Page 250 - 4. 2014 2nd half New 26-05-21 No Table

Tick if witness evidence is visually recorded (supply
witness details on rear)

legal 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 Nitrous
oxide was dangerous and Mr Cordell stated that the
Government would probably ban it soon like everything
else. Mr Cordell was polite and showed us around the site
which appeared to be a large concreted area that was
completely open to the air, there was a large sound
system to the rear which was amplified though 1 could
not see any power source. There was a number of people
wearing yellow hi-vis jackets who Mr Cordell stated were
first aiders and there was a pallet of water near to the
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 legitimate. When 1
explained all the “ingredients” for a rave were present Mr
Cordell 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
loo 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 housing 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 dearly not happy but
did not want his equipment seized so agreed to start
packing 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 fence, (the gates
still being shut at this time). I got Ps Ames to get units to
us to prevent further people trespassing on the land and to
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 1 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