Police swoop on ongoing illegal rave in Sussex

‘Officers remain at the scene and will continue to robustly deal with people found to be committing crime and behaving in an anti-social manner,’ says Sussex Police

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Police have been met with hostility while attending an illegal rave in West Sussex, after reports of a crowd of possibly thousands of people dancing and listening to music in a field.

Sussex police are “responding to a large unlicensed music event” in the Steyning area, in what they have called an ongoing matter.

An air ambulance has been spotted in attendance in the area while early reports have said that about 2,000 people attended the rave, which started on Saturday. Under current coronavirus restrictions, gatherings must not exceed 30 people.

Images taken on the Bostal Road show hundreds of attendees’ cars were parked up, with some of the vehicles blocking the entrance to a field in the area.

As officers responded to the calls, road closures were put in place in the area, and the police dispersed those who attended.

A “significant number” of officers attended, according to Sussex Police, and 23 arrests have been made so far on suspicion of offences including drink and drug-driving, possession of drugs and theft.

Sussex police have also said in a statement that emergency services have been met with hostility at the site, with one police office being assaulted and a second injured in a collision with a vehicle while the driver attempted to leave the event. The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through drink or drugs.

Anyone planning on attending the event is warned not to travel to the site, and officers will be taking action against those found doing so. Dozens of police vans alongside paramedics have been seen at the scene.

In a statement, Sussex Police had said: “A significant number of people have travelled to the site from areas outside of Sussex, and enquiries are ongoing to identify the organisers responsible for this unauthorised event so enforcement action can be taken against them.

“Officers remain at the scene and will continue to robustly deal with people found to be committing crime and behaving in an anti-social manner. Those leaving the event are being proactively stopped to ensure drivers are in a fit state to drive.

“There continues to be disruption on the road network in the area owing to a large number of badly parked vehicles, and people are still urged to avoid the area if possible.”