‘We feel violated’, say Dorset farmers hit by illegal rave
This image shows the farm on day two (Easter Monday) after many of the revellers had already left © Doug Ryder An illegal rave on farmland in Dorset that attracted about 1,500 revellers has left farmers feeling violated and unsafe.
The unlicensed music event took place across two grassland fields (totalling about 10ha) on a livestock farm in Corfe Castle, near Purbeck, over the Easter weekend.
Landowner Doug Ryder said hundreds of cars turned up in convoy “out of the blue” shortly after midnight on Sunday (21 April). Many were carrying three to four people.
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At its height, he said there were roughly 15 different music sets playing on the farm and the loud music could be heard in neighbouring villages miles away, causing disruption for local residents.
On Sunday afternoon, specially trained police officers from Dorset Police swooped on the farm to seize sound equipment. Officers remained on the scene until shortly after noon on Monday (22 April), when the illegal event fizzled out.
Drugs paraphernalia and detritus
© Doug Ryder
Mr Ryder said the farm has been left strewn with rubbish, broken beer bottles, drugs paraphernalia (pictured right), empty nitrous oxide canisters, and human excrement in the fields and hedges.
“We feel violated. It’s the same emotion you get when your house is burgled when having your fields ransacked by partygoers,” he told Farmers Weekly.
“The organisers said it was a free party and they were not doing anyone any harm. They talked about handing out leaflets to urge people to take home their rubbish, but they didn’t bring a single portaloo.
“A farmer’s field is like an extended garden. How would they like it if we broke into their home, had a party, left all the rubbish and crapped behind their sofa? It’s the same thing.”
Mr Ryder said he was “extremely grateful” to the neighbours, including a number of farmers, who gave up their spare time to help clean up afterwards. “Without them, we don’t know what we would have done,” he added.
Now Mr Ryder has been left with a silage trailer half filled with detritus, which he must pay for to remove. “Neither the council nor the Environment Agency want to know, as it’s full of plastic,” he said.
© Doug Ryder
Pasture ‘not fit for grazing’
The tenant farmer, who does not want to be named, has been left gutted by the emotional turmoil caused by the illegal event.
He will have to buy in additional forage to cover the gap from being unable to graze his suckler cows in the damaged fields until they are deemed safe.
The farm is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB). One of the fields damaged is entered in the Higher Level Stewardship scheme.
© Doug Ryder
“The emotional strain is bad. It feels like a home invasion. Like many farmers, we are operating on desperately thin margins, and to lose two fields of forage because of broken bottle glass everywhere is not ideal,” said the farmer.
“We don’t want to stop people having fun, but it shouldn’t be at other people’s expense.”
The owners said police officers were heavily outnumbered, but they did their best to stop the event spilling over into other fields.
Security will now have to be increased at the farm, including stronger gates and locks.
Police appeal
Det Chief Supt Paul Kessell, investigating, said more than 100 calls were received from distressed members of the public.
“As well as the noise nuisance for residents and visitors and distress to livestock on farmland at and near the site, during this incident a number of offences were committed, including criminal damage to property,” he added.
“We are investigating these matters and will ensure those found to be responsible are prosecuted.
“This is supported by vehicle checks in the area and on the site, deployment of officers with video recording equipment, drones and bodycams, as well as other intelligence-gathering methods.”
Dorset Police has appealed for anyone with information about those involved in organising the event or who may have witnessed any offences committed to contact them on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 1111.
Illegal raves – and how to avoid them
The possibility of unlicensed music events taking place on farms increases during Bank Holiday weekends, especially at Easter, according to the NFU.
“Landowners are reminded to keep gates secure and block entrance ways to fields in an attempt to prevent access to land,” said James Peck, regional communications adviser at NFU East Midlands.
“They should also make sure barns and other outbuildings are secure. People are reminded and encouraged to report any suspicious circumstances via the non-emergency police 101 number.
“Alternatively, if you suspect a rave is starting by the appearance of a number of vehicles in a location or access being gained to your land, please call 999 immediately.”
Suspicious activity could include cars acting suspiciously, driving around slowly looking at fields, outbuildings and barns, and any potential marking of locations, such as paint marks on the road surface or ribbons on gates and in hedges.
Any information about potential raves can also be given anonymously via the dedicated farmer and rural crime hotline set up by the NFU and Crimestoppers on 0800 783 0137. It’s 100% confidential.