Really weird. You grow drugs in your bedroom and the police eventually raid you on suspicion that you might be dealing. That's not that much of a surprise. They could spend weeks following you and watching your movements which would cost lots of £££ which R33_GTST would then complain about, or they can raid your house where they know you grow drugs.
Now you know that you aren't dealing but they can't prove you are not and they don't know you are a hard working citizen, your just another person on the list until they investigate. So multiply this situation by a 10,000 or so around the country and you can see why they just raided you, quickest way to sort things out. Now how many times have they knocked politely on a door and got no where, or popped round in the day to be confronted with a shotgun through the letter box? A bit over the top but at the end of the day you were known to the police FOR GROWING DRUGS IN YOUR HOUSE!
As for the raves you organised. Again stop looking at it from your narrow point of view. The police are responsible for not only ensuring the whole community's safety but showing the community they are in control. You brought a minority of people, i.e. "ravers" with all the associated media hype together in a large number. You then proceeded to self regulate the events and due to the size make it obvious the police could not control the event. Now pull your head out your bum and look at it from the other side of the fence. A large group of youths, known/thought of by the public to take drugs and promote them group together and the police can't do a damned thing about it, a scary scenario for most parents. Regardless of how well you think you are doing, the community is going to get scared and their first stop will be the police. If they are not seen to be affective then they are not affective, that's why you pulled interest and harrassment. That and I am sure that there were some in your large group that were taking and dealing drugs... a police matter. We won't go into whether the events you organised were 100% legal but if they were not then again, large group of youths, drugs, drink, illegal gathering, uncontrollable group, putting high risk groups together with no police presence.... it's not all that surprising you weren't on the polices christmas card list.
To be honest, from what you have said you have worked with the police to change their views and hopefully the community's views. Well done a minority has shown the majority something new and changed the culture of the community.
Not an easy job that's for sure.
Finally, don't think I am naive. I have come into contact with the police on my usual saturday nights out and some of these "police officers" have been truely appalling. Covering their badge numbers when asked for them, turning police van lights out so you can't get their reg number or generally treating you like something they stepped in. I don't defend these yobs in a uniform, but the people I found myself with in these circumstances went a long way to explaining the situation.
I understand that when confronted with a police officer at 3pm on a Sunday morning outside a taxi rank I may be viewed with suspicion and act to change the police officers opinion as soon as possible. In my experience it has worked and I have never had a problem with the law.... touch wood
