Illegal rave equipment supplier fined £4,000
Around 3,000 people attended the rave in South Wales and three arrests were made
The equipment supplier for an illegal rave that took place in Banwen, South Wales, last summer has been fined £4,000.
Around 3,000 were reported to have attended the illegal gathering, where at least eight organisers were served with fixed penalty fine notices for up to £10,000 and three arrests were made.
Police said the event was “totally unacceptable” and criticised the “irresponsible” actions of attendees. Drone footage was used to identify organisers.
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Nigel Harris, who is from Lewes, East Sussex, admitted to supplying the equipment to the unlicensed event in the Brecon Beacons.
The Swansea Magistrates’ Court heard that he believed the equipment was for a 21st birthday party that would not be in breach of lockdown regulations.
Harris has three months to pay the £4,000 fine, and was also ordered to pay an additional £200 in court costs and a £190 victim surcharge.
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The Banwen illegal rave started just two days after the Welsh government introduced tougher penalties for organisers of illegal raves.
At the time, Health Minister Vaughan Gething said the penalty "reflects the potentially serious public health consequences".
He added: "Illegal gatherings put people's health needlessly at risk.
"The changes to the regulations we are introducing give the police new powers to stop these events taking place."
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[Via: BBC]
Patrick Hinton is Mixmag's Digital Features Editor, follow him on Twitter
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