Police broke up a huge illegal rave in South Bermondsey this weekend with about 150 people at the scene.
Officers were called to an unlicensed music event (UME) by the railway arches in Corbett’s Lane, off Silwood Street, in the early hours of Saturday morning (October 30). Police dispersed the revellers, took the sound system and reported the organisers for licensing offences. Officers left the scene at about 3.45am.
Large parties like this can attract drug-dealing and violence, police said. Officers learned of people planning these events and carried out arrests in Southwark, seizing drugs, knives and other weapons.
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The Corbett’s Lane event came after a police officer was injured when dispersing 300 youths from another rave in Lambeth on the same night.
Police found the partygoers at about 11.45pm in a youth centre on Glasshouse Walk in Vauxhall. Officers dispersed the crowd – but fights started to break out and some of the youths started setting off fireworks at police. One officer was treated for injuries and the party was eventually broken up by 1.20am.
Chief inspector Jack May-Robinson said: “These gatherings blight the lives of local residents. They often attract anti-social behaviour and can be dangerous environments for those attending them.
“Where we identify an event, we work hard to ensure that appropriate action is taken and equipment is seized to prevent attendees moving to another location.
“Extra patrols are taking place all over London to maintain public safety. I would urge anyone with concerns to contact police so that we can interrupt these UMEs before they escalate.”
It comes after 26-year-old Jason Nyarko was killed at a rave in Bermondsey’s Stockholm Road in June. His sister has pleaded for witnesses to come forward.