A REDDITCH teenager is among 13 people who have been arrested by police investigating the organisation of illegal raves in Staffordshire.

The 19-year-old man from Redditch was among five people detained yesterday (Saturday June 20) on suspicion of suspicion of conspiring to commit a public nuisance. The five - aged between 19 and 24 - have all been granted conditional bail.

Officers from Staffordshire Police issued a dispersal order from 9pm on Saturday June 20 until 9am Sunday June 21 following reports that an illegal gathering was due to take place in Chasewater.

Then a group of two women and three men, aged between 23 and 32 and from the West Midlands, were arrested for drugs offences relating to an illegal rave in the Cannock area.

They remain in police custody.

A 26-year-old man from Birmingham and 33-year-old from Rugeley were also arrested in connection with drink and drug driving offences.

A man was also detained on suspicion of possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

Apart from drug seizures, equipment including a generator, amplifier, speakers and a laptop has also been taken by officers with a dispersal order put in place for Chasewater.

Chief Superintendent Carl Ratcliffe, Head of Contact and Response for Staffordshire Police, said: “I hope these arrests send a clear message to organisers of illegal raves that we will deal with anyone involved robustly.

“Our priority is the safety of our communities and we will continue to take action against those who put the health of others in jeopardy.

“These gatherings are both illegal and irresponsible and put people at risk with the current global pandemic still not over.

"We will do all we can to stop these illegal raves from taking place.”

If you have any information about where a rave is being held, contact Staffordshire Police via Facebook or Twitter, call 101 or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.