Police shut down illegal rave in East Northants

About 80 people were sent home from an illegal rave in the east of the county this morning (Sunday).

Police shut down the unlicensed music event after calls from members of the public in the early hours.

It was taking place on land near Kings Cliffe and RAF Wittering and officers used Covid-19 legislation to disperse those in attendance.

Supt Richard Tompkins said: “We had several calls from members of the public about a large gathering and loud music which could be heard from a considerable distance.

“When we arrived on the site there were about 80 young adults attending an unlicensed music event.

“Our intention was to approach this from both a public nuisance and public health perspective and we closed down the event using coronavirus legislation.

“As is often the case at events like this, it is challenging to identify organisers, however, we spoke to those in the immediate vicinity of the sound equipment about potentially seizing it.

“We also made it clear we could issue large fines to anybody we believed to be involved in the organisation of an event of more than 30 people.

“They immediately turned off the music and have left the site.”

Anyone with any information that an unlicensed music event may be taking place or being planned can call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or report online via the ‘Do It Online’ button at www.northants.police.uk.

Common signs of unlicensed music events include:

- Posters or messages advertising a rave

- Cropped bolts on a gate

- People in cars or vans stopping to look into a field or climbing over fences into fields

- Flattened or disturbed hedgerows

- Anyone acting suspiciously

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive.

We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you