a padlocked gate and the barn locks.
'Incredibly frustrating'
In reply to the NFU criticism Essex Police said: "The act only applies to raves held in the open air, this one was held in a barn. The NFU spokeswoman said: "It is incredibly frustrating and distressing for anyone to have to stand by and watch their property being wrecked with no power to prevent it. Simon Fisher, the NFU policy advisor for Lincolnshire, said the latest incidents had again highlighted the need for police to tackle the issue of rural policing.
Mr Benton is determined to defend his property
He said farmers were concerned that police could not respond to serious incidents in rural areas. An orga-niser of the rave, who did not wish to be named, said: "If the council were to give us a barn out of the way to use we would use it, we would even go as far as to pay for it." The man, who has been organising raves in Essex for five years, said the venue was cleared up when the rave ended at 0900 GMT. He insisted no padlocks had been broken to gain entry.
The police spokesman said the barn was not damaged. Lincolnshire farmer David Benton, 44, said this week he was prepared to use violence to stop people breaking into his property and holding raves. He issued the warning after claiming police stood by and did nothing when 100 ravers took over his sheds and held a loud New Year party.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
UK: Police fail to stop rave – January 2002 Police fail to stop rave
BBC News - Thursday, 3 January, 2002
Copyright: BBC News
A Lincolnshire farmer has accused police of failing to stop illegal ravers from taking over his sheds on New Year's Eve. David Benton, of Moorby, said about 70 revellers smashed down his farm gate, drove a lorry-load of disco equipment onto this property and set fire to pallets.
He called Lincolnshire Police, who sent two officers, but said ravers could not be evicted because there were fewer than 100 trouble-makers involved. Mr Benton, 44, said: "I will defend my property, and I will use violence if I have to if this happens again. The police have already said they will arrest me if I do."
'Totally irresponsible'
"Anybody must be able to defend their own property." It was like being a farmer in Zimbabwe - the police stood outside the gate while inside people were smashing up my property and they were doing nothing about it." Lincolnshire Police said officers could only intervene to break up rave parties if certain criteria were met.
Inspector John Ginty stressed: "The law states that there must be more than 100 people in the open air, causing a public disruption - those conditions were not met in this case. "These people are totally irres-ponsible and totally reckless and have no regard for other people's property, but this was a practical, proportionate response to what was taking place."
Fire worry
Chief Superintendent Kevin Morris, of the Police Superintendents' Association, said: "You have to use your common sense and ask what could a group of officers realistically do?" "You'd need 200 officers to deal with 100 revellers if they didn't want to leave." Mr Benton said he was very concerned about the danger of nitrogen fertiliser stored on the farm catching fire. His wife Sarah said: "I don't agree with vigilantism and I don't agree with what Tony Martin did at all."
"But you can understand someone getting to that state," she said. A police spokesman warned: "While we have every sympathy with Mr Benton he will obviously be on a very sticky wicket if he does take any direct action in the future."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
UK: The raving reverend – December 2001 The raving reverend
By thisislancashire - Wednesday 19 December 2001
Copyright: thisislancashire
A RAVING reverend joined clubbers for carols with a difference when he went to Heaven to spread the word of God.
Clubbing curate the Rev Philip Chew of St Laurence in Chorley performed a rave version of carol Ding Dong Merrily on High as part of the opening ceremony at the new Heaven and Hell nightclub.
The former rock musician, who was born and brought up in Blackburn, had been invited by contacts in the music business to lead the official unveiling of the new club in Stockport, Cheshire.
And Mr Chew took to his new flock -- some dressed as angels and devils -- with delight, dancing in his dog collar and telling clubbers that Jesus loved a party.
Mr Chew, 39, said: "I did a club version of 'Ding Dong Merrily on High' and we finished with pyrotechnics going off.
"It was quite an anxious time as it was obviously a difficult place to preach the gospel in. I was doing it off the cuff and trying to get the balance right. It seemed to work out alright -- I wasn't lynched and they got into the spirit of it. When I mentioned my faith they all shouted 'Hallelujah' and they all joined in when we did the carol."
Mr Chew, who will take over as vicar of St Stephen's in Burnley in March, is a former member of Blackburn-based band Euro-K who toured throughout the North-West in the early 80s and who were great friends with other Blackburn almost-famous rockers The Stiffs.
He said: "I still write and perform music and the club opening was a great opportunity for me to get to an audience the church might not normally reach."
A spokesman for the Blackburn Diocese said: "This was a fun occasion which Philip used with courage and imagination to share his Christian faith.
"The invitation came from the club and Philip was able to respond appropriately and through the positive response he received was able to show that the Church has both a message to share and a sense of humour with which to share it."
http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/
UK: 1,500 in rave at empty building – September 2001 1,500 in rave at empty building
By thisislocallondon - Tuesday 04 September 2001
Copyright: thisislocallondon
Up to 1,500 ravers partied at a vacant industrial unit in Essex.
The ravers set up their equipment in the former premises of wood merchant Gibbs Palmerin, Freebournes Road, Witham, where they danced from 11pm on Saturday to 8am on Sunday.
About 20 police officers attended the scene but, like at previous raves in the area, were powerless to pull the plug on the party because trespass is not a criminal offence.
Instead, they kept a watchful eye over the 500-strong crowd, which is believed to swelled to around 1,500 at its peak.
The ravers had met up in Stanway and at McDonald's at Braintree before heading to Witham and there were about 40 cars parked in nearby Crittall Road.
Sgt Andrew Simpson, who was at the scene, said: "The building could havee held up to two or three thousand but I reckon at the most there were 1,500.
"When I came in yesterday at 8am, there was still people leaving and when I went back at 10am there were only a handful of people cleaning up.
"There's not much legislation. Obviously, environmental health have powers in relation to noise and equipment if the noise is causing a problem. We would normally support them but on this occasion it was some distance away from the nearest housing so it didn't affect too many people."
There were some complaints about noise but nobody was arrested in connection with the rave.
The rave was latest in a string of similar events at farms and disused buildings across mid Essex including at Little Dunmow, Little Easton, Bradwell near Braintree, Stebbing and Stisted.
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/
UK: Notice pulls plug on illegal raves – August 2001 Revellers will carry on raving
By icsurreyonline.co.uk - May 2 2002
Copyright: icsurreyonline.co.uk
YOUNG revellers responsible for all-night raves in the area insist their open-air parties are not causing any harm.
Mike Hitchcock, one of the main organisers of the mass gatherings, said there is never any trouble at the events - two of which have been held in Coldharbour and Ranmore in recent weeks.
"You'd think getting lots of people together with loud music would spell big trouble, but we find the attitude at a rave is a hell of a lot better than in a club or outside the pub on a Friday night.
"Everyone just has fun dancing and there's no aggro at all," he insisted. "People are less drunk than they would be in the pub and most of us just drink water.
"I'd be lying if I said nobody took drugs, but no more than anywhere else. It's not about drugs at all."
As one of a group of around 15 friends behind the raves, Mr Hitchcock said they came about because there is so little for young people to do in Mole Valley.
"We don't hold these parties to disrupt people, we do it to give young people something to do," he stressed. We used to go to clubs in London because there aren't any in the Dorking or Leatherhead area. But then we decided to hold a party in Coldharbour one New Year's Eve and had a great time."
Although initially only small numbers of people were involved, he said about 200 people aged between 17 and 40 now attend each rave.
"We know it's not strictly legal but there's such demand for them. Word gets around pretty quickly." As reported in the Advertiser, police are aware of the raves, but are powerless to stop them if there is no significant disturbance to residents.
Mr Hitchcock, originally from Westcott and now living in Guildford, said the group likes to have contact with the police.
"The majority of people are fine, but if anyone does come along who might cause trouble, we'd prefer the police to be around," he said.
"We tell the police what's going on and negotiate a time for us to finish. They haven't been too tough on us and that's really changed my opinion of them for the better."
Mr Hitchcock confirmed he is planning more raves in the summer months although would not reveal where these might be held.
"We understand people's concerns but we always pick remote locations and clean up after the event. We keep disturbance to a minimum and wouldn't hold a rave on the recreation ground in Dorking for instance, as that would wake up the whole town.
"We don't want to upset people and just hope they can respect what we are trying to do - which is have a good time."
http://icsurreyonline.icnetwork.co.uk/
UK: Dancing with death – July 2001 Dancing with death
By thisislocallondon - Thursday 05 July 2001
Copyright: thisislocallondon
UP to 200 ravers escaped from a burning building in Sutherland Road, Walthamstow, after an illegal party got out of hand.
Nearby residents and factory workers claimed that this was not the first time the rave had taken place. They confirmed that it was an annual event, often involving drink and drugs.
On Sunday, firefighters battled through clouds of thick, black smoke as flames ripped through a derelict warehouse after a Ford Fiesta, abandoned inside the building, was set alight.
The fire was in an unoccupied warehouse previously owned by AW Alloys Ltd.
A fire officer said that the crew received a number of calls at about 5.38pm alerting them to the blaze. Some calls were from party-goers.
Gary McCann, 18, from Sutherland Road, said that the ravers appeared to be new-age travellers.
He said: "I first heard the music on Friday night. But I know the rave takes place at the old warehouse once a year, and usually over the period of a weekend.
"Last year my mum was walking past the building and they started throwing bottles at her. The people are trouble and there are always drugs going round. You can see these people walking around the streets and it is so obvious they have taken ecstasy or LSD."
Dan Dodoo, 17, also from Sutherland Road, said that he attended the rave: "I was walking past and they invited me in, so I went.
"They all looked like punks to me, and the music was loud. I saw a lot of drink and drugs going around. These were not the people you usually see in large numbers in Walthamstow."
A man who does not want to be named said: "I work next door to the warehouse. On Monday morning we saw that the gate had been broken, and there was glass from where the windows had been smashed.
"There was household rubbish everywhere, drinks bottles, and food wrappers, and one of the workers claims they saw solvents scattered about, but I can't confirm that."
He said that the rave was no surprise, and that he would rather it took place in the old warehouse than his workplace, which at times had happened.
"Sometimes they break into our factories and have a bit of a party. This time round the ravers were cleaner," he said.
A fire officer said that firefighters had difficulty gaining entry to the site because the premises were boarded and bricked up for security reasons.
He said that firecrews dealt with the fire using a hose-reel jet and wore breathing apparatus.
"Everyone escaped and no one was injured," he added.
Police attended the scene but no investigation is taking place.
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/
UK: All-night rave broken up by police – July 2001 All-night rave broken up by police
By thisislocallondon - Tuesday 24 July 2001
Copyright: thisislocallondon
About 30 police officers were called to the fourth in a series of an all-night raves across north Essex.
About 100 cars gathered at Broomhills Industrial Estate in Braintree on Saturday night and drove in convoy to Brickhouse Farm in Little Dunmow.
Officers arrived at the meet to find two barns occupied with music equipment with more than 200 partygoers inside.
Police blocked the lane leading to the farm to prevent more people from accessing the rave and around 30 police officers were called in to try to disperse the mass.
This was the fourth time police officers from Essex have been called to a rave of this kind where party organisers have gained access to farm buildings.
Although civil trespass had taken place, police were powerless to stop the party goers as no violence or criminal activity in gaining access to the barn had taken place.
It took until 9.30am Sunday morning to disperse the revellers.
Farm owner David Metson said: "The government need to do something pretty quickly to sort out the loop whole in the law. I told them that we didn't want them there and asked them to leave but they ignored me."
Police carried out searches and five people were arrested on suspicion of possession of cannabis. Three men and one women were later cautioned at Braintree police station and one man was released on bail pending further investigation.
A police spokeperson said: "People who see nothing wrong in occuping the premises of others might, in the cold light of day, like to consider how they would feel if they were on the receiving end.
"They should also think of the diversion of police resources they cause and how this could work against them or their family if they needed help urgently."
Last weekend a similar party took place in a grain store in Little Easter and the weekend before police were called to a farm in Stebbing where about 350 people danced the night away until noon the next day.
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/
UK: Ravers flock to farmer’s barn – July 2001 Ravers flock to farmer's barn
By thisisessex - Monday 06 August 2001
Copyright: thisisessex
Another rave has rocked Essex after more than 450 revellers met up in their cars at a secluded rendezvous off the A120 between Coggeshall and Bradwell at 10.30pm on Saturday night.
It was the fifth rave in as many weeks. Organisers used mobile phones to direct ravers across Essex.
A cavalcade of more than 100 cars zig-zagged across Braintree and Cressing before heading out towards Dunmow.
The rave eventually took place in an unsecured and empty grain barn in Hatfield Broadoak at 1.30am on Sunday.
Police informed the owner of Sparrows Hall Farm the party was taking place in his barn but they were powerless to stop it.
A police spokeswoman said: "It was on private property and therefore it's a civil matter.
"To take action there has to be an offence or we have to get an injunction out on the authority of the farmer, which can be too late."
Rave organisers were careful to claim squatters rights, taking their own power source and even had qualified first aiders on hand in case of medical problems.
The police spokeswoman added: "We are not talking about a bunch of thugs wrecking property.
"We do not condone their actions but they take care not to commit offences and to leave the property clean and tidy.
"The difficulty is trying to keep ahead of them so we can organise with the owners of barns to take security measures."
This rave follows on from similar parties in Little Dunmow, Little Easton Lodge and Stebbing.
Ravers were aged in their early 20s and many had crossed the country to attend. Up to 40 were still partying hard up to 10.30am on Sunday and the site was only reported clear at 11.10am.
http://www.thisisessex.co.uk/
UK: Raving mad – July 2001 Raving mad
By thisislocallondon - Thursday 12 July 2001
Copyright: thisislocallondon
RAVERS held a two-day dance and drugs party at a disused supermarket in Leytonstone at the weekend
About 2,000 revellers packed into the former Co-op Pioneer store in the High Road after organisers broke into the building and declared it a party zone late on Saturday night.
Residents were left sleepless for two nights as loud music pumped out from the former food hall, which was turned into a massive dance area with DJs and a light show.
The revelling went on until about 8am on Monday. Desperate householders flooded the police with calls but were shocked to be told that nothing could be done about it.
One elderly resident was found wandering around the site on Sunday morning dazed and confused, complaining that she had not slept.
Shortly after, a baptism at neighbouring St John's Church was ruined by the rumble of "industrial" and "garage" music.
Drunken party bingers also targeted a local off-licence and stole more booze after they had run out of supplies and money.
Anger is now focused on the way the Co-operative Group has let the building fall into ruin and failed to secure the site.
When the Guardian confronted the rave organisers, they claimed they were just enjoying themselves.
Dave, 33, who would not give his surname, said: "When we look for buildings for parties we try to keep them away from residential areas. But sometimes you just can't help it and it's nice to party.
"We do these all over the place and people come together for a good time. The police seemed reasonable, although I didn't speak to them. Thanks for having us.
"Two days is not long to put up with it and if people get offended then it is a secondary concern."
Ian, 29, added: "The gate was just open and we walked through into the building. We knew the site was empty."
But Rev Raymond Draper, vicar of St John's Church, is fuming.
He said: "They have no right to deny every person their sleep. They have no right to steal from local shops and intimidate shopkeepers.
"And they have no right to disturb a church going about its normal business of worship and to intimidate a whole community.
"All you could hear through the baptism service was thud, thud, thud. It was like an earthquake."
"The problem has got to a boiling point with anger about the way the Co-op has not done anything about the site and watched the situation get worse and worse. This weekend was the last straw."
Cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Sally Buckley, added: "The situation at the old Pioneer site is quite disgraceful. It is something that local residents and businesses should not have to put up with.
"This weekend-long so-called party is just another anti-social episode and it is really time the Co-op sorted the problem once and for all.
"The Co-op and its agents are responsible for the security of the site and they should be good neighbours and keep the antisocial elements out."
She said that the noise team was called to the site but was unable to act because of the absence of appropriate police support.
A spokesman for the Co-op, Phil Edwards, said: "Since we closed the store down earlier this year we have had security at the premises on a daily basis. Obviously it was a determined effort to get in.
"We will be bricking up the windows and, as of now, got a permanent 24-hour security presence on the site for as long as we consider it necessary.
"It is absolutely not the case that we have let down the community and we have been making efforts to keep the site secure.
"We are planning to redevelop the site and the message to the community is that we don't want it to just stand there and fester."Dave and Ian, organisers of the rave.
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/
Co-existence free party 5th july 2003 Thanks to everyone who came along to our shin-dig!
Sorry for the delayed start, car terror!!??*#!
Hope you all had a good night !
;) :D :D :) :p
UK: Rave ‘disaster waiting to happen’ – July 2001 Rave 'disaster waiting to happen'
By thisisessex - Monday 09 July 2001
Copyright: thisisessex
An illegal rave attracted up to 400 partygoers to deserted and derelict warehouses to dance.
It was broken up by police without arrests, scuffles or injuries.
But police say there was "a disaster waiting to happen" at the party as there were no fire exits and giant holes in the floors of the empty industrial buildings.
The rave was held late Saturday night and the early hours of yesterday morning at the former Mansell Bonded Fabrics building and the fisheries building at Hythe Quay, Colchester.
A member of the public told police of the party at just before midnight, and the Essex force support unit was alerted to provide back-up if there was trouble.
Sgt Rennie Chivers, of Colchester police, said the caller also reported smoke coming from the building, but after further investigations officers concluded the fumes had probably come from a dry-ice machine owned by organisers.
He added: "A doorman was spoken to and said there were 400 people in the building. The event was in an empty factory. It is believed ravers entered as trespassers by breaking windows on the ground floor.
"The premises were actually cleared at about 2am. The organisers left and said they were going to find an alternative venue and were taking their equipment with them.
"It does put a strain on our resources and will affect the general policing in the rest of Colchester."
Sgt Chivers said: "Potentially, there was a disaster waiting to happen. It was important the thing came to a close as soon as possible and as peacefully as possible - and it would appear that is exactly what happened."
Saturday's rave is the second such event in the Colchester area in the last fortnight. Police were inundated with calls about a party in Hall Road, Copford, on June 24.
One of the organising team behind both parties, who did not wish to be named, spoke to the Evening Gazette yesterday. He said: "The police rushed the place. They came in, told everyone to leave, and searched the building."
The organiser said police claims that the buildings were death-traps were unfounded, and measures were put in place to make sure no partygoers went near the holes in the floor.
http://www.thisisessex.co.uk/
UK: Ravers ‘may have dehydrated’ – June 2001 Ravers 'may have dehydrated'
By thisislondon - 29 June 2001
Copyright: thisislondon
Two teenagers who died after an all-night rave in Southwark and were first thought to have been poisoned by rogue ecstasy tablets, may have been killed by extreme heat and dehydration, it emerged today.
Murder squad detectives are investigating the deaths. However, police said this afternoon that tests showed the batch of ecstasy did not appear to be contaminated.
Steven Brett from Surrey and Bret Gilkes from Birmingham, both 19, died after attending the Drome nightclub last Saturday. Another teenager who went to the club is critically ill in hospital.
A police source said: We are investigating a number of possibilities. We know it was extremely hot in the club and there was extreme overcrowding. We are not sure the right procedures were followed in these circumstances.
Police issued an urgent health warning to hundreds of revellers who attended the 13-hour rave, amid fears that many more could have fallen seriously ill.
The organisers of a similar rave planned for this week have cancelled the event.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/
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