Police have arrested 25 people after receiving reports of an illegal rave at the weekend as part of an operation known as Op Wish.
Sussex Police said: “Mass gatherings of unlicensed music events put lives at risk and will not be tolerated.
“This is the message from Sussex Police after 25 people were arrested in connection with an illegal rave attended by approximately 2,500 people at Charlton Forest, near Chichester, on Saturday evening (19 April).
“Of those arrested, 19 were on suspicion of drug-driving and at least 22 had travelled from outside the county, including from as far afield as Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Devon and Norfolk.
“The first to be charged are
“Scott Jenkins, 21, of Church Lane, Bedford, Bedfordshire, was arrested and charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis. He has been released on bail to appear before Worthing Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 6 May.
“Jean-Luc Burch, 24, of Osmond Gardens, Wallington, Sutton, was arrested and charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis. He has been bailed to appear before Worthing Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 20 May.”
Chief Superintendent Stu Hale said: “It is hugely disappointing that so many people have travelled from far and wide to attend this event which happened on private land without the landowner’s permission.
“Events of this nature will not be tolerated in Sussex for a number of reasons. They put lives at risk through the mindless actions of individuals who choose to drive while over the limit for drink or drugs.
“And they cause disruption to the highways network through road closures and abandoned vehicles which impacts on the ability of emergency services to access people who may be in need.
“They have an adverse effect on wildlife, the environment, landowners and local residents. They also result in a huge strain on emergency services resources but the bottom line is they are illegal.
“Anyone who thinks we have gone out of our way to ruin people’s fun clearly hasn’t considered the devastating consequences these events can have.”
Sussex Police added: “Police responded to the scene and closed the roads surrounding the forest to prevent any further access to the event. Equipment including speakers, sound systems and stages were seized.
“The site has since been cleared and all road closures lifted.
“The event will now be subject to an investigation and anyone with any information or camera footage is asked to report it online or call 101, quoting Operation Wish.”
Others arrested were
• A 32-year-old man from Midhurst was arrested on suspicion of drug driving, careless driving, failing to stop a vehicle when required by police and having class A drugs with intent to supply. He has been released on bail until Wednesday 16 July.
• A 34-year-old man from Kettering, Northamptonshire, was arrested on suspicion of drug driving. He has been released on bail until Sunday 20 July.
• A 31-year-old man from Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, was arrested on suspicion of drug driving. He has been released on bail until Saturday 19 July.
• A 22-year-old man from Lincoln, Lincolnshire, was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving and possession of class B drugs. He has been released on bail until Sunday 20 July.
• A 26-year-old man from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, was arrested on suspicion of drug driving. He has been released on bail until Thursday 17 July.
• A 22-year-old man from Kingsteignton, Devon, was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and released on bail until Friday 18 July.
• A 23-year-old man from Penylan, Cardiff, was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and released on bail until Friday 18 July.
• A 28-year-old man from Speedwell, Bristol, was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and released on bail until Monday 21 July.
• A 21-year-old man from Totnes, Devon, was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and released on bail until Monday 20 October.
• A 21-year-old woman from Stowmarket, Suffolk, was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and released on bail until Monday 20 October.
• A 25-year-old man from Buckfastleigh, Devon, was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and released on bail until Sunday 20 July.
• A 60-year-old man from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving, driving without insurance, driving without a licence and having class A drugs. He was released on bail for the driving offences and given a community resolution for the drugs offence.
• A 40-year-old man from Felbrigg, Norfolk, was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and released on bail until Friday 18 July.
• A 32-year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of carrying out unauthorised licensable activity and intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance. He was released on bail until Sunday 20 July.
• A 30-year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of carrying out unauthorised licensable activity and intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance. He was released on bail until Sunday 20 July.
• A 30-year-old man from Worthing was arrested on suspicion of intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance, theft by finding, having class A and class B drugs and organising an unauthorised display, performance or event and has been released on bail until Thursday 10 July.
• A 27-year-old man, of no fixed address, was arrested on suspicion of carrying out unauthorised licensable activity and intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance. He was released with no further action.
• A 21-year-old woman from Chard, Somerset, was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and released on bail until Friday 20 June.
• A 29-year-old man from Flackwell Heath, Buckinghamshire, was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and dangerous driving and released on bail until Sunday 20 July.
• A 32-year-old man from Swindon, Wiltshire, was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and released on bail until Sunday 20 July.
• A 27-year-old man from Exeter, Devon, was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and released on bail until Friday 18 July.
• A 38-year-old man from Camberley, Surrey, was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and racially aggravated assaulted and released on bail until Sunday 20 July.
• A 28-year-old woman from London was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and released on bail until Sunday 20 July.
