Devon and Cornwall police plan crackdown on bank holiday raves

Devon and Cornwall police are working to make rave sites “unattractive” to rave organisers over the bank holiday weekend.

The force are working with local residents to make potential locations for illegal parties unsuitable, with officers “keep[ing] a close eye on reports of planned events” and encouraging members of the public to report large gatherings, unusual road traffic, social media advertisements and vehicles carrying sound equipment. Officers will be patrolling areas thought likely to play host to illegal parties.

Devon and Cornwall chief superintendent Ian Drummond-Smith said that raves cause “misery” to local residents and can affect livestock and wildlife. “Our response will be robust to stop any event before it starts,” he said.

Bude police issued a separate statement on social media, asking locals to be “vigilant” over the bank holiday weekend. “The risk of wildfire is still present despite the recent wet weather and the use of BBQs and campfires should be avoided and are prohibited in many areas such as Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor,” the force said. “As well as being an offence, driving a vehicle off the road can cause long grass to ignite from a hot exhaust.”

The crackdown comes two months after a Jubilee weekend rave that saw thousands of partygoers take to Cornwall’s Davidstow Moor for a three-day party on to the 30th anniversary of the legendary Castlemorton rave. A resident described the scene as “total chaos”, with Cornwall’s road sign for Davidstow still reading “Ravidstow” a week after the rave.

Cornwall has a long history of underground raves, with legendary experimental producer Richard D James, AKA Aphex Twin, getting his start by DJing at illegal beach parties that he described as “the best scene he’s ever been involved in”.