South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2005 | November | 25
From the archive, first published Friday 25th Nov 2005.
MORE than 400 revellers descended on Yate at the weekend for an all-night party which police refused to stop, the Gazette can reveal.
The rave, which took place at a vacant building in Dean Road, kicked off sometime on Saturday night with hordes of young party goers from across the area turning up in convoy for the organised bash.
Police in Chipping Sodbury received numerous complaints from nearby residents about the noise from the gathering at 1.45am on Sunday. However, the police officers who responded to the calls felt there was no need to take any action against the revellers and left them dancing well into the next day.
Sector deputy Sgt Andy McIlrath said police had allowed the rave, which eventually ended at midday on Sunday, to continue.
"The rave was well organised and had stewards watching the entrances," he told the Gazette this week.
"However, we had just three officers attending the scene who could not have taken action against 400 revellers."
He added: "People attending the party were not committing any significant criminal offences and the only action that could be taken against them is a civil one of trespass."
He added that only a handful of people living nearby had complained about the noise and there had been no other reported trouble at the rave.
Sgt McIlrath said that had officers decided to break up the party, the force would have had no choice but to call in extra officers from elsewhere.
He added: "It would not have been appropriate to use police resources for an event where no significant criminal activity was taking place."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008