Dorset Police said its officers faced “a violent and hostile reception” as they moved in to close down an illegal music rave attended by more than 2,000 people in a field near East Lulworth in Dorset over the Easter weekend.
The unlicensed event on Ministry of Defence land resulted in 11 arrests, after causing widespread disruption with hundreds of cars abandoned on the roadside, and the noise of the amplified music disturbing residents as far away as Stoborough.
Roads around East Lulworth were almost impassable as hundreds of cars were abandoned along the verges
A ‘violent and hostile reception’
Police were alerted to the rave – advertised on social media as EggTek – at 11.45 pm on Saturday 4th April 2026 and scores of officers from across Dorset, the South West and beyond attended the scene to try to disperse the rave goers.
Exact numbers of police dressed in riot gear who attended have not yet been released, but as they moved to break up the event, they were confronted by what the police described as a ‘violent and hostile reception’.
Footage circulating on social media captured attendees pushing against lines of officers carrying shields, while a police helicopter circled overhead.
Three men from Bridgwater, Poole and Pembrokeshire were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, a man from Bedfordshire was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and possessing a class A drug, and seven arrests were made for driving offences.
Inspector Lee Turner praised local residents for their patience and support
Arrests made for public order offences
On Monday 6th April 2026 Inspector Lee Turner, the ground commander at the incident, said:
“Organisers broke into MOD land, a live firing range, to host the event intending to stay there for several days with no medical provision or sanitation.
“Following reports from members of the public of an unlicensed music event, otherwise known as a rave, officers responded quickly.
“Officers from Dorset, the South West region and beyond mounted a public order operation to bring this to a successful conclusion within 24 hours.
“A small number of arrests have been made for public order offences and for assault, but I would really like to say thank you to the local residents for their patience and their support whilst we brought this to a successful resolution.
“I’d also like to extend my thanks to each and every one of those officers who were down at the scene with me for their hard work, their dedication and their professionalism.”
Police had to close roads around East Lulworth through Easter Sunday as they worked to shut down the rave
“Our officers came under attack”
Assistant chief constable Steve Lyne, of Dorset Police, said:
“Since the first report was made, officers remained on site and worked tirelessly throughout the day and into the evening to ensure the event was brought to a safe conclusion.
“Officers took proactive and robust action resulting in Dorset Police seizing equipment under section 64 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
“While responding to the incident, our officers came under attack from missiles and faced a violent and hostile reception.
“Violence in our communities and against our officers will not be tolerated.
“These types of events are illegal and cause a significant disruption to communities – we must respond to ensure the safety of everyone and it is unacceptable that we are faced with violence while doing so.
“We will continue now to review evidence from the scene to identify any further offences committed and detailed enquiries will be carried out.”
The illegal rave took place on Ministry of Defence land after organisers broke into a live firing range
“Local roads were impassable”
Many local residents were relieved that the event was brought under control and the blocked roads cleared and open again by Easter Sunday evening.
Road closures by the police had been set up on the B3070 between West Lulworth and West Holme, the B3071 between West Lulworth and Bindon Lane in Wool, and on minor roads between the B3070 and the A352.
Janet Lickiss, of East Stoke, took to social media to say:
“Well done Dorset Police. All the police officers were so professional and kept us informed about what was happening during the day, which was appreciated.
“I understand comments that have been made about young people having fun, but I think what is not understood is that a great deal of damage was done by ravers.
“Local roads were impassable, so emergency vehicles could not have reached local residents, livestock has been left distressed and there will be a cost of the cleanup which will be borne by the taxpayer.
“I live close to the rave site and heard an awful lot of music throughout the night, which left my horses distressed.”
A rave at East Lulworth over the Easter weekend in 2022 left a huge cleanup to be dealt with
“Not what I expected on Easter Sunday”
Residents from nearby villages, including Stoborough and Wool, said they were woken up by the pounding bass music in the early hours of Easter Sunday.
East Lulworth resident Jennifer Hyde said:
“I was woken up at 5 am by the noise, giving me a pounding headache. It is not what I expected on Easter Sunday and I cannot comprehend what pleasure is gained by those who organise such events.
“They have absolutely no consideration for others or respect for the law and are utterly selfish.”
Dorset police and crime commissioner David Sidwick said the police would not tolerate illegal raves
“We will not tolerate these events”
Dorset police and crime commissioner David Sidwick said:
“We would like to thank the local community for their understanding while the police and local agencies put in action plans to disperse the event.
“This has had a significant impact on residents and visitors and the authorities took swift, proportionate action, using powers available to them, as soon as it was possible.
“I would like to thank everyone who was involved in this policing operation, including officers from Dorset Police and elsewhere across the country, who worked together to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.
“We will not tolerate these unlicensed music events because of the increased risks they present and the impact they have on our communities and those visiting the area.”
It is not the first time that a bank holiday rave has been held in Purbeck but this time the police took a notably harder line using police in riot gear to break up the event.
In 2022, more than a thousand party goers descended on Ministry of Defence land at East Lulworth in Dorset on Easter Saturday and it took Dorset Police until the following afternoon to persuade them to go home.
The Eggtek rave also happened in 2019 near Corfe Castle, in a farmer’s field, and over the late May bank holiday in 2023, around 1,500 people, along with an estimated 500 vehicles, attended an illegal rave in a field at Wytch Farm near Corfe Castle.
Further information
- Report rural crime on the Dorset Police website
