Page 62 - Main Second Asbo Book1
P. 62

Page2 of3

             Continua1ion of Statement of


             leg<1l  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  Nit;ou  oxide  was  dangerous  and  Mr  Cordell  stated  that  the
             Government  would probably ban  it  soon like everything else.  Mr Cordell  was polite <1nd  showed us  around  the
             site which appeared  to  be a  l<1rge  concreted ,m::a  th<1t  was  completely open to  the  air.  There was  a large sound

             s~stem to the rear which was amplified though I could not  see any power source.  There was a number of people
             wearing yellow hi-vis jackets who Mr Cordell stared were first  aiders and there was a  pallet of water near to  lhe
             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 legit-imate.  When I explained  all  the "ingredients" for a rave were present Mr ;
             CordeU 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 ,

             too 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  hous.ing  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 clearly not happy but did not want his equipment seized so agreed
             to  start pnckjng 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 fcoce,  (the gates still  being shut at this time).  I got Ps Ames to
             gel  units  to  us  to  prevent  further  people  trespassing  on  the  land  and  lo  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 I  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  was  a  huge  number  of mainly  teenagers  wa king  towards  me  from  the  direction  of Mollison
            Aveneue.  Apparently this group had all arrived  toge her ~'rom Lhe  nearby railway station.  Straight away some of
            lhis group headed slraighl lowards us saying they were going 10 storm the place.  1 hod been joined by a few team

            officers and we advised them that  the rave had  been cJosed down and  they would  not be allowed to enter.  There
            was  some verbal  confrontation but  the large group which was up  10  l 00 strong moved off round the comer with
            some overheard saying they would break in round the comer.  As they began lo  move off Mr Cordell stood by the
            break in  the fence and shouted words to  the cffcc1  of,  ''Come on,  there is  more of you".  I quickly went up to Mr
            Cordell and told him to  stop or I would arrest him to prevent  a breach of the peace.  At  this Mr Cordell went back
            and  stayed away.  The large group did indeed try  LO  get  into  adjoining premises  that  they thought  led to the rave
            venue but  were slopped by officers and  moved  off back into  Millmarsh  lane,  although one officer Pc Wale was
            injured during a struggle.  T requcs1ed  the attendance of as  many units as  possible including dogs and TSG as the



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            Signature:   .. ,,. ....... .   ;;,··· ...... .   Signaturs:  wimessed  by:
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