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An illegal rave in Sewell, Bedfordshire was broken up yesterday (Sunday April 16) in a joint operation between South Bedfordshire District Council and Bedfordshire Police.
A call was made to Bedfordshire Police around 1am on Sunday morning and officers attended to monitor the event while applying to use their powers under the Criminal Justice Public Disorder Act to disperse those in attendance.
Environmental Officers from South Bedfordshire District Council were then called to the site on land at Lyme Kiln Farm, Sewell (just north of Dunstable) at around 9 am after local residents complained about excessive noise.
At around 12:45pm Bedfordshire Police Officers from Dunstable where authorised by Superintendent Nigel Tomkins to stop the illegal rave and called in further resources from Bedford, Ampthill and Bigglewsade.
South Bedfordshire District Council Environmental Health Manager Sandra Moore attended and said: "This was an unlicensed event and a noise nuisance to people living nearby. We will be pursuing those involved and looking to issue formal warnings to anyone who was there. We have the vehicle registration numbers of people there and Bedfordshire Police are willing to pass on the owners' details. We will also be actively pursuing the organiser and may consider further action when we have looked at all the information collected by our officers."
Chief Inspector Dave Boyle from Bedfordshire Police said: "We really want to make sure that these organisations don't see us as a soft target. As well as breaking up the rave at the time, we have arrested four people for criminal damage and also will be actively investigating the aftermath with a view to prosecuting organisers for the criminal offence of causing public nuisance. That is in addition to any prosecutions that the council bring in relation to noise and environmental nuisance. Our strategy is to disrupt the events at the time if we can, and then to discourage further events."
Ends
Press release issued: April 16 2007
