news has previously discussed the party culture in the small fishing village of Henningsvær. In connection with the pandemic, closures and limited opportunities for partying abroad, many have made the trip to Henningsvær in the past two years. The police themselves call 2020 the “peak year”. – Then nobody went abroad on holiday and we experienced that many young people gathered around Henningsvær to party all summer, says Lars Okkenhaug, acting station commander at Svolvær police station. After 2020, a plan was put in place to avoid things getting out of hand, but last night there was once again a lot of noise in Henningsvær’s streets. – They screw up the permanent residents. They should have fun and destroy us, says Martijn Elings, leader of Henningsvær Inbyggerforening. The police had to call in reinforcements Okkenhaug in the police tells news that the first reports of a party riot came in at around 02:30. – There have been two parties with some distance between them. There were approximately 50 people present at one party, and 100 people at the other. He describes that there was loud music and that the first patrol on the scene did not succeed in calming down the partygoers. – People have been uncooperative. The following day there is not much that reminds of the party at Solvarden in Henningsvær last night. The police struggled to subdue over 100 party lions in Lofoten. Photo: John Inge Johansen / news An extra patrol from Leknes was therefore sent to Henningsvær. Around 05:30 the police reported that people calmed down and went home. After the festive year 2020, the police decided to have patrols on duty 24 hours a day, as well as be more present in Henningsvær. In addition, the municipality introduced restrictions on where camping is allowed. This year’s summer has generally been much quieter, says Okkenhaug. Many people want to visit Trevarefabrikken during the summer. Three days a year, the area also hosts a popular music festival. Photo: Synnøve Sundby Fallmyr / news He says it is reasonable to believe that the night’s partying is connected with the Trevarefest music festival, which has been going on for the past three days. – It is the last night it has taken off. We thought maybe they would be a bit tired after three days of the festival, so it came a bit like lightning from the blue. Several residents of Henningsvær have taken to social media to call for more effort from the municipality, after last night’s events. One of them is Ragnar Palsson. – The municipality has to step in – Trevarefest has been good at ending and closing the area as planned. But it is important that the surrounding areas are closed and that security is intensified, so that the party cannot continue there. The municipality must be on the field before the next festival, says Palsson to news. Vågan mayor Frank Johnsen (Sp) promises improvement by next year. – It is very unfortunate that this happens. This means that Henningsvær and Trevarefest, which I have so far experienced as successful, now get a bad reputation, says mayor Frank Johnsen. Photo: John Inge Johansen – The festival is not directly connected to Trevarefest, so it is a bit unfair that the festival should be blamed for this. We will have a dialogue with Trevarefest, the police and the residents’ association. The goal is to get the nachspielet out of Henningsvær until next year. It must be possible to live in Henningsvær, says the mayor. The organizer of Trevarefest also thinks what has happened is regrettable. – It is an incredible shame and sad when our and Henningsvær’s calls are not followed, says program manager Erlend Klette. Program manager Erlend Klette at Trevarefest. Photo: John Inge Johansen / news He says that the festival, together with the local community, has developed a set of rules, which are about taking noise into account at night. – These are posted on signs in Henningsvær and shared on the internet. Permanent residents choose to leave Martijn Elings, leader of the Henningsvær Residents’ Association, tells news that the night’s events are unfortunate. – I think it is sad that the tourists are unable to relate to the permanent residents here. – In the end, they will also destroy themselves by all the inhabitants of Henningsvær turning against this. Like the police, Elings emphasizes that 2022 has generally been far better than the years during the pandemic. The day after the end of the Trevarefest festival, many young people were on their way home. Photo: John Inge Johansen / news – It has been absurd in recent years. We have had a visit from a Norwegian audience who have usually been abroad to party. But this year, this week, with the highlight of the night, has been bad. Elings emphasizes that the tourists generally behave very well when they visit Henningsvær. – Normal tourism is great. No littering or drunk people. He says that some of the permanent residents choose to travel away during the festival week. – Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to do so. Many have to be at work. Henningsvær is also special in terms of how the sound carries – if you live 700 meters away, it’s like being part of the party. Then there will be little sleep. Can be reported The chairman says he has not had time to decide whether the residents should do anything in connection with the party. – I have to raise in the board of the Henningsvær Residents’ Association what we can possibly do. Lars Okkenhaug in the police says they find that the residents of Henningsvær have more patience the week the festival is held. Trevarefest has become a very popular music festival in recent years. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news – Lots of young people come to Trevarefest – and there will be extra noise in Henningsvær in connection with such a festival. The residents probably have extra tolerance and patience these days. – Has anyone been reported after the night’s events? – No one has been reported as of now. We are trying to find out who had the music system. They were asked to turn down the music – which was not followed.
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