The Met police is working with the music industry, artists and venues to scrutinise a controversial risk assessment form used in putting on events in London, after Mayor Sadiq Khan ordered a review.
Grime, garage and R‘n’B acts have argued for years that Form 696 – used to minimise violent crime at music events featuring MCs and DJs – is discriminatory.
Night Czar Amy Lamé this week met with DJs Danny Rampling and Funk Butcher, aka Kwame Safo, the Met and music industry representatives to discuss how to keep events safe without unfairly targeting groups.
“Live performances make a huge contribution to the life and soul of the capital, but we must make sure that all gigs are able to take place safely, and that one genre or community is not specifically targeted,” said Justine Simons OBE, the Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries.
The form asks for the names and phone numbers of artists and promoters at events, and until 2009 included questions on music genres and ethnic groups attending, raising concerns of racial profiling. These were later removed.
The Met, which says Form 696 is voluntary and does not target any one group, will put in place any new measures in early 2018, after the review is completed.
“696 has always felt punitive for certain parts of the capital’s music community,’ Kwame Safo, a DJ and producer, said.
“This discussion will be a step in the right direction to redressing the grievances held by the music professionals whilst protecting the safety of the ravers we service."
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