Two arrested after 1,000 people turn up to illegal Halloween rave

Two people have been arrested following an illegal rave in Bristol after up to 1,000 partygoers flocked to a disused warehouse.

Police said those who organised the event ‘acted in a wholly irresponsible manner.’

According to locals, the event took place at a disused Wickes DIY store and could be heard from suburbs up to four miles away. 

Avon and Somerset police confirmed on X on Sunday morning they were responding to an unlicensed music event off Winterstoke Road in Bristol.

The force reassured the public they were ‘in attendance to prevent more people accessing the site and seeking to bring it to a safe conclusion.’

The music was switched off at around 10am on Sunday morning with approximately 150 people still at the site.

Officers were met with ‘unacceptable hostility with items, including bottles, being thrown at them, which is truly disgraceful,’ Inspector Gareth Pike said.

Vehicles were stopped from leaving the site and sound equipment was seized.

Two people were arrested on suspicion of public nuisance offences following the event and they have since been released on bail. 

Inspector Pike said: ‘Residents living close by are understandably angry by the disturbance this unlicensed music event has caused. We’re sorry for the impact it has had on them and we share their frustrations.

‘A significant policing operation was stood up with specialist teams deployed, including utilising officers giving up their rest days.

‘We also sought assistance from neighbouring forces through a mutual aid request, although they were not ultimately required after the music was turned off.

‘Public safety always must be our priority when responding to such incidents, especially given the potential danger and risk that occurs when you have a very large number of people in a confined space that is not designed to accommodate them.

‘No police service has a limitless supply of resources. Every officer who has been deployed to Winterstoke Road today is an officer who could have been helping a victim of crime but couldn’t do so because of the selfish actions of those who organised and attended this event.

‘Nevertheless, through hard work across the organisation, we have sought to provide victims with the level of service they should expect and deserve from the police, even though we were having to deal with this incident at the same time.

‘We have been gathering evidence during our response to this incident to help us identify those who have committed offences and we will look to take appropriate action against those involved.’

He said the force will speak with the building owner to prevent any future incidents.

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