Police shut down illegal Valentine's rave in Haldon Forest
Around 250 - 300 people were said to be there in the early hours of Sunday (12 February) morning
Last updated 14th Feb 2023
An illegal Valentine's rave has been shut down in Devon.
Police teams responded to reports of an unlicensed music event at Haldon Forest, near the A38, in the early hours of Sunday morning (12 February).
Around 250 - 300 people were in attendance. Two sets of speaker equipment were seized and by 3.00am the event had been shut down.
Officers say due to the intoxication and substance misuse on site, road checkpoints remained in place all night to ensure nobody was driving under the influence or putting other road users in danger when leaving the site.
One arrest was made for drink/drug driving offenses.
Devon and Cornwall Police Acting Chief Inspector Steve Philp said: "Due to the swift and professional response of our officers, the event was safely wound up by 3.00am. The area had been completely cleared by the early afternoon on Sunday. A potentially difficult situation was resolved quickly and peacefully.
"Illegal raves are not just a nuisance to local communities by playing loud music, blocking roads and littering the area, but they are a danger to those who attend too. The remote locations are often not suitable for large scale gatherings, and with no medical teams on site the potential for harm for attendees is high when combined with alcohol and illegal substances."