Arrest made after illegal raves in Exmoor
Avon and Somerset Police were called out to two unlicensed music events during the Bank Holiday weekend
A man from Wiltshire has been arrested on drugs offences and for assaulting an emergency worker after two unlicensed music events in Exmoor over the weekend.
Officers seized sound equipment and put road closures in place, whilst the arrested man has been bailed
In a statement yesterday, Avon and Somerset Police said: "We have been responding to two unlicensed music events in the Exmoor area over the weekend.
"The first was discovered by officers at about 5.20am yesterday (Sunday 31 March) near Dunkery Beacon. It was estimated a couple of hundred people were on site.
"We received a call about 40 minutes later relating to a second unlicensed music event, a short distance away at Kennisham Wood near Luxborough. Officers were on the scene within 15 minutes to find the event already underway with several hundred people in attendance.
"Our priority has been to preserve public safety and minimise disruption to other members of the public and as such our officers sought to engage with individuals attending the events and provide community reassurance. Road closures were also put in place.
"Sound equipment was seized from the unlicensed music event near Dunkery Beacon last night and enquiries are ongoing into potential public nuisance offences.
"A small number of people remained in the Kennisham Wood area overnight but the music was turned off by organisers at approximately 11pm following officers' engagement work. Subsequent efforts to play loud music on site were prevented by officers who told those involved they risked having their equipment seized.
"Those that remained at Kennisham Wood have been clearing up the site this morning. We continued to have officers in the area today to ensure those people left the site safely.
"A man in his 30s from Wiltshire was arrested there yesterday on suspicion of possession of a class A drug and assaulting an emergency worker. He has since been released on bail following police interview."