No One Can Stop Us . .

Throughout history, many raves have been shut down, people arrested, fined and etc. There are many laws surrounding this sub-culture which can hinder us. But, as the Donkey Rollers put so well, "No One Can Stop Us".

Sections of the Criminal Justice Act 1994 can affect raves.

Sections 61 & 62: Trespassers on land

Two or more persons trespassing on land (not including public highway land, eg verges & lay-bys) with the intention of living there may be directed to leave the land by the police if: (a) there are 6 or more vehicles there; or (b) if any damage has been caused to the land, eg crop damage); or (c) 'threatening or abusive words or behaviour' have been used against the occupier or their agents. Not leaving as soon as reasonably practicable is an offence; as is returning to the land within 3 months; the maximum sentence is 3 months in prison and/or a £2,500 fine. The police are also given powers to seize vehicles.

Sections 63, 64 & 65: Raves

A 'rave' is defined as a gathering of 100+ people, at which amplified music ('wholly or predominantly characterised by the emission of a succession of repetitive beats'[!) is played which is likely to cause serious distress to the local community, in the open air and at night. These sections give the police the power to order people to leave the land if they're believed to be preparing to hold a rave (2 or more people); waiting for a rave to start (10+); actually attending a rave (10+). Ignoring this direction, or returning to the land within the next week, are both offences, liable to 3 months' imprisonment and/or a £2,500 fine. Section 65 lets any uniformed constable who believes a person is on their way to a rave within a 5-mile radius to stop them and direct them away from the area - failure to comply can lead to a maximum fine of £1000.

Sections 66 & 67: Seizure

The arrangements authorising police officers to enter land where a rave is in progress or anticipated. and which allow for the seizure, retention and charges for the confiscation of vehicles and sound equipment.

Section 68 & 69: Disruptive Trespassers

These refer to the new offence of 'aggravated trespass'. Section 68 is committed by anyone trespassing on land in the open air (not including highways and roads) with the intent of intimidating other people engaged in 'lawful activity' on that land or adjoining land, so as to deter them, or obstructing/ disrupting them. Section 69 gives the police sort of preventative powers to direct people to leave land. This direction can be made by a senior officer as long as at least one person is committing or intends to commit aggravated trespass, or there are two or more people present with the 'common purpose' of aggravated trespass. Failure to comply with this direction carries a maximum penalty of 3 months in prison and/or a 2,500 fine.

Sections 70 & 71: Trespassory Assemblies

As an amendment to the Public Order Act of 1986, this part allows the police to apply to the local authority (or, in London, the Home Secretary) to prohibit 'trespassory assemblies' of 20+ people for up to 4 days with a 5-mile exclusion zone, as long as there is a risk of 'serious disruption to the local community', or of 'significant damage' to the land or buildings/ monuments on it which may have historical/ archaeological/ scientific importance. Anyone organising or inciting another to attend one of these may be arrested and imprisoned for up to three months. Attendance, and refusal to be directed away, is punished by arrest and a maximum fine of 1000.

Section 80: Caravan Sites Act

The Caravan Sites Act of 1968 included a duty of local authorities to provide gypsy sites in their areas. Most local authorities never got anywhere near full, decent levels of provision, but section 80 repeals that duty, so leaving travellers with nowhere legal to stop.

Increased Stop & Search Powers

Similar to the old 'sus' laws, these give the police increased powers to declare areas as 'stop & search zones' because they anticipate that 'serious incidents of violence' may take place. A direction can be made to cover an area for up to 24 hours, with possible 6 hour extension. The police are then able to stop and question people at random, as well as searching vehicles, pedestrians and any bags for weapons and dangerous articles, without even suspecting that those people have committed an offence or intend to. This is bound to affect young people from ethnic minorities who are much more likely to be stopped and searched than a white person.

These are the laws that I came across that stood out the most that could affect raves, although I am sure there would be many more. Although most of these are necessary, being searched randomly by a cop does ruin the "vibe" abit. Even being passed on the street by a copper you automatically feel something similar to guilt; regardless of whether you have done anything wrong.

"These sections give the police the power to
order people to leave the land if they're believed to be preparing to hold a
rave (2 or more people); waiting for a rave to start (10+); actually attending a
rave (10+)".

Soooo... If two people are playing with some glowsticks in a large house and listening to some techno, the police can suspect them of holding a rave, and therefore have the right to fine them $2500 and/or three months imprisonment if they don't vacate the premises?

Even though this most likely wouldn't happen, the fact that the police still have the power to do so is a little odd in my opinion. I mean, I have glowsticks and kandi hanging all over my walls, and I also have various music posters, and some quite large speakers and sub woofer etc in my room, and generally I have music going. Am I a criminal that should be thrown in jail for disturbing the neighbours? Well, I personally don't think so, convince me otherwise if you please.

Well now, since we're on the topic of cops, I've just gotta throw it out there. If there are any police reading this that have had to be under cover coppers at raves, OH MY LORD, you make me laugh. I'm sorry, but if you're fifty, and wearing a "tutu" because it's "what all the young raver kids wear with their weird attire" then you're KINDOF going to stick out. Also; if you run around to all the 'off tap' people being all like "Oh my god bro I'm so high, what are you on tonight? Can you get me on?" then you're not reeeaaallllyyy gonna get your job done efficiently..

To all the Canberra ravers out there; I'm sure most of you have seen that SAME guy who has been at all of the Canberra raves for the past year or so - he's tall, got alotta facial hair, and he always wears all black, those nice shiny pointy dress shoes that almost all businessmen wear, black coat, etc. Oh wait sorry, what am I talking about? No one would have noticed him because he blends in PERFECTLY! *raises eyebrow*.

When I was at Hard To The Core III about a month or so ago I swear almost every time he saw someone smoking a cigeratte outside he'd go up to them and be like "duuude is that pot? smells nice bro give me a puff" or some such lingo that he thought would 'get him in the cool crowd'. On several occasions when I was sitting in my friends car he would knock on the window until we opened the door and then just be like "oh sorry I thought I smelt weed I'll just go look somewhere else".

Wtf!?

I hate the stereotypical assumptions that surround this subculture !

Maybe, just MAYBE, if the police didn't automatically assume that raves are plentiful in drug dealers and chemicals, and waste their time trying to blend in and just looking like idiots by asking everyone and "ruining the vibe" then they could actually do their job, like be breathtesting people to avoid drink driving and being IN uniform to let people know of their presence without invading people's personal space.

Let me know what you all think about this, bitchy comments and controversy might be abit of fun.