Chaotic scenes as hundreds swarmed to unlicensed events overnight
Paul Greaves Senior News Reporter
16:43, 01 Jan 2026
Drone footage of officers attending the unlicensed music event near Feeder Road(Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
Cops made arrests and seized sound equipment during raids at unlicensed music events across Bristol and South Gloucestershire overnight. Items were thrown at police and vehicles during rowdy, drug-fuelled scenes where hundreds of revellers gathered.
Officers were busy working into the early hours of New Year’s Day attending several raves in Aztec West, St Phillips and Purdown. Police said the gatherings were at ‘potentially dangerous’ locations.
Officers blocked off access to prevent more people from getting inside warehouses at industrial sites. Avon and Somerset Police has released details of the raids.
Police attended a warehouse where hundreds of people had met at Aztec West. Cops also dealt with 400 people at a unit in St Phillips where items were thrown at police vehicles.
Superintendent George Headley said: “Throwing items at police officers and driving while under the influence of drugs is also totally unacceptable, and something the public would expect us to take a strong stance against.
“Officers’ hard work throughout the night means those suspected of committing crimes find themselves starting 2026 by waking up to the very real and sobering prospect of being investigated and prosecuted.”
The action taken overnight included:
- Aztec West – a member of the public called us at about 10.45pm to report loud music coming from a warehouse and estimated 400-500 people were present. Officers attended and a cordon was put in place to prevent the event growing in size. The majority of people in attendance dispersed by about 3.30am. One person was arrested on suspicion of a number of offences, including drug-driving, as well as drug possession and supply, and remains in custody. Two vehicles containing sound equipment were also seized.
- St Phillips – officers found approximately 400 people in attendance at an industrial site after being called to the location at about 11.15pm. Feeder Road was closed to prevent more people accessing the location. Officers reported that items were thrown at them and their vehicles on surrounding streets. Two arrests were made as a result after the suspects were tracked by a drone operator who was deployed to the scene and enquiries into those crimes are ongoing.
- Purdown – an unauthorised music event was reported at approximately 2.25am where an at least 100 people were estimated to be in attendance. Positive engagement with those believed to be involved in organising the event led to the music being turned off and the scene vacated between 4.30-5am.
Supt Headley added: “Additional resources were put in place to enable us to respond swiftly to any unlicensed music events and we’re thankful to those who called us to make us aware of what was happening.
“We know some people accuse of us of trying to stop people from celebrating New Year’s Eve, but that is absolutely not the case. We want people to have a good time; what we don’t want is people’s safety being put at risk.
“Last night several people who attended these events at unsuitable and potentially dangerous locations ending up requiring medical treatment, either for injuries they sustained or in some cases suspected drug-related illnesses.”