Shutting down Lewes rave wouldn't have been safe, police say

11:20am Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in News

Police did not close down a 300-strong rave which was disturbing the community because it was not “safe”.

People complained after hundreds of people gathered in Stoneham Farm, Barcombe, near Lewes, and played music until the early hours.

But despite Sussex Police officers attending the scene of the noisy all-night party and asking its participants to “keep the music down”, it ran for hours.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman admitted: “Officers attended the area on several occasions and asked the organisers to turn down the music to minimise impact on the community. However, it was not considered safe to close down the event as there were estimated to be around 300 people present.”

Lewes District Council confirmed a “large number” of people complained about the noise.

A council spokeswoman said: “The event was not given any permissions or licences by Lewes District Council. We received a large number of complaints on Saturday night and Sunday.

“An environmental health officer visited the event with the police and a noise abatement notice has been served on the occupier of the land to prevent any recurrence.

“Investigations are under way to see if legal proceedings can be taken against the event organiser.

“We have also met with the landowner and will be pursuing actions with him to prevent any repeat of this type of event.”

On internet forums people complained about the Stoneham Farm rave which ran from Saturday night until Sunday lunchtime.

One woman said: “I live in Queens Road and have noticed several gatherings in the aforementioned field over the summer. I did hear the one this weekend and that was with double-glazing.”

Another person described the rave as a “pain”.

Comments(29)

clubrob6 says...
12:13pm Wed 3 Oct 12

In other words there was not enougth police available to enforce law and order.If cuts carry on at this pace all a criminal will have to do is cause a diversion to occupy the police then carry out a crime.Earlier this year west street had only 2 policemen on duty when clubs were getting out the story was in the argus.We need a general election befor the concervatives totally destroy ou police,armed forces and NHS with cuts and privatisation.

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eldiablo says...
1:26pm Wed 3 Oct 12

I notice there is no mention in the above article of this being a charity event which raised a significant amount of money for Care International. Or the fact that the landowners permission had been sought and given. Or the provision of proper toilets and stewards. Hardly a typical rave, and a one off event where at least 300 people had a fantastic time and raised money for a good cause. Perhaps the police chose not to act to break up the party because they saw it for what it was, a well organised and safe event that was located in a remote location where only a few people were disturbed by it

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bogs says...
2:00pm Wed 3 Oct 12

eldiablo wrote:
I notice there is no mention in the above article of this being a charity event which raised a significant amount of money for Care International. Or the fact that the landowners permission had been sought and given. Or the provision of proper toilets and stewards. Hardly a typical rave, and a one off event where at least 300 people had a fantastic time and raised money for a good cause. Perhaps the police chose not to act to break up the party because they saw it for what it was, a well organised and safe event that was located in a remote location where only a few people were disturbed by it
Well said. Will these same people be complaining on bonfire night? Cliffe hold all of their events in that area.

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Goldenwight says...
5:02pm Wed 3 Oct 12

eldiablo wrote:
I notice there is no mention in the above article of this being a charity event which raised a significant amount of money for Care International. Or the fact that the landowners permission had been sought and given. Or the provision of proper toilets and stewards. Hardly a typical rave, and a one off event where at least 300 people had a fantastic time and raised money for a good cause. Perhaps the police chose not to act to break up the party because they saw it for what it was, a well organised and safe event that was located in a remote location where only a few people were disturbed by it
Well organised, to me, means 'we informed local residents and sought permission from the local authority together with informing Police, Fire and Ambulance services of our actions so that they could organise sufficient cover for our event.

How fortunate that there was not a major incident requiring the (unadvised and unprepared) emergency services to be deployed en masse leaving little cover available for the good citizens of Sussex generally.

The story doesn't mention that either, nor does it mention whether the beneficiaries were aware that the event was being held without necessary permissions being sought.

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Alzir says...
6:35pm Wed 3 Oct 12

Excellent and great to see these parties still going on. Wish I could have made it and added to the mayhem!!!

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Spx says...
6:59pm Wed 3 Oct 12

Goldenwight - what sort of emergency could happen in a field?

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wippasnapper says...
7:27pm Wed 3 Oct 12

@eldiablo -You notice there is no mention in the above article of this being a charity event Reilly but did the organizers have permission to be on the site and did they have a permit to run this charity event? Going by the fact the police where call several times it would appear that was not the case one if it had the residents would have had prier warning of it taking place giving them anoth time to make objections and did the land owner have a license to hold events on his property? “ 300 people had a fantastic time” but the residents around the event DID NOT so I suppose that’s OK with the organizers and the people attending that 300+ coursed no end of stress and upset to the people that live there, “was located in a remote location where only a few people were disturbed by it” so dose that make it OK o’ and at night nose travels fever than during the day so it probably disturbed a lot more people that you accounted for.
Legal proceedings can be taken against the event organizer and the land owner so maybe next time land owners and the organizers will think twice before organizing an event without first getting permissions!

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eldiablo says...
7:34pm Wed 3 Oct 12

Permission had been given by the farmer to use his land. Surely hundreds of people having an amazing time and raising a large amount of money for charity outweighs a few people hearing a bit of noise on a saturday night? Access was kept clear for emergency services and first aid was available on site had it been required. The police officers that showed up in the morning seemed to be having a good time as well!

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John Steed says...
8:09pm Wed 3 Oct 12

music is one thing, loud music another but to be fair any music all through the night is a serious nuisance.
being well organised, having loos and first aid facilities is comendable, raising a good sum for charity is admirable, but loud music all night in this location is simply a nuisance fair and square, they were asked to turn it down and chose not to, so take the consequences for your actions. a few people being inconvinienced was in fact a good proportion of the residents of lewes.

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ModelCitizen says...
8:43pm Wed 3 Oct 12

How do you know it was a Charity event? The police and the country council did not know this. How did Care International make any money, there was no charge to get in. How much did Care International make from the event? Why have they not spoken up and apologised to the people of North Lewes, Offham, Hamsey and Barcombe?

I think the claim that CI had anything to do with it is laughable. It was a squalid, drugged up rave run by a money-grabbing promoter on land owned by a selfish, unconcerned landlord.

BTW. It is likely that there were many more people adversely affected by the music than the 300 that enjoyed it.

To correct the article, the music lasted for 24 hours, from late Saturday afternoon to late Sunday afternoon.

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eldiablo says...
8:54pm Wed 3 Oct 12

ModelCitizen you seem to contradict yourself :) Although there was no charge for entry there was a suggested donation to Care International for every person attending. How exactly can you call the promoter "money-grabbing" and in the same comment suggest that no money was raised for charity? If you wish I can enquire as to exactly how much was raised although everyone I witnessed entering the site was more than happy to put in a few quid for a good cause so a fair amount must have been raised

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ModelCitizen says...
10:45pm Wed 3 Oct 12

Please do. And while your at it ask them how they feel about the effect the noise the 'charity' event had on the residents of the four nearby villages/towns, and perhaps why the place and the council were not forewarned about the event and no permissions for it sought?

There is no contradiction in my statement. The land owner rented the field to the promoter so made money from the illegal event and the promoter if not taking the donated money you talk about (although I saw no evidence of money being donated whilst I was there) will have made money in the usual way, through a cut of the pill sales.

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ModelCitizen says...
12:19pm Thu 4 Oct 12

ModelCitizen wrote:
Please do. And while your at it ask them how they feel about the effect the noise the 'charity' event had on the residents of the four nearby villages/towns, and perhaps why the place and the council were not forewarned about the event and no permissions for it sought?

There is no contradiction in my statement. The land owner rented the field to the promoter so made money from the illegal event and the promoter if not taking the donated money you talk about (although I saw no evidence of money being donated whilst I was there) will have made money in the usual way, through a cut of the pill sales.
Whoops.
'perhaps why the place and the council '
is meant to be
'perhaps why the police and the council'

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eldiablo says...
6:43pm Thu 4 Oct 12

I can confirm that over £1500 was raised for Care International by the event

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Tedious Pedant says...
7:09pm Thu 4 Oct 12

eldiablo wrote:
I can confirm that over £1500 was raised for Care International by the event
Yes, but the country council did not know this. At night nose travels fever than during the day.

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fairplay23 says...
8:19pm Thu 4 Oct 12

Model Citizen, I presume that you are either a journalist or a politician, maybe a politician, why do I think this, well simple really, in general when people make wild accusations based on pure fantasy and lies it is in general a politician or a journalist, when they preach to others how they should behave it is in general a politician or a journalist, you get my drift, for a start there was no promoter, their was no profit to be earned either as once the costs were covered all the money went to charity, it was also a private party with a couple of hundred people not a huge rave, so no need to have a licence.

if you want to get on a high horse and complain then why don't you find a real problem to complain about, like the 30,000 children that die unnecessarily everyday from poverty, personally I think that is a good enough reason for some friends to get together in order to raise money, because it certainly isn't the government that are going to do anything about it.

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ModelCitizen says...
10:01am Fri 5 Oct 12

You are wrong on almost all counts. I'm a local resident for one.

There are ways to gain money for charity that does not hack off the inhabitants of 3/4 villages and the north side of a town.

The party was an exhibition of pure selfishness.

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Sussex Lad says...
12:14pm Fri 5 Oct 12

clubrob6 wrote:
In other words there was not enougth police available to enforce law and order.If cuts carry on at this pace all a criminal will have to do is cause a diversion to occupy the police then carry out a crime.Earlier this year west street had only 2 policemen on duty when clubs were getting out the story was in the argus.We need a general election befor the concervatives totally destroy ou police,armed forces and NHS with cuts and privatisation.
Totally agree, but replace the Conservatives with whom? A totally uninspirational bunch of bland, clueless, self seeking, self satisfying imbeciles. Agree also on the dangers facing our vital services by savage cuts.

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eldiablo says...
12:20pm Fri 5 Oct 12

ModelCitizen, you really do come across as a curtain-twitching moron. When was the last time you raised over a thousand pounds for charity?

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ModelCitizen says...
12:52pm Fri 5 Oct 12

How I contribute to the well-being of society is not at issue here. What is is an unlicensed rave and unscheduled, noise that carried for many miles and caused over 24 hours worth of disturbance to many people in their own homes.

As I said, there are many ways to raise money for charities without inconveniencing others. Not than anyone believes this event was about charity. It was organised purely so a small number of people could take drugs and have very noisy party in the countryside. If it really was a charitable event the authorities would have been notified and the correct procedure followed. If there was any money donated to charity (can you gain verification for your statement?) it was only as way of a sop.

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fairplay23 says...
1:21pm Fri 5 Oct 12

I never said that you contributed to society, quite the opposite, I was pointing out that you are using your opinion as the facts when they certainly aren't. Can I ask you a question? Are you as inconvenienced with the misery of children that our society leaves to die as you are with a few people having a good time and doing some good at the same time, but being slightly loud while they were doing it, because this huge noise you are talking of could hardly be heard over the sound of a car engine at 400 yards. I know which of the two would upset me.

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ModelCitizen says...
1:50pm Fri 5 Oct 12

Not a useful comparison. The noise was non-stop for 24 hours.

I guess you don't realise that one of the main reasons people live in the country is because they appreciate the peace and quiet?

As i said there are many much more amenable (charitable?) ways to raise money for charity that do not cause any discomfort to others.

I suggest you go for a long sponsored run. You can raise money for charity whilst not offending anybody and you might find it personally beneficial.

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fairplay23 says...
2:24pm Fri 5 Oct 12

As it happens the sponsored run was the week before.

Why don't you stop failing to be a Model Citizen and try and be someone real, wake up to the world you live in and do something usefull rather than complain when something doesn't fit in your ideal dream.

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ModelCitizen says...
2:35pm Fri 5 Oct 12

And you find more considerate ways to raise money for charity.
People go to their homes at the weekend to rest, relax and get some peace and quite, a respite from the strains of their day to day work existence. The selfish party goers, organiser and Lower Stoneham Farm landowner denied this to many more people than those who enjoyed the party.

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fairplay23 says...
2:54pm Fri 5 Oct 12

Maybe you should ask yourself why you feel so drained after a week of work that a minor thing can get you so upset at the weekend. Maybe it's the rest of life that is getting you down. And the rest is again opinion.

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HeatherWelling says...
9:05pm Tue 9 Oct 12

Ive never been a fan of raves and my thoughts are with the local residents. The people who live around Lewes are some of the most privileged of the western world.How disgusting that people enjoying themselves upsets them so! Our country has no soul because of people like you. The CJL was not drawn up nor passed by the millions of party goers who had a wonderful time at outdoor raves in the 90s. I wasnt one of these but I love hearing people having a good time and I would have slept soundly,Shame on you lot. You are the type who move to Spain and complain about the fiestas (huge parties that the whole town attends because they know how to have a good time).Im sure you wont have to put up with the inconvenience again, being wealthy landowners.(Cue remarks about not being wealthy - sorry but if you own land around Lewes you ARE WEALTHY!!!!)

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madtech says...
11:28pm Wed 10 Oct 12

Modelcitizen you sound like a right boring old ****. I would not want to go raving with you , sounds like your the kind of person who loves going to a funeral , maybe you should get yourself a life , and let others live theirs. If a bit of music for 1 night makes you that miserable and upset coor blimey mate you have not lived and sounds like you have a had one seriously boring life. I hope you wake up and do something crazy just once before your life is over.

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smörrebröd says...
3:47pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Instead of having silly name-calling arguments the people involved with the rave should accept that they pushed it too far. It was so loud it could be heard 3 miles away, and it lasted almost 24 hours. Few people would begrudge you having a good time and making some noise. This was simply too loud and too long. Accusing anyone who objects of being an anti-charity right wing maniac is not particularly democratic.

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ModelCitizen says...
4:12pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Childish is the word I'd use.

If local residents were aware it was happening, knew when it would end etc, feeling would have been different. The fact that it was not possible to find out how long the noise will be going on for does not help.

The event was selfish and disrespectful of others.

Madtech. I am 62. I did all the crazy things I wanted to when I was young. Now I am older, I am more inclined towards peace, and the quiet contemplative enjoyment of nature and countryside. You enjoy yourself doing crazy things all you like. It would be sad though, if you could not do them without messing up other people's pleasures.

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