This Monday, November 11, 2024 in the morning, there were barely any traces left of the rave party which took place in Saint-Maurice-Étusson from the night of Friday 8 until the evening of Sunday, November 10. Only a few gendarmerie vehicles remained on the site.
“At 9 p.m. last night, they were gone”says Pascal Lagoguée, the mayor of the town busy preparing the November 11 ceremony. “They left in convoy until 11 p.m.”specifies Lieutenant-Colonel Éric Hoarau. “This way they prevent us from intercepting them. »
The organizers had deployed a large structure which they did not plan to dismantle until Monday.
© (Photo NR, Dominique Guinefoleau)
However, the deputy command of the Deux-Sèvres gendarmerie group gives a positive assessment of the system deployed for two days on the site. 60 soldiers took turns in an operation to control and secure the area which put pressure on the organizers.
“Given the importance of the wall of sound they had installed, they had planned to stay until today Monday but they first committed to lowering the sound volume by 50% overnight before cut and dismantle Sunday at 7 p.m. »
But we had to dissuade a farmer from spreading slurry on the site and one of them removed a vehicle which was in the way with its elevator.
Lieutenant-Colonel Hoarau, deputy commanding officer of the Deux-Sèvres gendarmerie group
The police did not release this pressure throughout the weekend. “The mayor had issued an order prohibiting parking. We issued 85 parking tickets and impounded 15 vehicles that were obstructing access for possible emergency vehicles. »
Securing the area also consisted of tempering the enthusiasm of certain local residents. “We have had few calls from neighbors. Some left their homes or found the nuisance limited. But we had to dissuade a farmer from spreading slurry on the site and one of them removed a vehicle which was in the way with its elevator. »
300
This is the number of fines issued for noise pollution. Each participant is considered an accomplice.
When the ravers left, the gendarmes issued 300 fines for “emission of noise affecting the tranquility of the neighborhood”. “Each passenger in a vehicle leaving the site was considered an accomplice”deciphers Lieutenant-Colonel Hoarau.
The gendarmes also noted 31 offenses for possession of drugs, 4 driving under the influence of alcohol, 4 driving under the influence of drugs, and 2 obvious public intoxications. Finally, they took an individual into custody for drug trafficking. “He carried some with him and had cash. His police custody was lifted this Monday morning and he is summoned for prior admission of guilt before the prosecutor. »
Targeted wind farms
Beyond this rave, the gendarme draws conclusions for the future. “We had another similar event on October 12 at the foot of a wind turbine. These sites offer them a stabilized surface to settle in and a wide, passable path so they don't get bogged down. This will lead us to work upstream with wind farm managers. »
For the moment, only the farmer has officially filed a complaint for the occupation of his plots but other complaints are expected to follow.
© (Photo NR, Dominique Guinefoleau)
In this case, the park manager had been contacted to prevent the operation of the wind turbines (which were not turning due to lack of wind) and to cut off the electricity (20,000 V) in order to ensure the safety of the ravers. At this stage, only the farmer filed a complaint. The mayor of the town has announced his intention to do so and the operator of the wind turbines has not yet done so.
