in EA (not just Norfolk) its a question of geography, common sense and community integration. Even (and somewhat ironically) during the full on zero tolerance I managed to get to at least 3 decent parties in Suffolk – which were virtually left alone by cops.
However I was specificially requested by the organisers and their friends not to discuss them on here as the cops basically say “if you advertise these things online they are no longer a private party and we will shut them down for your own good as folk from London/SE England will overrun you, trash the area and leave you in the shit”. As this has happened even in licensed premises in my town they do have a point to be fair.
EA is a big area but flatter than most and with more high value agricultural land, now in a economic depresssion like the rest of the country although agriculture is doing a bit better, so any perceived damage to this is viewed as real crime, not just mischief.
The overall consensus here seems to be that as long as private property rights are respected and there isn’t real environmental damage, parties aren’t big crime. I’ve heard this at first hand from older people (age 40/50+) who are involved in the rural economy too.
Many would in fact rent out a field for a event and aren’t against hall parties or even well run things in areas like thetford and Rendlesham (and some of the older folk were in fact doing such things 20 years ago) but just don’t want excessive numbers or rubbish/shit left behind, which is fair enough.
there is also a history in the more middle class areas of my generation and those just below and their families suffering from addiction/health problems, something which is only now being addressed. Communities here are close knit with strong family values (very similar to British Asians elsewhere in the UK) many are linked to faith groups and its a small world where bad news travels fast so some folk are slightly less “open minded” about drugs but at the same time if use isn’t problematic they tend to overlook it.
Everyone is starting to be a bit more pragmatic again but I’d suggest going carefully. If this area gets rinsed like in 2003-2005 during “better times” the feds will clamp down and a lot of folk with power (cops/politicians) are my age or even younger (my MP is 8 years my junior!!) and lived through the rave/drugs/Britpop era and aren’t as out of touch as they were decades ago – so they know this scenes Achilles heels.
However, if I really thought EA was a place full of narrow minded intolerant bumpkins I would not have chosen to live here 5 years ago… it is a good place and tolerant, just everyone has to work together..
