Five arrested as police with riot shields break up illegal rave in quiet Norfolk village

Published: 11:55, 24 August 2026 | Updated: 11:58, 24 August 2026 Five people were arrested and equipment including speakers were seized after police shut down an illegal rave near a quiet Norfolk village. Officers with riot shields arrived at the field near the village of Little Snoring at around 1am yesterday after receiving complaints about a disturbance. Those who were detained were arrested on suspicion of offences including possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply, drink and drug-driving and operating a licensable activity without the required authorisation. Sound equipment, generators and vehicles were confiscated by officers from those involved with the event. The entrance to the site was closed to prevent more people from arriving and those already there were ordered to leave. Norfolk Constabulary confirmed it had launched an investigation to establish who had organised the rave. Patrick Galbraith, who lives nearby described how he visited the field on Sunday morning and an officer told him they had needed to carry riot shields as they broke up the event. ‘The people at the rave were very friendly. A young raver apologised for snorting a white substance off his phone in front of me,’ he said. Officers with riot shields arrived at the field near the village of Little Snoring at around 1am yesterday after receiving complaints about a disturbance ‘I later bumped into the police who said they could not “go down there” without riot shields. ‘This surprised me as there were not that many ravers.’ Superintendent Craig Miller said enquiries were ongoing ‘to determine the circumstances surrounding the unauthorised music event and to identify everyone involved in its organisation’. He added: ‘We are committed to doing everything we can to prevent, disrupt and stop these events from taking place, while reducing their impact on local communities. ‘I would like to thank the landowner and members of the local community for their patience and understanding while we worked to shut down the event as quickly and safely as possible. ‘Unauthorised music events such as this can cause significant disruption and often result in damage to the natural environment. ‘As they are not required to meet recognised safety standards, they can also place attendees at risk. ‘Our work does not end with the closure of the event, and investigations into those responsible and the circumstances surrounding it will continue.’ Sound equipment, generators and vehicles were confiscated by officers from those involved with the event Little Snoring, which is around two miles from Fakenham, has a population of less than 1,000 people. It was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 under the name Esnaringa, after the local leader, and its name evolved over the centuries. The village has a private airfield, which was previously RAF Little Snoring that was set up in July 1943, and a Grade I listed church of Little Snoring St Andrew. Illegal outdoor raves were banned in 1990 under the Entertainment (Increased Penalties) Act, which introduced fines of up to £20,000. The law was introduced by the then Conservative government in response to the soaring number of clandestine events that were being organised around the country, causing disruption for local residents as thousands of people sometimes descended unannounced on unsuspecting communities. Organisers attempted to circumvent the law by announcing details of events just hours before over pirate radio stations or via phone numbers with a voicemail message. But the rules were tightened further following the notorious rave at Castlemorton Common in Worcestershire in 1992 where 20,000 people turned up. Police were subsequently given the power to stop and turn away vehicles anywhere within five miles of a rave under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. Rules about illegal raves were tightened following the notorious event at Castlemorton Common in Worcestershire in 1992, where 20,000 people turned up The popularity of the unregulated events started growing again during lockdown, with experts suggesting it has been further fuelled by the ongoing closure of traditional nightclubs. In February, the annual Night Time Industries Association report estimated there were about 1,350 illegal parties every year. Riot police were called to an illegal rave of about 2,000 people on Easter Sunday in East Lulworth, Dorset.