whether we like it or not, the increasing clampdown on free parties and the need for crews to obtain funds to keep their rigs going is forcing events back into licensed venues…
if we want to rave these venues need to keep their licenses so the business risk to those involved in funding them and keeping them open is not unacceptable…
many people have become so used to having regular free parties they forget they are in a licensed venue, and the rules are different.
There has to be security as part of license conditions (often these security are deliberately selected from organisations unconnected to the venue owner) and any “questionable” activities cannot be carried out in full public view.
The Police (both uniform and detective ranks) can, and do, visit completely unannounced and inspect any area of the venue they wish, and can ask people for ID to prove their ages or to identify potential criminals or trouble makers. It is called a “licensing check” and is an integral part of the licensing process.
Venues which play any kind of urban music (including rave genres) are subjected to particular scrutiny with regards to drug use and violence / firearms-realated crime; this is a Government guideline for which we can thank the UK Garage “scene” as much as Tony Blair.
A current tactic in TVP area is to “persuade” licensed venue owners to allow sniffer dogs on the premises. Those who accept are praised by the cops, those who refuse are noted and treated as suspect venues and subject to further monitoring.
So if a venue is being a bit “lax” on its security, don’t expect it to always be that way, and don’t brag about what you can get away with on open parts of messageboards – or even in other venues where cops, anti-rave types or even the landlord (who can get brownie points from the cops and reduce competition by grassing up another venue) may be listening…
Save that sort of talk for round your friends houses or at free parties.
if the licensed venues disappear, thats the funding source for a lot of raves gone – anti-rave types would love to see this (and it has already happened in some areas), don’t give them the satisfaction!
