Illegal music event shut down at Haldon Forest
Devon & Cornwall Police would like to thank members of the public who reported an illegal rave at Haldon Forest in the early hours of Sunday 12th February.
Police teams responded to reports of an unlicensed music event near the A38 where approximately 250 - 300 people were in attendance for what was believed to have been arranged on social media as a ‘Valentine’s Rave’.
Two sets of speaker equipment were seized and by 3am the event had been shut down.
Due to the intoxication and substance misuse on site, road checkpoints remained in place all night to ensure nobody was driving under the influence or putting other road users in danger when leaving the site.
One arrest was made for drink/drug driving offenses.
Devon & Cornwall Police Acting Chief Inspector Steve Philp said: “Due to the swift and professional response of our officers, the event was safely wound up by 3am. The area had been completely cleared by the early afternoon on Sunday. A potentially difficult situation was resolved quickly and peacefully.
Illegal raves are not just a nuisance to local communities by playing loud music, blocking roads and littering the area, but they are a danger to those who attend too. The remote locations are often not suitable for large scale gatherings, and with no medical teams on site the potential for harm for attendees is high when combined with alcohol and illegal substances.”
