Llandovery: Ravers leave after police given extra powers

Hundreds of people who attended an illegal rave have now left peacefully.

Dyfed Powys Police officers had been given special powers after about 400 people turned up at a quarry in Halfway Forestry in Llandovery.

People had travelled to Carmarthenshire from areas such as Devon and Gloucestershire, the force said.

Earlier, a 22-year-old man was arrested after failing a drug test. The force said the site had been cleared and thanked locals for their support.

"You are our eyes and ears, and I would urge anyone with concerns or suspicions about such gatherings in future to contact us with information," said Insp Dawn Fencott-Price.

"We know raves can cause anxiety to the community they are held in, and if not dealt with swiftly are difficult to stop due to the sheer numbers of people involved. Considerable time and money is often needed to clean up afterwards too."

Police were alerted by concerned residents during the early hours of Sunday.

An order was imposed under Section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which gives officers powers to remove persons attending or preparing for a rave.

Earlier, the force said its main priority was safely breaking up the event while preventing anyone else turning up.

Insp Dawn Fencott-Price said ravers had used social media to "to disclose the location at the last possible minute in order to prevent law enforcement taking preventative measures".