It transpired they’d had under cover police in the club for the last 4 or 5 weeks observing things that went on in there. They then proceeded to hold me separately from the other 106 people, including staff, present in the club at the time. I was subsequently arrested on the spot. Whilst I was being held they search my car looking for drugs but they obviously didn’t find any. I also have statement from some 25 people who were told quietly by the police ‘if you have any drugs drop them on the floor’.

They then proceeded to strip search every sing person in the club, and if they had a car that was searched as well. I heard several people asking, particularly the girls because they were taking them into the toilets, if a doctor needed to be present. I don’t really know the law stands on that but I do know that we will looking into it and if doctors were requested and presented while they were being searched we will be taking legal action against the Leicester Constabulary. There was one woman, and I mean a woman not a teenager, that had hot her period and they still made her remove her underwear so they could search it - which of course she found extremely embarrassing. Whilst this was taking place the lads were being searched as well. Believe it or not they even ripped up the microphone because they believed that there were drugs hidden in there.

After they’d searched everybody they done a sweep of the floor and found 33 different items. Those 33 items were shown to me and I in turn had to sign for them. 3 of them I was quite concerned about because they were rather large bag of what appeared to be sort of pills but I wasn’t there when the police found them so I don’t know if they were planted there or if they were dropped by a punter, the rest were individual items of what I assume was some kind of amphetamines - as least that’s what the police told me - and there were also individual pills and bits of hash. They then proceeded to bag them up into a small 2” by 2” bags which were then put in a 10” by 6” bag, which was then photographed.

The police stated in the local paper, and on local TV that during these proceedings they’d had paramedics on sight but I certainly didn’t see any of them. They also said they set up a mobile canteen for refreshments, but the mobile canteen’ only consisted of an old tea urn containing manky Orange Juice that even the police wouldn’t drink, so I ended up giving them all drinks from behind the bar. At about 3 o’clock the police brought in the fire brigade so they could do a fire alarm test, this was completed to the Fire Brigades satisfaction. They then tested the emergency lighting system throughout the club which is supposed to come on when the main lights go out. Everything came on with the exception of two six inch bulbs which had blown. They have now been replaced and are working correctly.

At 3.30am I was removed from the club and taken to Charles St Police Station Where I was thoroughly strip search. I requested a doctor to be present but I was told this was not necessary. I was then locked up at 4 o clock in the morning and I didn’t wake up until 12.40pm in fact I had to be woke up.

Strangely enough the police even questioned the fact that I had slept well, but as I said to them if you’ve got a clear conscience you don’t have a problem sleeping. I was then interviewed from about 4pm until 7.30pm after which I was released on unconditional police bail without charge. The Chief Inspector in charge of the raid commented on record “The Manager was extremely helpful and carried out all of my instructions willingly and he was also a calming influence on all the young people in the club”.

Anyway as I said Diehard is still in business after 4 years and its still business as usual. Please support us and don’t allow the authorities to pressure you from your right to dance where and when you want to. Remember Diehard was the original Happy Hardcore club = peace love and harmony.

Respect all Dave.