The number of illegal parties in the UK is growing, according to a Sky News investigation. There were over 680 reports of illegal music events from across England and Wales filed by police in 2017, a nine per cent increase from the previous year. The figures are consistent with previous reports that found that illegal raves in London had almost doubled from 70 in 2016 to 133 in 2017.

“It is clear that unlicensed music events are a growing problem and they pose a real challenge to communities and police forces,” National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) chief constable Ben-Julian Harrington told Sky News. “Unlike licensed events, unlicensed music events are inherently unsafe. They lack safety provisions such as stewarding, security, fire regulation and medical support while regularly attracting a large number of people who cause damage and disturbance.”

They added: “Forces must balance the nuisance or damage caused with the overall safety of the local community, those attending and the police officers or other agencies who may need to respond.”

The Sky News report recognises that the rise in illegal raves coincides with the decline in legal venues. The number of clubs in London fell 8 per cent between 2014 and 2017, while the number of nightclubs across the rest of the country dropped 6 per cent from 2012 to 2017.

Only 14 police forces in England and Wales provided annual figures of illegal raves, meaning the actual number is likely to be higher.

Read Dazed’s recent article exploring London’s club closures, arguing that we can only save nightlife if we’re honest about what nightlife actually is and why we take part in it: “Clubbing is an inherently dodgy thing to do. Yes, nightclubs are places to express yourself and escape, rites of passage and incubators of music, fashion and art – but the real reason people go to clubs has to do with the baser instincts of life; fucking, fighting and throwing a load of shit in your body.”