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".
Festival Blues - The organiser of a music festival due to have been held in East Sussex this bank holiday weekend has said he is devastated by its cancellation. The four-day Beachdown Festival, near Devils Dyke on the South Downs, was to feature The Zutons and Grace Jones. Joe Pidgeon said he was forced to axe it because he could not raise enough funding with the banks to pay key suppliers in advance. The economic climate and slow ticket sales were also blamed.
"We just needed the support of our bank and . . . these suppliers, and it would have been fine, we would've done it," said Mr Pidgeon. "I certainly am not saying that I don't blame myself . . . I'll be beating myself up for months about this," he said. Fans have been told to contact the agencies from where they bought tickets for information about refunds.
Forever Young - Dame Vera Lynn has become the oldest living artist to enter the top 20 of the UK album chart, her record company said. Dame Vera, who kept up the spirits of millions of soldiers during World War II, has entered the album chart at number 20 - at the age of 92. She has achieved her success with her album, We'll Meet Again - The Very Best of Vera Lynn.
Dame Vera said: "I am extremely excited and delighted to be back in the charts after all these years." The album was released to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the declaration of war, which is on Thursday. A spokeswoman for her record company Decca said: "She has proven that music of this vintage and significance can still resonate with the British public."
Roll Away The Stone - The death of former Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones is to be reviewed following new evidence, it has been revealed. Police in Sussex were handed new information connected to the musician's untimely death 40 years ago. Jones was found dead at the bottom of a swimming pool at a house in Cotchford farm, Hartfield, East Sussex. An inquest recorded a verdict of death by misadventure but speculation continued that he was murdered.
A spokesman for Sussex police said the force had been handed documents connected with Jones's death, prompting the review. But he added it was too early to launch a fresh investigation. He added: "These papers will be examined by Sussex Police, but it is too early to comment at this time as to what the outcome will be." Jones, who was 27 when he died, was a founding member of the Rolling Stones.
(Jim Evans)
