Government to review profiling of grime artist

The Met’s Promotion Event Risk Assessment Form 696 is a document required to be filled out by club promoters and licensees who are hosting musical events featuring “DJs and MCs.” They are to provide the name, stage names, address, and phone numbers of all parties involved in the musical performances.

The problems is that the Victoria Derbyshire programme have founded problematic incidents where the 696 form has required promoters and licensees to give information on the racial make of the audience as well as the genre of music that would be played. These questions are no longer apart of the Met Police form and were removed in 2009 after racial concerns. However, the Leicestershire Police still require to know the ethnic make-up and genre of music. 16 other police forces across England are also using these questions on Form 696 - including the Bedfordshire Police.

Police try to defend these racist questions by making it a matter of security. They claim to want to prevent violence or fights that may break out. However, “live music events” do not require this form—only events that involve cover garage, R&B, grime, and pre-recorded tracks.

This policy seems to be an obvious attempt to pigeonhole a specific race.

Artist, P Money, was removed from being featured on musical line-ups in the past because of the 696 Form.

If, for example, Ed Sheeran had a show and a fight broke out, he's not going to do a 696 on his next arena tour.

"A fight still might have broken out though, but they don't look at it like that. They just think, 'Oh it's different for them.'

"Why is it different? There's fights everywhere, there's situations everywhere at all types of shows, all types of things, whether its punk, rock, hip hop, pop, whatever."

There has not been a review of Form 696 since 2009. Instead, the Met Police host forums where promoters can raise concerns or questions about the form with police.

The London Mayor’s Off office made a statement:

Our priority is to keep Londoners safe and support a vibrant night-time economy, and this means ensuring that all performances have the most appropriate security and safety plans in place.

"We have supported a number of events that bring together the Met, music venues, and promoters to try to improve the understanding of when and how Risk Assessment Form 696 should be used."

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39181672