Devon and Cornwall Police warn of Raves and advise what to do
On Monday 19th December 2022, Devon and Cornwall Police issued an Alert covering Rave information and reporting –
Devon & Cornwall Police is working with both partners and local residents to make potential locations in the counties unattractive to organisers of raves (also called unlicensed music events or UMEs).
Christmas sees a increase in the possibility of a rave in Devon and Cornwall with Boxing day and New Year’s Eve in particular being attractive dates.
Uniformed and plain clothes officers are regularly patrolling areas which have been identified as possible targets of rave organisers and officers are also working with farmers and landowners to secure sites and make them unsuitable locations.
We know the misery raves can cause to nearby residents, with loud music keeping people awake for hours on end. It also has a significant impact on livestock and wildlife, and often participants leave the land badly damaged.
We would like to encourage our local communities including farmers and landowners to take pro active pre-emptive measures to help target harden their land and open spaces and secure their property to make it an unattractive option for organisers.
These measures can be as simple as ensuring padlocks on gateways are serviceable, broken fences or open gateways are closed and any buildings are properly secured.
They ask for communities to help further by reporting if they see any of the following signs in the local area:
- an unusual increase in road traffic in rural areas;
- social media activity advertising the rave and its location;
- vehicles carrying sound equipment;
- anything unusual or out of place (for example: a ribbon or balloon tied in a hedge which could be used as a marker);
- large gatherings of people in unusual areas at night (for example: farmland, open countryside or abandoned buildings).
If you see these, report by telephoning 101, or if you see organisers setting up equipment call 999.
You can also report anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers via their website or on 0800 555 111
More information from Devon and Cornwall Police about this may be found here