The organizers of a giant rave that began in the early hours of Sunday at Neath Port Talbot were fined 10,000 euros and confiscated the devices.
Banwen’s rave attracted up to 3,000 more people according to police and around 1,000 are still on Sunday night.
Residents of Banwen said they had been awake since 1 a.m. when crowds began gathering in a nearby forest.
Hundreds of other young people reportedly descended into the area, defecated behind the gardens, left cars parked illegally and blocked the village’s roads.
Police officers from South Wales were provided and it was estimated that up to 3,000 more “from across the UK” were estimated to have been provided at the height of the event. On Sunday night they got rid of loudspeakers and other musical devices and vehicles were seized, while two organizers were fined 10,000 euros.
Superintendent Jason James said late Sunday: We had significant resources on site the day, we engaged with participants and painted the organizers.
“Events like this are illegal and have a significant effect on the community.Several people have left the site, but there are still thousands of people who provide and we will continue to have resources on site throughout the night.
“People who come in combination know that their movements are irresponsible and we work with other agencies and use the law we have, adding the Covid-19 act, but we will have to make sure that any action is taken safely.”
One resident told WalesOnline that he felt like a “prisoner” in his own home because other young people are “obviously under the influence of alcohol and drugs” and can be seen sleeping on the village benches early Sunday morning.
This occurs when the Welsh government has implemented a new law providing that illegal rave organizers should be fined up to 10,000 euros.
The new regulations came into force just before the holiday, with the aim of combating illegal gatherings while the coronavirus pandemic continues.
Are you in the area? Do you have photos or videos of the rave? Contact us via email [email protected].
Live updates on the incident:
A guy on the scene, who needed to be named, said he left Oxford for the rave.
He said it was planned two or three months ago, but the police didn’t know until a lot of other people showed up.
Police at the rave site on Monday morning.
There are also several parked at the front of the site.
It’s Monday morning and police announced they would provide an update on illegal pickup at lunchtime.
We are disconnecting now and will be back in the morning to receive more updates.
Good night.
Organisers have been hit with £10,000 fines and their music equipment confiscated as police remain at the scene in Banwen.
Music equipment was been removed after a section 63 notice was issued and two organisers have also been issued with fixed penalty notices for £10,000. South Wales Police have also issued a number of section 59 orders for people using their vehicles in an anti-social manner.
Superintendent Jason James said a moment ago: “All day long, we had resources on the site, we interacted with the participants, and we painted hard with the organizers.
“Events like this are illegal and have a significant effect on the community.Several people have left the site, but there are still thousands of people who provide and we will continue to have resources on site throughout the night.”People who come in combination know that their movements are irresponsible and we work with other agencies and use the law at our disposal, adding law, adding the Covid-19 act, but we will have to make sure that any action taken is safe.”
A local resident, who wanted not to be identified, told us that they may see other people leaving Roman Rd in Banwen after dark.
The local said the police had been great, but they also said they were surprised to see other people parked blocking lanes, defecting and leaving used condoms in the area. They said other people were also “sinking sleeping on the sidewalk.”
Awakened at 1 a.m. from the noise of revelers descending over the area, the resident said Banwen is now quiet.
This is not the first time there has been a rave in the forest above Banwen.In 2008 ravers were seen descending into the valley, however, Local Roman Rd said that the occasion at the time was not so busy.
A spokesman for The South Wales Police said the incident is still being treated locally and that there are still other people piled up at the rave site.
He said: “There is no genuine replacement right now, other people are leaving and we inspire other people to stay away from the area.”
Snapchat hotspot around Banwen still shows other party people about an hour ago.
Here are other photographs of the street scenes around Banwen, which lead to the rave site, earlier in the day.
Police have set up a command center to deal with the ongoing delirium in Banwen, Neath Port Talbot County Councillor for Onllwyn Dean Cawsey.
In a Facebook post, he wrote: “I spoke to Alun Michael, Police and Crime Commissioner of South Wales, who informed me that they have brought more resources, established a command center and assigned a committed inspector to oversee operations.”
South Wales police estimate that up to 3,000 more people are attending illegal ravier collection in Banwen.
On the site are road police officers and a police helicopter.
Chief Superintendent Simon Belcher said: “This type of illegal collection is absolutely unacceptable and we are aware of the considerations it raises in the local community.
“I would like to remind others of their obligations under the existing coronavirus law and the primary objective of all assuming their non-public duty in accordance with Welsh government regulations for the protection of Wales.”
“We have several resources present, the police helicopter and road police officers.
“It is estimated that up to 3,000 more people at the rally have travelled from all over the UK and we are reviewing the entire law to find out what moves can be taken safely.
“Illegally parked cars will be treated and other people who continue, despite our advice, checking out to attend this area of illegal occasions will be rejected.”
A significant operation is underway to disperse those still present at the rave in Banwen, South Wales Police Chief Constable Matt Jukes said.
He said the police were running with local and other government to transparent the “illegal and unlicensed meeting.”
“We haven’t noticed this type/magnitude of occasions to date. After the sacrifices of all the Covids, this is absolutely unacceptable,” he said.
Residents in Resolven, nearly ten miles away from Banwen, claim to have been woken up overnight by the rave.
Resolven Community Council President Neal Francis told WalesOnline: “I have won a number of considerations from our citizens who woke up at night through the noise of this ridiculous event, me and my family.
“It was so loud here that we thought for awhile that it was something happening in our village and was amazed to find out earlier this morning by post on social media that it was actually coming from Banwen.
“I feel sorry for the residents there as it must have been unbearable as it was bad enough here.”
Sheryl Lee Powell, of Roman Road, said she phoned the police overnight to report more than 50 vehicles arriving at the rave.
The rave continues in Banwen more than 12 hours after locals say many other people have arrived in the village.
A police officer at the rave scene told WalesOnline that a user had been arrested for a crime.
However, a spokesman for the South Wales Police verified the report.
Cody Jenkins, who lives on Roman Road, told WalesOnline about the “ridiculous” scenes when many others attended a rave in Banwen.
The 20-year-old said there’s rubbish “everywhere” and that the parking scenario is so excessive that citizens may not get off their roads.
Images of the occasion show the large number of other people who continue to celebrate at the venue, despite the presence of the police.
Residents estimate that many others have come to the domain to participate.
Another resident of the Roman road said he feared that other people would get on cars after drinking and using drugs.
“There are so many and other drugged people who get in cars and have poor health everywhere,” he says.
He added: “Our street is [a] deadlock and not for emergency cars to get in here.”
He attended the rave this morning told WalesOnline that he had travelled from London to participate.
She said: “I come from Lewisham in London and we travel along the party line and it’s probably fantastic.I’ve only met other adorable people here, as usual.
“That’s the thing about those events, everyone you meet is definitely awesome and lovable and they all have smart vibes. There’s nothing to say about these things to be honest.”
The rave continues in Banwen on Sunday morning, with a lot of other people supposedly present.
A neighbor who lives on the Roman road said antisocial behavior took hold throughout the night, with other people vomiting and urinating outside of houses.
“The citizens of Roman Road in Banwen stayed up all night, we had to suffer vomiting, urinate in front of people’s homes, spit in the gardens and cars that now block the road are down,” he said. he told me.
He said he called police twice to 999 and said there were 16 police cars present.
“Where were they? Definitely not on our street. The only police presence around midnight,” he said.
“Another resident and I had to save you three men from stealing a scooter outside a neighbor’s house.
“I also approached a police vehicle on Intervalley Road less than an hour ago and asked them about illegal parking and they told me they had been informed that they might not leave the domain where they were parked.
“We had a lot of people on the street all night, and we still have to go through the things that are going on here, the Roman road has been the precedent because it was the path that was taken by EveryoneArray..”
Mr. Reynolds expressed fear of the use of drugs and alcohol at the event, as well as the parking situation.
He said the cars “were thrown everywhere.”
“There is a lot of alcohol consumption and therefore there are no sanitary facilities,” he said.
“I don’t know when it’s going to end, but I’m very involved because so many other people who come out of it are intoxicated one way or another.”
Lee Reynolds, of Onllwyn, filmed the video early Sunday morning while walking his dog near the rave site.
He said he believes the number of people they provide is “easily hundreds” and that the nearby parking scenario is “disastrous and very concerned about accidents.”
One woman said she could listen to music from her home in Blaengwrach, about 5 miles from Banwen, beaten last night.
She told WalesOnline: “I heard the music last night, however, I just imagine that someone in my village threw a party and kept going all night and even this morning.
“That’s when I asked on Facebook what was going on. Apparently, this happened during the rave days.
“I still can’t think that all those illegal raves are all because we can’t dance or socialize when we pass out right now.
“I’m sorry for the other people who live in Banwen as if it’s so noisy here, so you’ll have to be unbearable with them not to mention the number of cars parked near their homes.
South Wales police showed that they were aware of a rave in the Banwen and were present.
A spokesman for South Wales Police told WalesOnline: “We are aware of the news and are attending a giant meeting of other people for a rave in the Banwen area.
We are running to interact with organizers and participants to remind them of their obligations under the existing coronavirus law and the primary purpose of all assuming their non-public duty following welsh government regulations for the protection of Wales.
“Those who come in combination in giant numbers and have interaction in antisocial behavior will know that their movements are irresponsible.
“To the parents or guardians of the youth, we ask you to make sure you know where your children are and what they are doing.
“We are also working hard with a number of agencies, adding local authorities, to any clutter arising from this event, adding indiscriminate parking and the offending cars will be removed if necessary.”