Grime ‘unfairly targeted by gun assessment order
A CONTROVERSIAL police risk assessment – put in place after a number of shootings at clubs in the capital – has been dropped amid claims that grime music was “disproportionately affected” by the safety process.
A full review of the Form 696 risk assessment process was carried out after feedback from industry representatives and has now been removed.
It was introduced in 2005, in response to a number of shootings at promoted club nights across London.
Police say there is no doubt that over the last decade “a number of serious incidents have been prevented” through the effective exchange of information, advice and intelligence between the Met, promoters and venue managers as part of this process.
Critics have long accused the order of unfairly targeting grime, garage and basement genres and earlier this year culture minister Matt Hancock warned it was “potentially stifling young artists”.
However, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “We also recognise recent concerns raised by members of the London music industry, particularly around a perception that events associated with some genres of music were disproportionately affected by this process.”
Superintendent Roy Smith said: “It is clear that in recent years the landscape of the night time economy in London has changed and thankfully we have seen a reduction in serious incidents at promoted music events, particularly those involving firearms.
“We have also been working in close partnership with the music industry and others to raise standards of safety in venues and at events. We have taken the decision to remove the Form 696 and instead develop a new voluntary partnership approach for venues and promoters across London.
“This will provide an excellent opportunity to share information at a local level and work to identify any enhanced risk to ensure the safety of the public.”
The Met says it will be working with colleagues from local authorities to understand the implication of this decision on venues, which have the use of Form 696 as a condition on their premises licence, as well as the impact on existing local licensing policies.
The form was amended in 2009, when two questions which asked for the ethnic make-up of attendees and the genre of music being performed were removed following accusations of racial profiling.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “Developing a night-time economy that works for everyone is a key priority of mine but it’s also vital that live music events in London take place safely.
“I called for a review of Form 696 earlier this year because of concerns raised by promoters and artists in the capital that this process was unfairly affecting specific communities and music genres.
“By bringing together the Met and representatives from across the city’s legendary grassroots music industry, we have shown why having a Night Czar is so important for London.
“This decision will help London’s night-time economy thrive, ensure the capital is a welcoming place for artists and DJs of all music genres and that Londoners are able to enjoy live music safely.”
A meeting was held in September between the police and the London Music Board, co-hosted by Night Czar Amy Lamé, Justine Simons, deputy mayor for culture, and Supt Smith.
Since that meeting, the Met’s central licensing team has spoken to an extensive range of stakeholders, including local authority licensing managers, the Musician’s Union, the London Promoter’s Forum, the Institute of Licensing and various venue owners.