G M T Official Forum

"For the first time in this country the police have used Section 160 (orders to close premises in an area experiencing disorder) of the Licensing Act 2003 to get a live performance stopped. Wiltshire constabulary have persuaded magistrates to ban a festival appearance by Pete Doherty and band Babyshambles fearing there could be public disorder, and after previously approving the proposal for their festival appearance have insisted that the whole of the Friday of the event be scrapped due to crowd control issues"

Whatever next?
The authorities are using more and more powers to stop appearances or cancel events!

Read the full story here ...

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/news/080819d.shtml

A dangerous precedent, in my opinion!

Personally I don't get it! If a band has in the past incited an audience to, dance, mosh or enjoy themselves, magistrates can refuse a licence for the event?

Surely there is more trouble on our high streets every weekend, yet it is allowed to carry on 52 weeks a year!!

Maybe this had something to do with the cancellation??

As I see it Doherty's irresponsibility was the precedent & the police reaction was the end product.  Doherty (I believe) has previously incited the crowd to fight each other & unfortunately some of the pilled up fans have taken things way too far. This isn't so much a mosh pit as a full on bareknuckle brawl & is uncontrollable by gig security.

As ye sow, so shall ye reap................shame for the other bands that were due to play on the first day of the festival but shame ON Doherty for ignoring safety regulations which are put there for the benefit of both artists & fans alike.


http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/3am/2008/...-20642979/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/jul...etedoherty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B7XnIWD0oQ