A Bill to amend the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 powers in relation to illegal raves
This Bill would strengthen the powers of the police to deal with raves. Currently, police can direct people to leave a rave, stop people on their way to one, and seize vehicles and sound equipment. The current provisions apply to gatherings of 20 or more where amplified music is played at night which ‘by reason of its loudness and duration and the time at which it is played is likely to cause serious distress to the inhabitants of the locality.’ This could be outdoors or, where people are trespassing, indoors.The Bill would: amend the current legislation so that the powers would apply to music likely to cause distress by its loudness or its duration or the time at which it is played, rather than all three factors having to be taken into account create new offences of organising a rave and transporting equipment for one widen police powers to seize sound equipment and the powers of the court to forfeit it.
House of Commons
30 October 2008
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
This bill would give the police stronger powers to deal with illegal raves. It changes the test for action so that loudness, duration, or the time music is played could cause distress (instead of requiring all three), creates new offences for organising a rave and for transporting equipment, and widens powers to seize and forfeit sound equipment.
The bill is at the 2nd reading in the House of Commons and originated in the Commons; it has not yet progressed to the Lords.
Generated 21 February 2026
20 Feb 2008
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
