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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Dope festival chief denies violations
Richard Evans, South London Press icSouthLondon
Sunday 30 Nov 2003 THE brains behind the Brockwell Park Cannabis Festival has appeared in court charged with violating the event's licence. Shane Collins, of Brailsford Road, Brixton, denies the charge by Lam-beth council that music carried on playing after the watershed at the annual festival in May, and that alcohol continued to be served past last orders at 7.30pm. The licence stated that the main stage could play music until 8.15pm, with a time of 8pm for surrounding tents. The case, which was heard on Wednesday at Tower Bridge Magistrates' Court, has been adjourned until January 21 because of a legal argument. This concerns whether Mr Collins is still responsible for infringements of the licence if he has no reason to suspect it has been breached. Council officer William Pape told the court he saw cans being handed over at a bar at 7.40pm. But Mr Collins claimed this could have been festival workers being given the booze for free as a reward for working for nothing. There was also an argument over music that had been played after the allotted time. Mr Pape said: "The music and dancing went past the close-down time at the tents. It is up to the licensee to ensure he complies with the licence." He added that music was turned back at about 8.15pm, but then stopped after a discussion. Mr Collins said this had been because some youths "steamed" the tent and started playing music, and organisers had reached a compromise with them to play a song of less than two minutes rather than risk a confrontation. But he claimed he could not have known about this until afterwards because he was making sure the main stage shut down at the right time, and had to give a speech asking people to take their litter home. Council officers recorded their observations in a notebook, but only one of the four, Mr Pape, took his book to court. District judge Ann Sawetz, presiding, said: "I am surprised witnesses are not bringing them to court. What is the point of making them [the notes]?"
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