When we were developing the Convention on Modern Liberty early this year we discussed the expansion of ways in which our lives are being surveilled and controlled. There was mention of form 696 as the Mets way of intimidating music and venues, preventing spontanity, getting to know the real names and addresses of anyone who picked up a guitar in public and, implicitly, their racial profile and the racial profile of venues as well. I was sceptical. There had to be a limit to what they would attempt! Until I read the form itself with its threatening language and intrusive level of detail especially concerning the artists.
So I signed the excellent letter Sunny Hundal just sent to the Guardian to support Feargal Sharkey who is taking the issue to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
PS: Try as I might to escape from my sins, the print version says I am from Charter 88, so I've put the Guardian's correction process to the test.
