Dance Academy raided [Plymouth, UK]

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Dance Academy raided [Plymouth, UK]

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May 7, 2006 at 10:30 pm

#689903
1

globalloon

@globalloon

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this venue has been used for raves since 1989 /90

nights like Positivity and Alpha all happened there back in the day

the basslines eventually meant the building was condemned, as the third floor was in danger of collapsing

but in the mid 90s it was rebuilt and relaunched, to become home to a brand of commercial rave cheese, such as Judge Jules and Boy George…

ever since then it’s been a regular spot for large, heavily promoted club nights drawing cowds of noobs from far and wide

other SW clubs would do well to take note of the last sentance of this report

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/4981712.stm

Police raid closes city nightclub
Police in Plymouth used new powers to close one of the city’s main nightclubs on Saturday night.

Up to 140 officers were involved in a raid on the Dance Academy on the city’s Union Street.

It follows a five-month operation which officers say showed class A drugs are being used and dealt there.

About 200 club goers were asked to leave while evidence was gathered. A hearing on Monday will decide if the club will be closed for three months.

‘Other operations’

A 35-year-old man from Honiton was arrested on suspicion permitting the supply of a class A drug on the premises and a 33-year old man from the Whitleigh area of Plymouth was arrested on suspicion of a similar offence.

New legislation under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act has given police powers to shut down licensed premises where class A drugs are being used or supplied and serious disorder or nuisance is being caused.

Chief Supt Morris Watts, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said closure orders “were not taken lightly”.

“But where there is evidence of drug use and disorder, we will deal with such premises robustly,” he said.

“It is likely there will be other operations like this run across the force in the coming months if the evidence warrants it.”

the fact that it’s taken 17 years to be raided doesn’t bode well for other clubs in the area this summer… a new priority, dripped down from London (middle-class rug use will not be tolerated etc etc)
May 8, 2006 at 12:01 am

#859541
1

Scranner

@scranner

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another big named club in london ‘the fridge’ in brixton was raided a week or so ago, and this is the second big named club to get done…

i wonder if there has been some sort of national operation to target big dance clubs, where its the norm for people to take pills….its an easy way for OB to get high profile arrests and shoe the public they are cracking down on drugs…

thing is why crack down on clubbers who generally are ‘consumers’ and contribute to soceity by working during the week, and party on weekends…( i am assuming the majority do that routine) I would rather the OB do something about crack houses and the crime related to addcits in order to get their fix ( muggings, robbery genral thieving etc). What i am saying is busting dealers in a crack house would be more counter productive than busting someone selling pills in a club. I am not saying that soemone serving up in a club is morally right, its not selling pills is till breaking the law, but surely there are bigger priorites in tackling drugs? This is why i reckon they are going for the big name clubs, for the publicity, to reassure the tabloid readers that they are doing a ‘good job’. You dont hear much of a raid on a crack house.

It would be a real shame that all the big clubs would get raided and got closed down….however what it could lead clubbers going to parties, and the the attendances at raves would really increase, and atmospheres would be great! most clubbers are really unware of the part scene or know very little of parties, rigs and the culture. these bust could force them into finding it.
May 8, 2006 at 8:40 am

#859543
1

pno

@pno

Member
I used to goto the Dance Academy all the time when I lived down there, after the Warehouse closed.

Some classic nights down there.
July 21, 2008 at 1:40 pm

#859540
6

General Lighting

@general-lighting

Moderator
Staff
this is the court case..

Quote:

Ecstasy club owner and DJ jailed

A Plymouth nightclub owner who allowed the “rampant and blatant” sale of ecstasy at his club has been jailed.

Iranian-born Manoucehr Bahmanzadeh, 52, earned up to £2m a year from the Dance Academy, one of the largest clubs in Plymouth, Devon, a court heard.

Bahmanzadeh was sentenced to nine years at Plymouth Crown Court. Club DJ and general manager Tom Costelloe, 37, from Honiton was also jailed for five years.

Both were found guilty of allowing the sale of the class A drug.

The court was told undercover police officers deployed at the former club, in Union Street, between December 2005 and May 2006 found that the sale and consumption of ecstasy was “rampant” and dealing was “overt and blatant”.

Battering rams

During the operation, 16 drug dealers were caught and jailed for a total of 27 years.

The jury was told drug takers were often found lying on the floor of the Union Street club and ambulances could be called out two or three times each night.

In May 2006, 140 police in riot gear stormed the club, using battering rams to force their way in to confront 200 club goers.

Police then used powers to close down the club which had a capacity of 1,300 people.

Bahmanzadeh had claimed he stood up to the dealers, while Costelloe claimed to have helped enforce a zero-tolerance policy to drugs.

A third man, Nezan Ahmed, who was head doorman at the club, failed to appear in court. He is thought to have fled to Iraq.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/devon/7517326.stm

Published: 2008/07/21 12:05:38 GMT

© BBC MMVIII
July 21, 2008 at 4:07 pm

#859542
1

globalloon

@globalloon

Member
from a newspaper report

A Plymouth nightclub owner who allowed the “rampant and blatant” sale of ecstasy at his club has been jailed.

which is nonsense. It was always a nightmare trying to get hold of anything in there :you_crazy
July 21, 2008 at 4:59 pm

#859544
1

sirstonealot

@sirstonealot

Member
Thats proper upsetting, as far as I am concerned the guy was doing a good deed by turning a blind eye.
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