Easter Bank Holiday Free Party Kicks in Wales
system | 08.04.2007 19:25 | Culture | Free Spaces | Repression
Quick shout to say thousands of people have been partying at a massive multi rig easter rave in Wentwood Forest near Caldicot since last night. The beeb/cops have said at least 3000 people, probably more though.
system
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
so what
09.04.2007 10:27
end days
riot cops force early close to main party
09.04.2007 15:42
a nearby forest / heath fire which fire service attended (followed by another fire) which was either a serious concern, or a pretext to try and shut down the party.
most of the systems were packing up already but there was a bunch of complete idiots who thought it was clever to chuck stuff at the riot police, quite a few throwing stuff from the back and even hitting other partygoers - bloody dangerous idiots these people.
things kicked off and the police were using excessive force at times which you kind of expect, still pretty horrible though. bbc reporting that the police seized 10 sound systems / trucks. more vehicles as well and a few arrests. most people left the site on sunday, but a few folks stayed behind.
video clip of night:
video clip of police line pushing people away from party / vehicles:
bbc reports:
fruity
South Wales Argus article
09.04.2007 16:21
By Daniel Lombard
Monday 9th April 2007
POLICE seized 18 vans and lorries containing a large amount of audio equipment from Gwent's biggest ever rave.
An estimated 3,000 ravers descended on Wentwood Forest on Saturday evening, bringing around 1,000 vehicles for the illegal gathering.
The last remaining partygoers at the Forestry Commission-owned site were moved on by police at 12.30pm today.
Officers are examining a "considerable amount" of evidence gathered during the operation.
A stage with a huge sound system was set up in the Five Lanes area, which pumped out loud music for 36 hours.
Some 175 officers from five different forces - Gwent, South Wales, Gloucestershire, Avon and Somerset and West Mercia - as well as a helicopter were deployed in a huge police operation.
advertisement
Five males were arrested on Sunday afternoon for allegedly assaulting officers as they moved in to disperse the crowds.
The suspects were remanded in custody overnight and are being interviewed at an undisclosed police station in Gwent today.
Superintendent Jon Burley, who is leading the investigation, said: "We took a robust approach to the policing of the rave, and we will take a robust approach with the handling of the organisers."
report