The Live Music Forum

Hamish Birchall Bulletin

 

Monday 17th November 2008 - Form 696 - Does it apply to my gig?

Surely a venue hosting a small jazz or folk gig won't have to provide the names, addresses and dates of birth of all performers?

The answer, it seems, is 'yes, they will' - if the venue is in one of the 13 London boroughs that have adopted this policy.

Since the Met's 'Form 696' came to wider public attention at last week's session of the Culture Committee, many musicians have expressed outrage and disbelief that this requirement might apply to them.

I found 13 London councils that have incorporated Form 696 requirements into their Statements of Licensing Policy, all of which are available online. Most of these Statements include the Met's own definition of an event for which Form 696 applies, and it is clear that even the smallest gig in a bar or restaurant is caught:

'Metropolitan Police Definition of a "Significant Event". This definition relates to events that require a Promotion/Event Risk Assessment Form 696. A significant event will be deemed to be: any occasion in a premises licensed under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003, where there will be a live performer(s) ? meaning musicians, DJs, MCs or other artiste; that is promoted in some form by either the venue or an outside promoter; where entry is either free, by invitation, pay on the door or by ticket.'
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/moderngov/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=6464 (search within the document for '696')

Moreover, having completed the 8-page form prior to the performance, once the gig is over venues must complete Form 696A giving an account of how it went: http://www.met.police.uk/events/forms/form_696a.doc (Microsoft Word document)

The 13 councils are:

Bexley, Brent, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kingston, Lambeth, Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, Southwark, and Sutton.

ENDS



Hamish Birchall

 

 

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