Page 62 - Main Second Asbo Book1
P. 62
Page2 of3
Continua1ion of Statement of
leg<1l high. As we passed the car Mr Cordell quickly lowered the boot. I queried Mr Cordell about the gas and
pointed out that it was on the news earlier how Nit;ou oxide was dangerous and Mr Cordell stated that the
Government would probably ban it soon like everything else. Mr Cordell was polite <1nd showed us around the
site which appeared to be a l<1rge concreted ,m::a th<1t was completely open to the air. There was a large sound
s~stem to the rear which was amplified though I could not see any power source. There was a number of people
wearing yellow hi-vis jackets who Mr Cordell stared were first aiders and there was a pallet of water near to lhe
sound system as well as a couple of tents closer to the gates. I could see no obvious Toilet facilities nor shelter
from what had been forecast as a stormy night. Inside the venue mostly just stood around in small groups were ,
about 30 people, mostly teenagers. Mr Cordell stated he was an entrepreneur and was awaiting licences from the
council so that he would soon be legit-imate. When I explained all the "ingredients" for a rave were present Mr ;
CordeU began to try and argue his point that it was not a rave and that it was a private party. I spoke at length '
with Mr Cordell explaining the legal situation and how by definition this was a rave and that ultimately there were ,
too few people present at the time to stop police and so on this occasion I could act and close the rave. Whilst on
an industrial estate it was my opinion that such was the proximity to local hous.ing and my knowledge of the
volume music is played and the duration it is played for, often throughout the weekend that a rave would ·
constitute serious disruption. Mr Cordell was clearly not happy but did not want his equipment seized so agreed
to start pnckjng up the sound equipment. Whilst talking with Mr Cordell there were small groups of teenagers
arriving at the site and entering via a break in the fcoce, (the gates still being shut at this time). I got Ps Ames to
gel units to us to prevent further people trespassing on the land and lo discourage people from attending the
location and exited the venue to await Mr Cordell's exit with the sound equipment. Whilst waiting I radioed for
the on-call Superintendent so I could get the various Rave legislation approved so that I could seize the sound
equipment and enforce a rave cordon on Millmarsh Lane to prevent people entering. Whilst stood by the venue a
number of people began leaving, most were laughing but the odd one was blaming police for stopping the event.
Suddenly there was a huge number of mainly teenagers wa king towards me from the direction of Mollison
Aveneue. Apparently this group had all arrived toge her ~'rom Lhe nearby railway station. Straight away some of
lhis group headed slraighl lowards us saying they were going 10 storm the place. 1 hod been joined by a few team
officers and we advised them that the rave had been cJosed down and they would not be allowed to enter. There
was some verbal confrontation but the large group which was up 10 l 00 strong moved off round the comer with
some overheard saying they would break in round the comer. As they began lo move off Mr Cordell stood by the
break in the fence and shouted words to the cffcc1 of, ''Come on, there is more of you". I quickly went up to Mr
Cordell and told him to stop or I would arrest him to prevent a breach of the peace. At this Mr Cordell went back
and stayed away. The large group did indeed try LO get into adjoining premises that they thought led to the rave
venue but were slopped by officers and moved off back into Millmarsh lane, although one officer Pc Wale was
injured during a struggle. T requcs1ed the attendance of as many units as possible including dogs and TSG as the
/ . ....
'
/
Signature: .. ,,. ....... . ;;,··· ...... . Signaturs: wimessed by:
11)03( I l
53