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Police are urging members of the public and landowners across Suffolk to report any suspicious activity in the run-up to and during the August Bank Holiday weekend, in a bid to crack down on illegal raves in the county.

Warnings are also being issued to anyone organising an illegal rave that any sound equipment found will be seized, causing significant financial loss to organisers, and that they will be prosecuted.

Extra patrols are being planned to prevent illegal raves from taking place and intelligence and social networking sites will be monitored to enable early preventative action to be taken.

Members of the public can play a key role in preventing such events and the public are being asked to assist police by reporting any suspicious activity around open land or disused buildings.

Landowners also need to remain vigilant and immediately report any activity, which may lead them to suspect a rave is being organised on their land. Extra care should be taken to ensure that property entrances are secure wherever possible.

Police across the county work with landowners, the Forestry Commission and Farmwatch to offer security advice.

The police need to be informed of:
Any information that an illegal rave is taking place;
Any sightings of vans, lorries or large numbers of vehicles gathering near woods, rural car parks or near to disused buildings/warehouse;
Sightings of fliers advertising raves;
Broken padlocks on access gates, to areas where a rave may take place.

Chief Supt David Skevington said: "Our zero-tolerance approach to unlicensed music events, which are potentially dangerous and cause unnecessary damage and disruption will continue.

“Early intervention in preventing and disrupting such raves is key and in the past the vigilance and response from the public has been extremely useful.

"Reliable and timely information about where and when an event is being set up can allow us to identify the organisers and seize sound and other equipment before the rave begins.

“I want to warn anyone who is considering organising a rave that they will face prosecution for holding such an event - we have successfully prosecuted people who have organised raves in the past.

“We will continue to take a hard line against anyone behind such events and we will prosecute and seize and destroy the equipment of those found to be involved in their organisation.

“We have successfully disrupted a number of events in the past with a large amount of equipment seized, including vehicles and sound systems. This positive stance will continue as these events cause considerable disruption to the community.

"Illegal rave organisers have little concern for the health, safety and welfare of those attending the event; for the local residents, who are adversely affected by the noise, rave-related anti-social behaviour and the impact on the environment; or for the landowner left with litter and damage.”

Police have powers which enable them to seize vehicles and sound equipment in certain circumstances.

As such, they are urging anyone who rents sound or lighting equipment to only do so to people who they believe to have a valid and legal reason. Seized equipment will be retained as evidence for any prosecution.

Anyone with information about an illegal rave or who witnesses any suspicious activity on farmland or in buildings should contact Suffolk Constabulary on 101.