City MP backs officers after ‘reckless’ event

Commenting on the illegal rave that brought more than 3,000 people to Charmy Down just outside Bath, the city’s MP Wera Hobhouse voiced her concerns for nearby residents as well as those who came into contact with people who “recklessly” attended the event.

She said: “We are in the midst of a pandemic. Those who organised and attended the rave that lasted from Saturday night well into Sunday recklessly endangered themselves and everyone they will be coming into contact with after this mass gathering. Due to the loud music played at the rave, many Bath residents lost precious hours of sleep. I am especially concerned about the impact of this event on the wellbeing of nearby residents and on animals on the farms surrounding the rave site.”

She said, after a briefing with Chief Constable Andy Marsh, that the police had her full support.

She said: “Avon and Somerset Police pulled officers away from front-line response duties to form a dedicated unit to respond to reports of unlicensed music events.

“This team successfully prevented one such event near Frome on Saturday night – but were then deployed to Upper Swainswick near Bath to prevent any more people turning up to a rave which was already under way when they had the first call. They called in officers who were not working and other forces in order to close the event down by Sunday afternoon.”

The MP concluded: “As we emerge from lockdown and face an uncertain future, our Government are asking our police to do more with less. This is not a sustainable situation – we have to give our police force greater resources if we want them to be successful.”