UK : England/Wales : All councils put on "rave alert" but discussing tolerance zones

[General Lighting]

from todays Grauniad. Mixed messages - talk of a nationwide clampdown and the locals/councillors being encouraged to take the surveillance and intelligence gathering task into their own hands - but the odd ray of hope (at least for those who are prepared to compromise)

Grave of the rave? Councils are sent battle plan for a long, hot summer

High alert to stop revival of illegal parties hitting the countryside
John Carvel, social affairs editor
Tuesday June 5, 2007

Guardian
A crackdown on illegal raves to prevent "irreparable damage to the countryside" during the summer festival season was launched last night by the Local Government Association. It placed councils on a state of high alert to tackle a revival of the drug-fuelled raves and free parties that dominated youth culture from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s.

Predicting a return to a summer of illegal parties, the association warned councils that young people had tired of mainstream bands and were turning to "nu-rave" music that was not available at established clubs and festivals.

It urged local authorities to scan MySpace and internet message boards to gather intelligence of plans for illegal raves which could "ruin the lives of local residents" and expose music lovers to risks in places beyond the easy reach of the emergency services. Council staff should also visit pubs and clubs to pick up flyers advertising such events.

"The internet and mobile phone technology make illegal raves easier and quicker to organise than back in their heyday when word of mouth was key," a spokeswoman said.

Five people were arrested after police in riot gear broke up a rave attended by about 3,000 in Wentwood Forest, Monmouthshire, in April. Last month a police car was destroyed while officers were trying to disperse about 500 ravers at a former airfield on land owned by a Conservative peer in Suffolk.

The association said: "Illegal raves could sweep the nation again this summer, with many taking place around festival days." South-west England and the home counties were the most likely locations. It provided councils with a five-point plan to get ahead of the game.

If an illegal event was being organised, councils should help the organisers apply for a temporary event licence on suitable land.

They should work with the police and local landowners and set out plans and powers, such as injunctions and the seizing of sound equipment.

They should gather intelligence of future events by scanning the internet and visiting pubs and clubs. Councils should also ask landowners and residents to remain vigilant, particularly around festival days and bank holidays, and consider setting up designated "free party" sites to avoid damage to the countryside, and a hotline for residents to call if they have concerns about illegal events taking place.

The association has identified Klaxons, New Young Pony Club, Shitdisco, Trash Fashion and Hot Chip as leading exponents of nu-rave, described by a council spokeswoman as "punk meets disco".

She said: "We don't want to be seen as party poopers. Councils have people's best interests at heart and we want to encourage freedom of choice. People should be able to listen to whatever music they like. But we do want these events to be as safe and manageable as possible."

Examples of effective action included intelligence gathering by South Somerset district council which prevented 80 illegal events from taking place. Chris White, chairman of the Local Government Association's culture, tourism and sport board, said: "We need the eyes and ears of local people.

"Some raves are nothing more than a nuisance, but others pose a serious threat to the environment and to public safety. Many partygoers take dangerous chemical cocktails, with limited access to the emergency services, putting themselves and others at great risk.

"The impact of raves can be more than just a bit of noise and a minor disturbance. Councils strive to keep the places where people live clean and tidy, and the effects on wildlife and farmland can be irreversible, causing financial and natural ruin as a result of land being littered with human waste and rubbish."

If the event organisers had nothing to hide, they should talk to their council about putting on a legitimate party. "But if their motives are less honourable, they will be dealt with by using the full force of the law," he added.
SocietyGuardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007

http://society.guardian.co.uk/print/...106048,00.html

[m45k1]

The association has identified Klaxons, New Young Pony Club, Shitdisco, Trash Fashion and Hot Chip as leading exponents of nu-rave, described by a council spokeswoman as "punk meets disco".

HAHA- I don't actually understand how these people tie their own laces in the morning....not exactly on the ball really?

[General Lighting]

Originally posted by m45k1

The association has identified Klaxons, New Young Pony Club, Shitdisco, Trash Fashion and Hot Chip as leading exponents of nu-rave, described by a council spokeswoman as "punk meets disco".

HAHA- I don't actually understand how these people tie their own laces in the morning....not exactly on the ball really?

from what I see of many local councillors here (except maybe the urban areas) they are all blue-rinsed tories still stuck in the 1950s and bitter old men who complain about how they fought and died in 3 world wars for our freedom, then do everything possible to take it away from us..

[General Lighting]

mind you another source of confusion is that the term "nu-rave" is also used to describe hardcore breaks played a bit slower

[Raj]

Originally posted by General Lighting

... and bitter old men who complain about how they fought and died in 3 world wars for our freedom, then do everything possible to take it away from us..

does feel like that sometimes doesnt it? [the 'you are free to do as we tell you' syndrome ]

[MisterDuck]

they'll never kill the party... but they'll try their best and it looks quite worryin for the most of it...

however the dsignated area thing is a move in the right direction thinkin-wise

[fruitisbad]

the klaxons make excellent scapegoats though don't you think?

klaxons super cool nu rave neon soundsytem's bangin.

[DaftFader]

not sure what they meen by "designated area" i have a feeling there is a catch some were .. and i think that in order to have a party in the "designated area" you would blatently need a TEN ... and if any thing happens eg.some one decides to take drugs ....ect. then the po will know exactly were the party is .. and shut it down any way ...

[General Lighting]

Originally posted by DaftFader

not sure what they meen by "designated area" i have a feeling there is a catch some were .. and i think that in order to have a party in the "designated area" you would blatently need a TEN ... and if any thing happens eg.some one decides to take drugs ....ect. then the po will know exactly were the party is .. and shut it down any way ...

people take drugs at legal venues

its more a question of people not being fucking blatant all the time..

it costs thousands to shut down a event, more than the licenses cost, but the cops are doing out of principle that its illegal and it causes problems to others

if the events aren't causing any problems theres no reason to shut them down

[cathdreadhead]

Originally posted by DaftFader

not sure what they meen by "designated area" i have a feeling there is a catch some were .. and i think that in order to have a party in the "designated area" you would blatently need a TEN ... and if any thing happens eg.some one decides to take drugs ....ect. then the po will know exactly were the party is .. and shut it down any way ...

aye, can imagine there would be coppers keeping an eye on everything..

[General Lighting]

Originally posted by cathdreadhead

aye, can imagine there would be coppers keeping an eye on everything..

they already do that in various ways

at a free party its blatant from the rubbish left behind that drugs were used and there is still a lot of "distant" surveillance

legal venues are visited by both CID and uniform

if the feds and councils wanted to they could lock down the entire nightlife of BRitain, but at the moment its at least putting some cash back into poorer areas of the country so its grudgingly endured in these areas (at least until bad shit happens like gangs trying to take over)

[MisterDuck]

Originally posted by General Lighting

if the feds and councils wanted to they could lock down the entire nightlife of BRitain, but at the moment its at least putting some cash back into poorer areas of the country so its grudgingly endured in these areas (at least until bad shit happens like gangs trying to take over)

ah that explains it! i always wondered why certain dingy (but awesome) venues round here were tolerated, and come to think of it, they are all in proper dodgy areas (west indian centre in chapletown, for instance)

the explains why u dont get searched like in city centres n that

[Death_blooms]

This is what they say were all listening to???

[fishpaste]

[johnnybee]

Originally posted by m45k1

The association has identified Klaxons, New Young Pony Club, Shitdisco, Trash Fashion and Hot Chip as leading exponents of nu-rave, described by a council spokeswoman as "punk meets disco".

HAHA- I don't actually understand how these people tie their own laces in the morning....not exactly on the ball really?

Haha funniest ever

[funkydan]

maybe instead of clamping down hard starting riots (which proberly fucks up the site more than us as they dont clean up once they have made us leave) and leaving us with nothing which will make it more likely that the streets will be filled with more drunks instead of people going out ithe way to listen to good music and not be ripped off by mainstream bollocks, maybe they could make it easier for us to get licenses and to maybe have land where we can do parties so where not trespassing, or im sure theres farmers out there that would let a party go on with a tens license on there field when the crops been harvested and is away from houses and such. i think if they did this they would see alot less illegal parties and alot more well organised mini festivals/parties where the farmers and ravers both benefit from it so everyones happy

just an idea

[General Lighting]

Originally posted by funkydan

maybe they could make it easier for us to get licenses and to maybe have land where we can do parties so where not trespassing, or im sure theres farmers out there that would let a party go on with a tens license on there field when the crops been harvested and is away from houses and such. i think if they did this they would see alot less illegal parties and alot more well organised mini festivals/parties where the farmers and ravers both benefit from it so everyones happy

just an idea

it isn't that difficult to get a TENS, its just that people are being stubborn or think its too boring/geeky/caving in to the Establishment to bother with the small amount of paperwork required. Norfolk constabulary have hinted on several occasions they would tolerate people doing this. I expect even Suffolk would and even "zero tolerance" Essex has allowed events on peoples land.

Planet yes did one in 2006 and other than the slightly more commercial music it was indistinguishable from a free party..