Petition to Legalise Free Parties

[Shambles]

This is a rare pic of me, at about 2PM on a Sunday making a specticle out of myself

I've seen the video evidence

 

[Allein]

I've seen the video evidence

That is the one and only clip, bet you don't spot me though

Not many pics exist due to the lack of digital photography and smart phones and I tended to avoid cameras anyhow.

I do recall a warehouse party were i was particularly spangled on MDA, dancing and totally devoid of any grip on reality I seemed to be bathed in light, everything was white, like staring into the sun. I don't know how long this went on, it must have been an enternity then things pulled back and I realised someone was stood a few feat in front of me with a video camera with a light on the top of it, what I'd give for that tape

This was the same party wheer me and Mrs A sat at the back of the warehouse and the empty floor became a lake and ducks were swimming around, MDA is truly a beutiful substance

 

[Shambles]

There is perhaps a pic or two of me from prior EADD meets. Tribal Girl was big on photography and took a lotta pix. Don't recall if I was in any of 'em or not but probably was somewhere. I specifically prohibited public posting though. There is at least one pic of me I know of taken at a BL meet. A very minor meet and features me looking classy as fuck. Aside from the sheet of tinfoil in hand and tooter in mouth and general look of wasted vacancy. I specifically prohibited that pic point blank no matter what. Even I won't look at it

 

[Allein]

There are a few pics of me post party looking suitably 'ardcore but I only have one clear one of me and Mrs A sitting on the bonnet of our Mini, Tis online somewhere, I'll dig it out in a bit.

I have one of me and a number of other nar do wells on NY day 2000, I was 30 on the 30th of December and had been on the go from my Brithday untill then, I believe scattered probably sums it up.

there we go, Mrs A has stood the test of time better than I

NSFW:

 

[Shambles]

That's a belter of a pic, Allein. Rather wish I had pix like that from that era. Or any era buy that was an especially good era.

And I've not seen Mrs Allein but I would agree

I remember very well what I was doing on the turn of the millennium. Was on the M40 driving back from delivering stuffs to fast food places. The main memory is of being stopped and held by security at Eurotunnel cos they saw me on CCTV swigging a bottle of beer in the passenger seat of the truck (nice fella at KFC gave me and the driver a couple bottles each out the crate they had for staff for NYE). They then searched the cab (and somehow missed several sheets of gear-laden tinfoil and a number of loaded pins ) then searched us (similar situation) then made us sit through a H&S video. I think they were bored and taking the piss but did mean we were stuck on the M40 at the turn of millennium eve instead of at a party

 

[Allein]

Getting stopped and searched happened to me a few times, I was quite methodical about hiding illigals and the car was legit so I never got into problems. Dealing with the police whilst utterly wasted was always amusing, MDMA seems to be useful in that respect, you can be utterly wasted but coherant and functional if required.

In general I found the Police OK if you were polite with them and your car was in order, a quick search wouldnt have found anything and I only had the car taken apart once but that wasnt local.

I'm astounded people are stupid enough to smoke weed in their car these days, the stuff stinks and is an open invitation to get turned over, most of the people I knew that got nicked where plain sloppy or in dodgy cars, I guess they didnt have you down as a user or couldnt be arsed with it.

That mini was built by my own fair hand, 1275 MG metro engine and various other 'stuff' but looked like a standard 1000s ( and was registered as one ) it would do 100MPH which in a mini was quite fast enough

 

[rickolasnice]

Me and my friends used to get stopped and searched once or twice every week..

After a while as soon as i saw the police heading over to us I'd stick up my hand, say hello and ask em how they are doing.. They would then just come over.. have a bullshit chat about being somewhere where we're not allowed (debatable), tell us to move on and be on their way..

Every once and a while i'd mix it up a bit.. I'd wait for them to get close before sprinting away (they never bothered chasing) or start gurning and telling them how i really like them.. "I know we've only just met but i feel this connection, you know? I can tell you're a fuckin nice bloke"..

But you still got that twat on a power trip throwing his weight around or some bell out looking for an arrest..

Without exaggerating we had the police at least come and talk to us 3 - 4 times a week for 3 - 4 years.. Not once were we ever arrested for anything.. Surely there's some harassment law suit there somewhere.

This thread has made me want to go to a squat party

 

[F.U.B.A.R.]

Surely festivals and parties were never truly 'legal', what we really want is an amendment to the public order act of 1986, (clause 21 iirc?) which came in the wake of the Stonehenge free festival debacle. This will never happen....

 

[brimz]

I haven't even read this but I m going to a free party tomorrow , where there is gonna be a few rigs n we don't give a Fuk bout no petition tbh.

I could do a survey while I'm there n report back but that would be super gay . I will however let u know how it went n if there was any trouble from the authorities.

 

[Safrolette]

There are a few pics of me post party looking suitably 'ardcore but I only have one clear one of me and Mrs A sitting on the bonnet of our Mini, there we go, Mrs A has stood the test of time better than I

Damn, missed it...

This is a rare pic of me, at about 2PM on a Sunday making a specticle out of myself

In the middle of nowhere, huge soundsystem, blaring full daylight, dogs, the full works! Since I've missed the one of you with Mrs on the Mini you cold at least tell us who you are in this one . No one is recognizable anyway, although the FBI/CIA/M15 surely have the technology to blow-up details hardly visible by the naked eye...

I do recall a warehouse party were i was particularly spangled on MDA, dancing and totally devoid of any grip on reality I seemed to be bathed in light, everything was white, like staring into the sun. I don't know how long this went on, it must have been an enternity then things pulled back and I realised someone was stood a few feat in front of me with a video camera with a light on the top of it, what I'd give for that tape
This was the same party wheer me and Mrs A sat at the back of the warehouse and the empty floor became a lake and ducks were swimming around, MDA is truly a beutiful substance

Heard a lot of similar MDA stories, sounds amazing.

Back on topic, I've been to a couple of good free (as in "squat") parties, but they were very close to home. I don't cope well with the lack of, shall we say, facilities (I hope that my post won't constitute an invite to raving toilet stories...) and I need to know that I can leave at any moment if I feel uncomfortable. Being in a remote location, under the influence, on a bad vibe and unable to leave for hours and hours is the stuff of nightmares
Much prefer legit parties held in comfy and tolerant venues with large outdoor smoking area

 

[brimz]

After having a wee gander at the article, I will have a word with a few lads n lasses about it on the way to the destination .
No doubt many of the folk will have read it .

 

[Allein]

In the middle of nowhere, huge soundsystem, blaring full daylight, dogs, the full works! Since I've missed the one of you with Mrs on the Mini you cold at least tell us who you are in this one . No one is recognizable anyway, although the FBI/CIA/M15 surely have the technology to blow-up details hardly visible by the naked eye...

I've posted this before but its the only video with me in it

Exodus clophill sandpit 1999

and since you asked so nicely

NSFW:

 

[maxalfie]

I've posted this before but its the only video with me in it

Exodus clophill sandpit 1999

and since you asked so nicely

NSFW:

You look lovely Allein in your skirt and little top.Is that your boyfriend with you
Just joking mate, I remember the days of having a nice flat stomach like yours in the photo, that is before I got a beer belly without drinking beer.

 

[Allein]

You look lovely Allein in your skirt and little top.Is that your boyfriend with you

All these things are more than likely, I would have been open to almost anything, wearing a dress is quite tame in truth :D

 

[parttime crackhead]

It would involve lifting the ban on public meetings of more than... how many people is it? In my head it's four but that can't be right. I think it said 20 in the article. That in itself is a big deal. Just cos there may be other laws that could potentially be used to close a party down doesn't mean there's no point in aiming to get the most oppressive one of all lifted. Whether or not it is the most oppressive of all is highly debatable but people certainly felt strongly enough about it at the time that it seem strange to see the next generation down thinking it doesn't matter at all...

I think the reason they don't care is because, like Rickolasnice has pointed out, that particular law does not actually matter at all. If you rocked a 10,000 person party out in a forest there would be dozens of laws and regulations capable of shutting you down. The repetitive beats law is fucking stupid and should be lifted immediately, but it wouldn't make even the slightest difference to anything.

 

[Shambles]

The laws they're specifically asking to be amended...

On many occasions, parties are shut down based upon section 14A of the public order act, when in fact they take place upon land that A) is neither used nor owned by a member of the public, and B) the party does not disturb, harass, distress or alarm anyone due to the mere fact that it is not even within a kilometre, let alone ear shot of any other member of the public. I would further like to address the attempt to change laws of the anti-social behaviour, crime and policing bill. This generic, vague and subjective new law would mean that any police officer who finds the mere presence of somebody 'annoying', he or she has the right to arrest them, and then continue to issue them with a fine into bracket 4, or even up to 3 months in prison. This subjective measurement and persecution of people who may even want to get together be it to, protest, celebrate, conform or even mourn can be persecuted for doing so based on the analysis of a situation provided by what is usually a heavy handed constable with a biased opinion based upon stereotypes falsely formulated by a corrupt media.

All we ask is that these new laws be abolished, the people who attend or set up free parties are no longer prosecuted for doing so and that equipment can no longer be confiscated under the anti-social behaviour act as there is nothing anti-social about a niche group of people coming together in a controlled environment trying enjoy themselves listening to music that a majority of clubs and bars will simply not allow to be played, despite attempts made by both myself and many other to allow for the same free party atmosphere, to be transferred into a legitimate setting.

linky

I'm sure there will always be one thing or another that could potentially be used to shut down such events but surely minimising them - the legislation that was designed specifically to prohibit such events - has to be a Good Thing, no? I can't see how it could be anything other than beneficial to the free party seen really. And, as mentioned, it's not just free parties that are affected by these laws. There would surely be benefits to other causes and situations that could be had if these laws were amended.

 

[parttime crackhead]

Of course, I'm not disagreeing that the laws should be amended/repealed. I was just stating why I don't think people care.

The particular laws mentioned in that quote should be scrapped. Definitely. The one where the cops can fuck you off just for annoying them. Tbh though, I think framing any attempt to change that around "Legalise raves!" is a little bit foolish.

 

[Shambles]

I'd agree that it's probably not the best way of framing a petition. There are any number of good reasons to amend those laws without pointing out that they also affect the free party scene to an extent. Politicians don't tend to be big fans of free parties and making it sound like that is the only - or even the best - reason for repealing those laws could well be counter-productive. I posted it here cos I'm sure there are people here who would like to see these laws repealed for a variety of reasons so thought it worth bringing to attention and whilst at it start a bit of discussion about the whole concept of a legal free party scene. I'd like to see the laws repealed but don't honestly think it would make a huge difference to free parties - would be a bonus not to have risk of losing your rig but they will happen anyway as they always have.

 

[parttime crackhead]

Aye man, I completely agree with that.

 

[swedger77]

Im sure i ve read somewhere that its groups of 100 or more with repetitive beats.

Always thought it would be a laugh to have a rave with exactly 99 folk........