Page 238 - 4. 2014 2nd half New 26-05-21 No Table
P. 238
explained all the “ingredients” for a rave were present Mr
Cordell began to try and argue his point that it was not a
rave and that it was a private party. I spoke at length with
Mr Cordell explaining the legal situation and how by
definition this was a rave and that ultimately there were
loo few people present at the time to stop police and so on
this occasion I could act and close the rave. Whilst on an
industrial estate it was my opinion that such was the
proximity to local housing and my knowledge of the
volume music is played and the duration it is played for,
often throughout the weekend that a rave would constitute
serious disruption. Mr Cordell was dearly not happy but
did not want his equipment seized so agreed to start
packing up the sound equipment. Whilst talking with Mr
Cordell there were small groups of teenagers arriving at
the site and entering via a break in the fence, (the gates
still being shut at this time). I got Ps Ames to get units to
us to prevent further people trespassing on the land and to
discourage people from attending the location and exited
the venue to await Mr Cordell’s exit with the sound
equipment. Whilst waiting I radioed for the on-call
Superintendent so 1 could get the various Rave legislation
approved so that I could seize the sound equipment and
enforce a rave cordon on Millmarsh Lane to prevent
people entering. Whilst stood by the venue a number of
people began leaving, most were laughing but the odd one
was blaming police for stopping the event. Suddenly there
was a huge number of mainly teenagers walking towards
me from the direction of Mollison Avenue. Apparently,
this group had all arrived together from the nearby
railway station. Straight away some of this group headed
straight towards us saying they were going to storm the
place. 1 had been joined by a few team officers and we
advised them that the rave had been closed down and they
would not be allowed to enter. There was some verbal
confrontation but the large group which was up to 100
strong moved off round the comer with some overheard
saying they would break in around the corner. As they
began to move off Mr Cordell stood by the break in the
fence and shouted words to the effect of, “Come on, there
is more of you”. 1 quickly went up to Mr Cordell and told
him to stop or 1 would arrest him to prevent a breach of
the peace. At this Mr Cordell went back and stayed away.
The large group did indeed try to get into adjoining
premises that they thought led to the rave venue but were
slopped by officers and moved off back into Millmarsh
lane, although one officer Pc Wale was injured during a
struggle. I requested the attendance of as many units as
possible including dogs and TSG as the