Police shut down an illegal rave attended by around 100 people at an abandoned Argos store in East London last week. The Metropolitan Police responded to noise complaints from the site on Sandringham Road, Dalston, during the early hours of Sunday, May 10.
Noise Complaints and Police Response
Residents from as far as two streets away reported the disturbance, with calls continuing until around 8am. Officers from Stoke Newington Police Station arrived at approximately 11.40am and used Section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to order the remaining 20 people to leave.
Seizures and Arrest
Police seized sound equipment from the venue, along with three stolen bicycles and a suspected stolen Blue Badge. They also arrested a man who was wanted by Westminster Magistrates Court for failing to appear on an offensive weapon charge.
A group of squatters living in the building were allowed to remain under squatters' rights, as they were not part of the illegal event.
Inspector's Statement
Inspector Rob Lamb said: "The deployment resulted in 20 people being asked to leave the UME site within the building as well as a large quantity of sound equipment being seized. We also arrested a male who was wanted by Westminster Magistrates Court for an offensive weapon offence where he had failed to attend court, recovered 3 stolen cycles, which we hope to restore to their owners today as well as a suspected stolen Blue Badge."
He added: "We recognise that several persons at this venue are protected by ‘Squatters Rights’ – those persons remain at the venue lawfully and were not part of the group asked to leave attending the UME. They remain at this venue. Whilst on scene, residents approached our officers and personally thanked them for the response we provided."
