ENFORCEMENT ISSUE PUT ON WRONG PARTIES

City council took a step down a slippery slope Monday, laying down
the law, so to speak, for concert performers.

Council, under pressure by residents outraged by the conduct of
performers and concert goers at a January event at the Enmax Centre,
introduced the threat of financial penalty to any performer who
breaks the law or encourages others to do so while on stage.

Where might this slope lead? How about a large amateur sporting
event, in which players and their families and friends bring their
own booze to consume openly at city ball diamonds? If people using
the parks notice this behaviour and are offended, will they call
police or spark a letter-writing campaign to council demanding
action? If they choose the latter, could ball tournament organizers
be next in line to be compelled to produce financial guarantees of
good and lawful behaviour?

Putting the onus on the performers and their promoters is
misdirected. Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube and Belly, the stars of the January
show, didn't supply concert goers with drugs. That was smuggled in by
individuals, past event security, which conducted searches at the
doors. And it was used in the presence of law enforcement who were at
the concert that night. In advance of the January concert, a police
spokesman said local law enforcement was aware of the history of the
headliner and his history with drug use. Staff Sgt. Scott Penich told
The Herald, "Drug offences will be treated the same there as anywhere else."

Yet there's no record of any arrests from the Enmax that night.

The course of action accepted by city council Monday is to "assist in
the prevention of unlawful acts during concerts." Nowhere in the four
recommendations does it address how police should react when the law
is broken. The closest the new policy comes is by calling for Enmax
management to contact police in advance "to discuss possible
concerns" about upcoming concerts.

(The new booking policy specifies "rock, rap and hip-hop" as the
types of concerts that warrant advance consultation with police.
Apparently country music is in the clear, despite the fact the
red-headed stranger, Willie Nelson, for one example, was found less
than eight months ago with more than a kilogram of marijuana and a
bag of mushrooms in his tour bus.)

If law enforcement fails to enforce laws, whether Criminal Code or
municipal, one can bet the unlawful behaviour in the crowd will
continue, regardless of whether there's any overt encouragement from
a performer. Pot smoking is not uncommon at many concerts. It's not
new and it's not unique to hip-hop. So if the mayor is serious "when
people are in our house, follow our rules," the city's going to have
to get serious about enforcement.

Other jurisdictions successfully police concerts without sparking
riots. Just last week in Bismarck, N.D., police arrested or cited 23
people attending a Three 6 Mafia concert. A number of the arrests
happened inside the venue during the concert.

The city has succeeded in introducing a policy that just might
discourage some acts from performing here. While that might appease
the outraged, it doesn't address the unlawful behaviour that sparked
all the outrage.

If the law-breaking was the public's primary concern, it's a police
matter that can't be laid at the feet of promoters or performers.