They nurtured the hope of starting a dialogue. Five months after a first date organized in the salons of the prefecture, it seems that the common story attempted by the prefect of Brittany and the organizers of teufs has remained without a future. In October, Emmanuel Berthier had invited several collectives known to supervise rave parties in the West to discuss. Around the table, mayors, the prosecutor, police and some big sound enthusiasts. The objective of this improbable working group was then clear: to reference sites capable of accommodating the surrounding walls for one or two nights in order to “better spread the party” over the territory. More clearly: disperse the nuisances in order to avoid that it is always the same residents who are deprived of sleep. To do this, the organizers had to be convinced to declare their evening in advance. Not easy, but the hope of the authorities to see this “Airbnb of the party” emerge was great. That of the rural mayors confronted with the problem was just as much. But five months after this first “date”, the result seems close to nothing.
According to the figures communicated by the prefecture, each weekend there are “between two and four raves in Brittany”. A rather stable figure, which even tended to grow after the confinements linked to Covid-19. Proof that the New Year in Lieuron and the dramatic unfolding of the rave of Redon did not put off the partygoers. These two high-profile events, on the other hand, have refreshed the already not simple relations between the party world and the authorities. The date of October 6 has obviously changed nothing. Because since this meeting, “zero declarations” have arrived on the office of the prefect. Legally, however, it is mandatory to declare any event likely to accommodate at least 500 people. “The offenders do not risk much”, recognizes the prosecutor Philippe Astruc.
Organizers are wary
During this famous meeting, the organizers had already expressed some doubts as to the will of their peers to make themselves known to the administration. “Each time we made an official request, we ended up with cops blocking all access,” Paul explained to us in October.
Would this attempt at reconciliation be a failure? It is too early to tell. “Dialogue is complicated. It’s up to us to convince the organizers to come forward. Our objective is to limit the exasperation of local residents but also to be able to secure these festivals so that they have the least possible damage, ”explains the prefect Emmanuel Berthier.
The latter insists on “emergency management” involved in the organization of wild evenings. After “a game of cat and mouse”, the gendarmes and more rarely the police generally remain at a good distance from the gathering. In Redon, their intervention had created chaos and a young man had his hand torn off. In normal times, the role of law enforcement is often limited to securing access and controlling those who attempt to drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs or a cocktail mixing the two. The problem of an upstream declaration arises in a few words: what would the parties have to gain?
“The phenomenon is there, whether you like it or not”
To unblock this situation, the public prosecutor that “everyone step aside”. “The party community, the mayors, the State… Everyone must make this effort. Because the phenomenon is there, whether we like it or not,” warns Philippe Astruc. In the west of France, it is even particularly well established. And doesn’t seem ready to lower the sound.