If you DJ or bring equipment to unlicensed parties, this weekend in Bristol shows the risk: police in riot gear moved in to take the sound system and decks as they broke up an illegal warehouse rave of around 1,000 people in Lawrence Hill.
Avon and Somerset Police say calls about very loud music at a disused warehouse in City Business Park started coming in from midnight on Sunday, October 25. According to the police, the building had been secured and barricaded to keep officers out. They held a line outside to stop more people getting in, and some tried to climb fences and neighbouring properties instead. Specialist officers then forced their way in to end the event.
Videos seen by Mixmag show officers carrying shields clashing with attendees while they tried to confiscate the equipment. Three people were arrested at the scene for causing a public nuisance, and the same three were later charged with possession of Class A drugs.
Bristol has seen several large unlicensed warehouse parties shut down in recent years, and organisers who run them risk losing their gear as well as facing charges.