Police have vowed to prevent a ‘huge gathering of young people’ in Lacock tomorrow.
Officers are urging people not to attend what is being described as an unauthorised event on Friday (20 June) over concerns about “safety and wider community impact”.
In a message to Sheldon School, Inspector Pete Foster said that many youths are expected to attend regardless of the stern warning issued today (19 June).
He said that the police have “received intelligence suggesting that despite these efforts, some young people are still planning to attend”.
Inspect Foster confirmed that “due to the scale of the gathering an associated risks”, Wiltshire Police will be taking “proactive policing measures and will be responding robustly to any identified offences or incidents”.
In a statement posted on social media, a spokesperson for the force wrote: “We are aware of a planned large gathering which was due to take place in Lacock tomorrow evening (20/06).
“The event, which was being organised via WhatsApp, was set to occur without the landowner’s permission and was expected to attract a significant number of young people.
“We have engaged directly with the individual believed to be organising the gathering, and they have now cancelled the event. The WhatsApp group used to coordinate it has also been deleted.
“We would urge anyone who was planning on attending to not do so. The safeguarding of young people remains a top priority for us.
“Unauthorised gatherings of this nature rarely pass without risk – both in terms of safety and wider community impact – and we will be taking proactive policing measures and responding robustly to any identified offences or incidents of anti-social behaviour.”
