POLICING PROTOCOL FOR RAVES ATTACKED

Critics Fear Rules Would Affect Other Festivals

A proposed police protocol for all-night parties could jeopardize Caribana,
the Gay Pride Festival and other summertime events, rave supporters said
yesterday.

"We are not a rave, but these regulations may treat us that way," said
Michael Schwartz, an organizer of Unity 2000, the all-night party held each
year during the city's Gay Pride festivities.

The police protocol would place strict security demands on promoters,
including hiring paid-duty police.

The final say on whether a party goes forward - and how many paid-duty
police officers are there - goes to the unit commander of the division
covering the area where the rave is to take place.

The fear, Caribana organizer Lennox Farrell said yesterday, is that because
police hold the ultimate discretion over the number of paid-duty police
officers an event requires, parties could be killed by escalating costs.

Caribana is just one of the city's annual events that is already forced to
keep a close eye on its bottom line.

Schwartz said his group won't support discriminating against the young ravers.

The young men and women who attend the all-night parties - known as the
"electronic music community" - have cautioned councillors that
over-regulating will only push raves underground.

The issue of the police protocol is expected to go before council today.

Meanwhile, an iDance rave is set for today outside in Nathan Phillips
Square, organized by rave supporters and billed as a rally-cum-rave pushing
for "the freedom to dance."

iDance starts at 5 p.m., with DJ sets from Bad Boy Bill, Derrick Carter,
Jumpin' Jack Frost, Ed Rush and Optical, Miss Honey Dijon and Anabolic Frolic.

The event is scheduled to run until 10 p.m.