Pembrokeshire County Council is asking farmers and local landowners to be on the alert over the next couple of weeks for warning signs of any illegal raves planned for their land.
Historically, August Bank Holiday is seen as one of the most likely dates, and since 2003 when an event took place at Marloes, police, council officers and land owners now hold contingency planning meetings, which have been successful in thwarting events in the county in recent years.
Pembrokeshire County Council's pollution control and licensing manager, Gareth Watts, said that while there was no specific evidence of an event being planned for the county, he said that mobile 'phones and text messaging made it easier for organisers to spread the word and numbers attending could quickly grow.
He went on: "Raves can cause considerable anxiety to the community and if they are not dealt with swiftly, they are difficult to stop or otherwise control, due often to the sheer numbers of persons involved and the safety aspects surrounding breaking up such an event.
"There is also little doubt that events are very well planned and organised and that local knowledge is important in drawing down the main group to a particular 'vulnerable' field or area of land which has been targeted earlier as a suitable venue." Farmers and landowners are encouraged to report any suspicious activity immediately to the police. This could be an unusual numbers of vehicles, especially camper vans, vans or trucks in the locality, or illegal trespassers who may be doing 'recees' of sites in advance of the event.
It could even be persons who approach landowners or are asking around for land, in the guise of hiring for apparently acceptable activities such as gymkhanas or Scout and Guide jamborees. If suspicious, contact without delay Dyfed Powys Police on (0845) 330 2000. Ask to speak to the Duty Sergeant or Duty Inspector at Haverfordwest Police Station, or ring Pembrokeshire County Council's out of hours service on (01437) 775522.