I like! This is the sort of thing that could really help us. The only worry I would have with this is how we can stop more dangerous elements from taking up residency at one of there regualar sites and causing trouble for those at the parties. How do you think we could combat this?
good point. its gonna be difficult but clearly something any “tolerated zone” would have to deal with – for one thing if it the parties competition to nearby licensed venues you’d have to ensure the management of these venues don’t send in heavies to let off CS the dancefloor etc (they would have a vested interest in seeing such a venture fail)
some things I could think of..
1. well lit party areas and car parking (no dodgy dark stairwells, or places to break into cars etc).
2. CCTV – but deployed in such a way that it forms an art installation with monitors throughout the building – so people know they are being watched but in a less threatening manner as they can also be the “watchers” (stuff like dancefloors projected on to video screens). Although you would not want to make it like the big brother house, as a tolerated event there would be less to fear about being on CCTV (after all you end up on CCTV when you walk down the street nowadays) and it should be enough of a presence to unnerve scallies (particularly if their ugly mugs end up being projected on walls for all to see!)
3. a fairly remote location about 5-10 miles away from a city centre….or out in the countryside requiring some form of transport, or a fairly robust walk.
Many chavs won’t bother walking such a distance, nor do they know how to maintain their bicycles (or even have the stamina) to make such a distance on two wheels; should they try 4 wheels often the local traffic cops (who are always prowling around at weekends) would pick off many chavs/rudes/scallies before they even got near the venue – IME they tend not to drive legitimately owned and taxed vehicles!
4. a “sheep gate” type entry point with a metal detector. Stewards (not obvious “bouncer” types who often attract trouble or provoke it to prove themselves, but people who can handle problems but also have decent comms kit and CCTV backup). Its a sad reflection on society that I even have to suggest this but too many lads are tooled up. Perhaps a one way bin (for weapons) so it is made quite clear that if you wish to attend a party in this space you do not bring your favourite knife unless you want to lose it (and I appreciate there are lads who do not carry a knife for violent purposes but may have one amongst their personal tat).
Of course you would have to pay for this – perhaps the cost could be recovered through small parking charges for cars and bikes……
5. no boozeto be sold on site, and overt drug dealing to be strongly discouraged and any needles/addictive class A banned. This would remove large amounts of cash changing hands which is obvious target for thieves, and discourage some of the nastier element. what else people choose to bring to the party is up to them though…
6. a certain amount of understanding with the local bobbies. Of course they should not be marching in with armed TSG every 5 minutes pulling out 17 year old youths for two pills; but they should be available to protect people if something really dark happens like gunshots etc (and those looking after the space would of course have done everything possible to prevent such a situation occuring).
OK by this point it is true these plans are turning more into a modified form of licensed club (perhaps with longer hours and less restrictions but in a more appropriate location so as not to cause disruption) but TBH I think thats the best we can hope for – apparently similar venues exist in Europe I have heard there are such places in Germany – and its becoming clear that the current free party model may not be sustainable
Quite simply, what do the crews do when they have run out of venues and can’t step out the door without cops hassling them or summons for licensing violations? this time is unfortunately approaching fast, and perhaps we should be getting ahead of the game…
