Arrests made as 200 meet at unlicensed music event

Eight people have been arrested in connection with an unlicensed music event that attracted more than 200 people to a farm.

Suffolk Police was called just after 02:15 BST to reports of a large gathering in Barton Mills, near Mildenhall, and officers remained there working to shut the event down.

Paramedics were also sent after reports that a woman had broken her leg.

The force said it had directed people to leave the site using the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 and officers were working to identify the organisers.

Police said there were still about 150 people and 50 vehicles on site at Sunday lunchtime.

The law applies to gatherings in the open air with 100 or more people in attendance where music is played during the night and it allows officers to direct people to leave the land and remove any vehicles or property from the site.

Police said the people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit public nuisance, drug-driving and failure to comply with a direction to leave, amid other suspected offences.

Various items of music and sound equipment were seized by officers.

Supt Matt Carney said a drone unit, dogs and trained public order officers had been sent.

"This event was closed down following a large policing operation and the site was cleared as quickly as we were able do so, without any significant issues," he said.

“Inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the event and to identify all those involved in its planning.

"We will do everything in our power to prevent, disrupt and stop these events from taking place and minimise the impact on local communities."

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