Over 30,000 people sign petition to legalise free parties in the UK

A petition has been addressed to the UK's Home Secretary Theresa May, requesting the legalisation of free parties and festivals.

Making such events safer is the main argument in the letter written by Christian Morrison, suggesting that less trouble would occur if they were under tight regulation.

"We request that you address, in parliament, the appeal for the legalisation of free parties and celebrations of a similar manner. We believe it would be in the interest of all involved to allow the control and regulation of said gatherings rather than merely confiscating thousands of pounds worth of equipment and falsely persecuting a majority of those involved. It would make such events considerably safer which, after 3 stabbings in the last 2 months, is becoming more and more necessary."

Police cooperation is also mentioned, explaining that events could go much smoother with assistance from the law.

"If private contractors were able to regulate rather than simply attempt to stop these events, it would discourage those who merely see it as an opportunity to commit heinous crimes from attending as they perceive it to be a place where laws are not enforced. I feel it would also be in the interest of the public that, instead of being chased away to another location causing more distress and hassle to those involved, the police can co-operate with organisers allowing for a much more relaxed event."

It also questions the act of shutting down parties through the public order act when members of the public are not affected and asks that "people who attend or set up free parties are no longer prosecuted for doing so".

On a similar tip, there was a Freedom To Party protest in London on Saturday in support of illegal raves.

Dave Turner is Mixmag's Digital News Editor, follow him on Twitter here