Local authorities in rave hunt
22 June 2007
Facebook, MySpace and other social networking sites have become targets for local authorities trying to combat illegal raves this summer.
According to the Local Government Association (LGA) illegal raves are likely to occur in the South West of England and around festivals like Glastonbury.
LGA’s chair of culture, tourism, and sport Cllr Chris White said: “The impact of raves can be more than just a bit of noise and a minor disturbance.
“The effects on wildlife and farmland can be irreversible, causing financial and natural ruin as a result of land being littered with human waste and rubbish.”
Internet communication and mobile phone technology are making illegal raves easier and quicker to organise.
South Somerset District council has already prevented 80 illegal events from happening by using ‘the full range of intelligence.’
Communication manager Julia Dean of South Somerset district council said: “We will use all sorts of intelligence and we work very close with the police.”
“It’s about local authorities staying in contact with the local community and keeping an ear to the ground about what’s going on.”
Councils as well as landowners are being urged to gather intelligence about these future events by looking to the internet and listening to the local community.