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Illegal quarry rave took 12 hours to shut down

Bea Swallow
BBC News, West of England
Avon and Somerset Police A crowd of about 60-70 people gathered around a makeshift stage made of stacked speakers. The ground is dusty and dirty, and everyone has their faces blurred out. There are large white vans parked in the background.Avon and Somerset Police
It took police about 12 hours to clear all attendees from the quarry

An illegal quarry rave went on for 12 hours due to "difficult" terrain and an "intoxicated" crowd, police said.

Avon and Somerset Police was called to Asham Quarry near Frome, Somerset, at about 01:20 BST on Sunday.

About 200 people attended the rave and police seized five van-loads of music equipment as they worked to disperse the crowd. The music stopped at 09:30 and the site was cleared by 14:00.

Thirteen people arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance have since been released under investigation.

Avon and Somerset Police A close up of one of the makeshift stages with lots of speakers coming out of the back of a large white van. There are metal gantries and scaffolding with two large wasp artworks on either top corner.Avon and Somerset Police
Makeshift stages were constructed out of scaffolding and stacked speakers

Police said the rave was well under way when officers arrived, with 200 people and 100 vehicles at the site.

The quarry has a single public highway entry and exit point, heavy foliage and treelines, and zero visibility late at night, police said.

A spokesperson added the terrain made it "difficult" to shut down the event safely "during the hours of darkness" when many in attendance were "intoxicated".

Avon and Somerset Police Two people standing in the back of a white van, unloading red plastic boxes full of music and staging equipment. On the ground there are various structures and debris strewn around from the event. The ground is dirty and dry and the van is surrounded by bushes. Avon and Somerset Police
Five van-loads of speakers and music equipment was seized from the site

The force asked the public to make themselves aware of the warning signs of illegal raves - including advertising on social media, large crowds gathering, and vans unloading equipment.

A police spokesperson added: "Unlicensed music events of this nature can have a serious impact on communities and we will seek to prosecute organisers, seize equipment and vehicles.

"Avon and Somerset is no place for unlicensed music events and raves which negatively impact or disturb our communities."

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