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SchNEWS: A Twist of Fete

SchNEWS 715 | 26.03.2010 13:39 | Free Spaces | Repression | Social Struggles | South Coast | World

"It's rapidly becoming obvious that this is a nationwide issue - somehow the police have got it into their heads that music and dancing are bad for society. They've used the licensing laws as a weapon." - Strawberry Fair organiser

In what is fast becoming a summer tradition, yet another gathering has fallen victim to party-pooping police tactics. One of the UK's last free open-air festivals has been cancelled under police pressure. Strawberry Fair, in Cambridge, viewed by many as the starting gun for the festival season, has been stopped in its tracks after 37 straight years. Some (on Facebook at least) are vowing that some kind of festival will go ahead anyway.

From the Newswire:
Police Stop Strawberry Fair | Strawberry Fayre Fightback | "Drop The Charge" Demo Pictures |The Hippy Hippy Shakedown



The fair had actually been granted a full licence on March 2nd by Cambridge city council, despite police objections. However the cops used their discretionary powers to appeal the decision to the magistrates court. A final decision on the outcome wouldn't have been made until just a few weeks before the event. According to Justin Argent, chairman of the organising committee "The timetable for the appeal means we will not know whether the fair can go ahead as planned until far too late in the day. We do not want to pass this risk on to the supportive suppliers, traders and artists whose livelihoods would be severely damaged by a last-minute cancellation.". Regular SchNEWS readers will remember the problems that followed the last minute cancellation of last year's Big Green Gathering (see SchNEWS 685).

The council weighed in with a spirited denunciation of the police. Jennifer Liddle, chairman of the city council’s licensing committee, said, “It is a great shame an unelected and unaccountable police force decided to ignore that decision and lodge an appeal. Not only is their decision to try to ban Strawberry Fair undemocratic, it has cost an enormous amount of money". Even local MP David Howarth chipped in, "It should be left to democratically elected councillors to make decisions like these that affect our city, not unelected police officers."

In previous years the festival was conducted under the council's general entertainments licence for Midsomer Common. This year however the committee had to apply for a separate licence, which opened up the process to police intervention. Cambridge police assembled a legal team, including London based barrister Elliot Gold and Avon and Somerset Police's Inspector Ian Ross who fronted the Big Green Clampdown. They presented a 75 page dodgy dossier, which claimed that "music and dancing led to drug taking" (in our rhythmically challenged experience it's actually the other way round), and so consequently the event encouraged anti-social behaviour.

Also submitted was an unwittingly hilarious DVD, that mainly consists of soft focus shots of circles of cross-legged people who may or may not be skinning up. The highlight reel also includes a few voyeuristic shots of public urination and some lardy bouncers beating someone up. The DVD was published on Cambridge Police's website, but hastily taken down after a public outcry.

Strawberry Fair is an entirely volunteer non-profit event. Justin Argent, Chair of Strawberry Fair said, "As a voluntary group we don't have access to the kinds of legal resource or the public finance used by Cambridgeshire Police in their objections to the license. It is going to be an very tough task for us to prepare for the appeal hearing both in time and money". She added, “Gaining a secure license that will allow the Fair to continue for many years to come has to be the top priority for the Strawberry Fair committee. The police appeal of the decision made by Cambridge City Council means that we now have to put all our efforts into fighting that appeal, rather than into the detailed preparations for the 2010 Fair which should now be taking place, and we are not prepared to compromise either the appeal or the Fair itself"

Weirdly at the end of last years fair the police told the local paper that they were 'not aware of any major incidents at the event'. Now the party line is "Over the years, the event has attracted a large number of people - many from outside Cambridge - who see it as nothing more than an excuse to drink to excess and engage in illegal drug use, whilst at the same time becoming involved in anti-social behaviour disturbing to other fairgoers and city residents.".

So why the sudden change of tune? According to one organiser, "They didn't have serious issues until we decided we weren't going to pay them - this year they just wanted a nominal fee of £1,500. But that was set to change and rise to potentially thousands of pounds a year. Our attitude was that as the festival was free for all the people of Cambridge, there shouldn't be any charge by the police. As soon as we refused to pay this process of licence, objections started. We've no idea what their ultimate agenda is but it's clear they don't want the fair to continue in its present form".

Organisers also foresaw problems with policing at this years fair if the police ban had been refused. "Even if the police lost their appeal there is no reason to suppose that would be the end of their campaign and a fair this year would have a pretty much unbearable and unmanageable police presence, and the real possibility of court cases for the license holder. We are but one of a number of events that are bearing the brunt of an overzealous police force, and last summer proved that even established, gated events (Big Green, Thimbleberry), with almost non-existent crime rates are not immune from this."

Festival organisers have stressed that they feel that an unauthorised gathering might be unhelpful to the continuance of the fair in future years. However one told us "We don't want to encourage it, but its clear that people do value the event possibly more than they value the organising team behind it. Strawberry is really important to people in Cambridge"

Organisers are calling out for donations to help fund the fight against the appeal so Strawberry Fair has the chance to officially go ahead next year. Meanwhile – check out the unofficial group on Facebook: They've cancelled Strawberry fair – I'll still turn up

Also in SchNEWS 715:THIMBLE PLEASURES | MET WITH UNDUE FORCE | NEW DEAL OR NO DEAL | GIMME FIFE | EDL: BOLTON BLUNDERERS | EE BY HECKLER | SPEAK-ING OUT | TITNORE: JACK OUT THE BOX | AND FINALLY

SchNEWS 715

Comments

Hide the following 6 comments

It's systematic

28.03.2010 12:32

You'd have to be blind not to see a patten here. The systematic shutting down of any community driven public event has been going on since the Criminal Justice Act became law in the mid-nineties.

We can see how new draconian public entertainments, health & safety, licensing and even anti-smoking legislation has been systematically used to eliminate any, large or small, non-corporate public event.

First they criminalised the big dance parties of the early nineties, then the free festivals and after that used anti-smoking legislation to kill the pubs.

As someone who regularly attended the 'summers of love' raves of the late eighties and the free festivals, I remain convinced to this day that there is one reason for the systematic criminalisation of our way of life and that is the UNITY that naturally develops within and around them.

The state fears public unity above alll else. Particulary at a time when the actons of the state and corporates are becoming increasingly criminal and public anger against them is rising.

It's that simple.

Chris Reeves


Please print a correction along these lines

28.03.2010 13:55

Schnews thought Cambridge Strawberry Fair was "The UK's last free open-air festival" (SchNEWS 715 A Twist of Fete). In fact Newcastle Community Green Festival is expected to go ahead legally this year. (ends)

Good on Strawberry Fair for refusing to pay the police. The Green Fest do pay the police money which volunteers raise from sponcers (some compaines, trade unions) and by charging stall holders. Like all taxes, they are charging us for our own oppression.

festie


SOUND SYSTEMS READY

28.03.2010 14:29

A collective of London sound systems are ready to come at a moments notice. FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO PARTY. FUCK EM.

NO PAS ARAN

Ivor Had-Enough.com


re: "...anti-smoking legislation to kill the pubs."

28.03.2010 18:14

"First they criminalised the big dance parties of the early nineties, then the free festivals and after that used anti-smoking legislation to kill the pubs."

I go in pubs much more often since they banned smoking in them, and the ones round here seem to be thriving.

I don't agree with laws so it's wrong it was criminalised, but it should be plain common sense and respect not to pump out harmful toxins in an enclosed space where other people are forced to breathe it in. It's not something people should have to be told not to do, it should be a given. FFS.

Outside at festivals though, smoke all you want. I wonder why the filth are cracking down so much just recently - are there any conspiracy theories about this?

anon


Why are the filth getting so agressive?

28.03.2010 20:41

I think it's because they can smell the Tories coming and they're gearing up for some more class warfare. Last time they attacked the miners. This time they're after the NHS. Just as Cameron is saying he wants to bring in worker coops in the NHS, Thatcher said that about coal mines. Thatcher even endorsed the Plan For Coal before she was elected then broke it once in office.
 http://www.dollarsandsense.org/blog/2009/03/scargill-we-had-deal-with-thatcher.html

festie


"why are the filth getting so aggressive" ffs they have always been aggressive

29.03.2010 15:21

what cloud have you been living on. I don't know a time when they have not been aggressive. I find it a very niave thing to say. ACAB

@narchist


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