Government examines police action over ‘humiliation’ of DJs

The Attorney General and the Justice Minister are looking into a police practice which allowed them to block a group of DJs from performing at Earth Garden last week. Some five DJs were stopped from going on stage during last weekend’s festival because of minor drug offences going back years. The organisers stressed the DJs had been humiliated and possibly even had their right to work breached. Justice and Culture Minister Owen Bonnici told Times of Malta he had discussed the matter with an Earth Garden spokesman and was investigating the controversial police practice. A festival coordinator told this newspaper that most of the DJs had been stopped due to small-time drug offences, some dating back more than 20 years. Others, the organiser added, had not even committed any offence but had been involved in court proceedings several years ago. Asked for an explanation, Dr Bonnici said the practice was essentially aimed at “protecting vulnerable youths”. He stressed, however, that if the system led to performers not being allowed on stage for minor misdemeanours, it gave rise to “legitimate concern”. More on Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com