Hampshire Police have launched an investigation following a large unauthorised rave near Barton Stacey which attracted more than 2,000 people, caused road closures and left some local residents frustrated by the time taken to bring the event to an end.
The investigation follows an incident previously reported by Love Andover, when police were called to land north of the A303, between Barton Stacey and Longparish, during the early hours of Sunday 1 November.
Officers began receiving multiple reports from around 12.30am about loud music and a large gathering taking place in the rural area.
When police arrived, they discovered more than 2,000 people at the site, along with a significant number of vehicles, substantial sound equipment and staging areas.
The scale of the gathering prompted a multi-agency response, with Hampshire Police working alongside the landowner, highways authorities and South Central Ambulance Service to manage the situation.
Roads Closed Amid Public Safety Concerns
Police confirmed that several nearby roads were closed to prevent further access to the site and reduce the potential risk to public safety.
With thousands of people already gathered, officers faced the challenge of managing the event while attempting to minimise disruption to surrounding communities.
Those attending gradually left throughout Sunday, with the final people departing before 6pm.
However, the response has prompted criticism from at least one local resident, who contacted Love Andover to express frustration at how long the situation took to resolve.
The resident claimed that police took 90 minutes to arrive and 15 hours to disperse the gathering.
These timings have not been independently verified, although police have confirmed that the event continued for much of Sunday before the site was cleared.
Police Acknowledge Disruption to Local Communities
Chief Inspector Clare Denyer, Test Valley district commander, thanked residents for their patience and explained the challenges officers faced.
“I would like to thank local people for their patience while our officers sought to resolve this incident safely.
“The sheer number of people present meant we had to minimise the risk to those on the site as well as the managing disruption to the local community.”
She stressed that unauthorised music events can present significant dangers, particularly when organisers fail to consider the welfare of those attending.
“We take these types of incidents seriously because organisers of unlicensed and unlawful events often pay little regard to the safety and welfare of those attending.
“It can also cause disruption to local and often rural communities through noise, anti-social behaviour and litter. We know that a number of people reporting this could hear the music from miles away.”
The incident has highlighted the difficulties faced by police when responding to large-scale unauthorised gatherings in rural locations, particularly when thousands of people and vehicles are already present.
Investigation Underway to Identify Organisers
Hampshire Police have now confirmed that a formal investigation is underway to establish who was responsible for organising the event.
Officers will examine all available lines of enquiry, including footage recorded by police during the operation, to determine whether action can be taken against those involved.
Chief Inspector Denyer added:
“We will investigate and look to identify those responsible. We will also work with the landowner around what measures can be taken to reduce the chance of this happening again.”
Police have not yet announced any arrests in connection with the gathering.
Police Appeal for Information
Anyone who witnessed the event, has footage or holds information that could help identify those responsible is being urged to contact Hampshire Police.
Information can be provided by calling 101, quoting crime reference number 44260534775, or through the Hampshire Police website.
The investigation remains ongoing.