International news _ Jonty Skrufff _ 28th June 2005

UK Cops Coordinate Rave Crackdown

West Country police have set up a five-mile exclusion zone around Smeatharpe Airfield this weekend, giving them powers to arrest suspected ravers who disobey orders to leave.

"Anyone who is thinking of coming to Devon or Cornwall to arrange an illegal rave is warned that we are prepared to stop them," Inspector Norman Amey of Honiton Police threatened, in an article in the North Devon Gazette.

The airport exclusion zone is just one component of Operation Pell, a highly co-ordinated cross county crackdown the Inspector launched last month, designed to eradicate free parties throughout the entire West Country.

"In previous years, we have had problems with people who were unable to buy tickets for Glastonbury, trying to set up alternative site in our force area," the Inspector explained in a police press release.

"The airfield at Smeatharpe has been targeted previously, and we will be putting a specific operation in place to prevent mass trespass or illegal raves at the site. We have the powers to stop these illegal gatherings and to seize equipment, and will do so if necessary," he said.

The exclusion zone regulations will remain in force at least until July 2, the BBC reported, in case revellers try to stage parties to coincide with Bob Geldof's Live 8 charity concerts.

Jonty Skrufff (Skrufff.com)