Letter challenges Met music form

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8230072.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A letter sent to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission is challenging the Metropolitan Police's right to gather information about live music.

The commission has been asked to determine whether the Met is contravening race relations laws through its use of the 696 form.

The letter's 50 signatories include Feargal Sharkey, head of UK Music.

Journalist Sunny Hundal said there were concerns the law was being used for racial profiling.

About 70 London pubs and clubs are currently required to complete the 696 form.

The document asks for the names, dates of birth, addresses and phone numbers of promoters and artists, for details of the target audience and for the style of music, "eg bashment, R'n'B, garage".

Mr Hundal, who drafted the letter, said: "I've heard from anecdotal evidence of people who've had no trouble at their venues just being harassed by the police for extra security, ID checks, collecting information about people who go there, just because they're catering for a black or an Asian audience."

A statement from the Met said shootings linked to licensed premises in London had been "significantly reduced" and "we believe that the risk assessment process has contributed to this".

And the Met team that deals with form 696 has previously said "a co-ordinated effort, and 696 assisting the process of identifying potential gang conflict, is undoubtedly contributing towards that reduction of shooting incidents in licensed premises".