POLICE in two counties have been called out over the past two weekends by irate householders who had been woken when raves took place either side of Leighton-Linslade in the early hours of each Sunday.
At 1.30am on Sunday a rave took place on private in Overend Green Lane, Heath and Reach. Beds Police were alerted that loud music was coming from land behind Bryants Lane quarry. Residents, including Central Beds Councillor Mark Versallion, reported the incident to the police. Officers who attended the scene found about 100 people. They served the rave organisers with a Section 63 notice which prohibits music being played to a group of more than 20 people at an unlicensed open-air event and the party was wound up 30 minutes later. The rave-goers cleared up after themselves before leaving the site.
At about 1.50am last Sunday (May 20), Thames Valley Police were called to a rave just off the Stoke Hammond bypass on the outskirts of Linslade in the parish of Soulbury.
Officers were deployed to the location and, on arrival, found between 300-400 people attending the rave many of whom had travelled to the location by vehicle.
Attempts were made by police to block access routes and anti-rave legislation was used to force people to leave the site.
Another 150 people were barred from attending the event as a result of a police blockade. By 10.30am the location was clear.
Insp Emma Garside said: “An investigation is under way to identify and prosecute the event organisers for holding an unlicensed event of this kind and bring to justice those responsible for causing this public nuisance.
“I recognise the disruption that this event caused local people with loud music being heard across a number of surrounding villages.
The police will be working closely with the landowner to review this incident and consider future options to deter people from using this particular location in this way.”