Dealing with small crimes as a volunteer

Question

Every now and then I volunteer for an association, organizing big role play events in my country (by big I mean several days with between several hundred people, so nothing at the national scale, but big enough nonetheless).

There I act as one of many game masters, creating the game to entertain people,... but I'm also meant to make people apply the rules whenever I can, be sure there are no cheaters etc...

The association has a responsibility towards the players somehow, and even though as a volunteer I risk nothing (legally speaking) if rules are not respected, it's part of our duty to make sure everyone is safe, and to some extent that the law is applied. I'm not there to play the police, yet I can't let people commit small (or not-so-small) crimes without doing anything, because the association might suffer from it.

This year, I eavesdropped a little while waiting for someone, and heard people talking about what they were smoking. They were absolutely not trying to hide they were having fun with good old cannabis, and to the smell of it, indeed it was drugs they were smoking.

Here lies my problem. Smoking this is forbidden in my country. If many people are doing it, it will be very bad press for the event. Moreover, I'm talking about an event with childrens of all ages, pregnant women sometimes etc... thus people who must not be impacted by passive smoking from this drug.

So, I think I should step in and stop these people from taking drugs, right? But here comes the tricky part. It is a well known fact in my country that a large majority, especially for people of my age, is in favor of the decriminalization of cannabis. So, should I step in and stop this, I can be a hundred percent sure a lot of people will see it very negatively.

I was told in such case I could ask people to stop smoking, and in case of repeated offence, to seize their "cigarette", or even exclude them from the area of play (which is a private property rented by the association).

My problem is: I have a duty to perform, yet I'm absolutely not a member of law enforcement, thus the only authority I got comes from the respect players have for their game master. Nothing more.

How can I approach these people to stop smoking drugs in the event area without causing a drama?

Answer 1

Something that I found very effective when attending music festivals, and even while helping out as a doorman at a local club when I was younger, was a simple request for discretion.

Something along the lines of:

Hey, would you all mind being a little more discreet? If we want this event to continue at this venue, and keep the cops out, we need to keep that stuff low key.

Or:

Can you please keep that behind closed doors? Finish up in your car or campsite. If this event gains a reputation for open drug use we may get shut down.

This reminds people that they're out in public, and that they're putting the event at risk. Most casual drug users will tend to respect that it's not about your personal objections, but rather that you're doing your part to protect the event.

Things like "think of the children" or "what about second hand smoke" are likely to be scoffed at. Many cannabis users believe that the only risks are the legal consequences, so there's not much point in inviting that debate. Making points about being able to use the venue in the future, and avoiding a heavier police presence aren't things they can really argue with.

Answer 2

In my experience, being polite actually works pretty well. I would approach with something like:

Hey guys, please don't smoke that here, there are kids participating in the event as well.

Chances are they know they are doing something they shouldn't and would just stop.

I advise against being judgmental or bringing legality into the conversation to avoid conflict.

Of course if that doesn't help you can do what every low level employee should do when handling issues at their workplace - Call your manager.

Answer 3

You're right to say you have a problem.

It seems you understand your role, "creating the game to entertain people," to help everybody have fun.

If the police swoop in and arrest a lot of people for smoking weed, nobody will have fun. If families with children--or other people--have to leave your event or always be on the lookout, they won't have fun.

Your question doesn't mention whether you are expected to care for minors. So, I guess you are not; it's up to their parents to do that. If parents are giving their children into your care, that's a different situation entirely; ask another question.

It's not your job to enforce laws; you know that. You don't have the power to confiscate contraband. So don't use legality as your motivation for dealing with this problem. Instead think about having fun.

You can nudge people to avoid smoking weed by saying things like

"This is a family event. Please don't smoke weed inside the event."

or even

"Hey, be cool! Do that outside!"

You should consider getting your organization to adopt a code of conduct, and setting expectations before the next event.

Answer 4

I'm not there to play the police, yet I can't let people commit small (or not-so-small) crimes without doing anything, because the association might suffer from it.

This is exactly what you should say.

They will understand.

And if they don't understand (or pretend not to understand) and get nasty about it, you can ask them to leave your event just like you would any troublemaker. It is not likely to come to this if you are polite, persisent and persuasive.

You can apologize, you can be polite about it, but this is the real truth—if you condone their currently illegal acts, you place the entire event and the entire association at legal risk of being shut down by the police.

You can absolutely hold the line on this. Depending on your own personal stance, and how argumentative they are about this, you might add something like:

Look, I'm not here to judge, and I'm not here to play cop. I just need to keep this event safe, family friendly, and also keep it on a legal footing. Let's take care of it ourselves before some local resident complains and it turns into "no fun" for everybody. None of us wants that to happen.

Or you could approach it more casually:

Hey guys, I overheard you about your smoking choices—I've got no problem with that, but we really need to keep it clean here at the venue. It's a privately rented space and there's rental agreements and all that, so can you please hold off on that stuff until you get home?

(There's a difference between confronting someone currently smoking an illegal drug, and confronting someone who you merely heard talking and planning to smoke one later.)

Answer 5

I've recently learned about NonViolent Communication (NVC for short), which helped me since to express my concerns and feelings in really different matters.

It basically is about expressing what you feel and why, to non judgmentally and non violently reach a compromise.

I guess you could try something along the lines of

Hello. I have recently found out you are taking drugs during the event. While I generally do not have any issues with drugs, I am anxious, because I need that people that come to the event and their family are satisfied and feel safe. I also fear I will be held responsible for any mishap, and that I would not be able to come again in future events. Do you think you could not display or talk about your drug use in public?

While they may not agree, it will open up the conversation, without sounding judgmental.

I really suggest you learn a bit about NVC if you want to use that way of communicating your concerns.