Police officers within Pembrokeshire would like to draw the attention of landowners and others to the possibility of unlicensed rave type events being held on their land. Landowners are reminded that there are severe penalties under licensing and environmental protection legislation for knowingly letting out land for such events and they will be pursued if such events take place. Local police have linked with Pembrokeshire County Council to produce a memorandum of understanding, the aim of which is to prevent illegal raves taking place. Inspector Les Clark, of Tenby police station, said: "August is a favourite month for the holding of unlicensed rave type events and landowners in the county should be on their guard. "I am not a killjoy, but I know that unlicensed raves are not safe places for our young people to visit. By their very nature, there is little control over who attends these events or what takes place. Because licensing is avoided, the normal safeguards to protect attendees are not in place. After the rave has finished, it becomes the responsibility of the landowner to clean up the site and to remove large amounts of rubbish and filth. "Unfortunately, once a rave is well underway, there is little that local officers can do other than to police the event as it proceeds. If we had early notification of a rave building up, we could step in and stop proceedings, utilising powers conferred by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Acts. Landowners should be alive to the possibility that their land may be targeted in advance and should take steps to protect themselves. Landowners should have up to date plans of land including tenancy and grazing agreements. They should not invite would-be trespassers on to your land, even if urged to do so, and should make sure that they have proper insurance provision to cover legal costs arising from court proceedings, as well as fencing off vulnerable areas with boulders, rubble, sand etc. They should not erect anything that may cause injury. Reports should be made to the local police number 0845 330 2000 or Crime Stoppers."
