Newham Council and Newham Police have called on residents, businesses, and commercial landlords to help prevent illegal raves and unlicensed music events from taking place.
The Council and police can use enforcement and licensing powers to try to stop raves, pay parties or unlicensed music events, before they start. Sound equipment, vehicles and alcohol can be seized in some circumstances, causing significant financial loss to organisers.
Unlicensed music events are unlawful and unregulated, hosted without regard for the safety of those attending, with amplified music that is loud enough and goes on for long enough to cause nuisance, distress and disruption to local residents. They may also involve trespassing on land or in buildings. Police often discover weapons and evidence of drug taking and litter left behind. The events can lead to violence and pose serious risk to people attending, particularly vulnerable young people.
From Friday (28 August) those facilitating or organising unlicensed music events attended by 30 people or more, face a £10,000 fine. Fines of £100 can be issued to those who participate in illegal gatherings and also those who do not wear a face covering. Those who have already received a fine will see the amount doubled on each offence, up to a maximum of £3,200. The fines are part of a move to target the most serious breaches of social distancing restrictions.
Residents are asked to report suspicious activity such as flyers advertising raves being posted in an area or on social media; large vans or lorries being driven into factories, industrial units or warehouse spaces that have been empty for some time; groups of people gathering nearby; or people forcing their way into premises.
Commercial landlords or owners of such premises are also encouraged to help prevent access to land or property by ensuring all boundary fencing or walls and gates are in good repair and fully secured.
Councillor James Beckles, Cabinet member for crime and community safety, said: “It is always easier for the police and the council to try to deal with illegal music events or raves at the earliest opportunity. We don’t want events like this making life miserable for local residents or the safety or health of people attending them being put at risk as we continue to recover from the effects of Covid-19.
“Residents and landowners can play a key role in preventing such events and we ask them to assist us by reporting any suspicious activity around large disused buildings or where they suspect an unlicensed music event is being organised. Where the police and the Council can prevent, disrupt or stop an unregulated event taking place, we will do everything within our power to do so, providing it is in the best interests of all concerned and the circumstances that we are faced with.”
If you have any information that could assist the police in relation to unlicensed music events taking place call 101 or contact met.police.uk online or @MetCC on Twitter. In case of emergency always call 999. If you don’t want to speak to police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. To contact the council's enforcement teams call 0208 430 2000.