Councillor loses pub

Sonia Gable | Tuesday, 13 February 2007 Source: Searchlight

The Lagoon pub in Tipton has closed after a series of violent incidents involving a shooting, machete attack and mass brawls. The pub, which regularly held BNP meetings and fundraising events, was run by James Lloyd, the BNP councillor for Princes End ward on Sandwell council.

The Lagoon first hit the headlines in 2002 when its football team ran out in a British National Party-sponsored strip. The Tipton Boilers played two games in the red, white and blue kit emblazoned with the logo of the extremist organisation. But the Football Association later ruled that players were not allowed to wear any strip bearing a political message.

The Lagoon also hit the news when effigies of three Tipton terror suspects were hung outside. Shafiq Rasul, Asif Iqbal and Ruhal Ahmed were held at Guantanamo Bay by the Americans but later released without charge in 2004.

West Midlands police submitted a written report to the council's licensing committee in January 2007 listing the violent incidents at the pub. In early June 2006 a fight broke out with one man receiving "a good beating, with the loss of teeth".

The victim obviously had a beef with Lloyd, because the following day he returned with a friend brandishing a semi-automatic gun. A shot was fired, narrowly missing Lloyd.

In November, customers were threatened with a man wielding a machete. Lloyd was again the target of the attack. The attacker was caught but no charges were brought because Lloyd refused to make a statement or hand over CCTV footage.

The police report stated: "West Midlands Police are seeking revocation of the premises licence.

"Jamie Lloyd, being both the licence holder and designated premises supervisor, has repeatedly failed to meet licensing objectives in relation to crime and disorder and public safety by not reporting incidents of serious crime and disorder as they occur and not supporting prosecutions by refusing to provide witness statements or supply available CCTV evidence.

"He appears to have little or no concern for the safety of his customers in general."

Lloyd told local reporters that he would probably not turn up at a hearing of Sandwell's licensing panel that was due to discuss the police application to "review" the licence for the pub and would close the premises immediately.

The council granted planning permission for the pub's demolition, which is due to be completed by the end of 2007.

Lloyd's family is getting quite a reputation for trouble. Early last year one of his sons was named and shamed as one of the area's worst persistent offenders. A second son has also been in regular trouble with the police.

Lloyd was elected to Sandwell Council in 2004 but rarely attends meetings despite being the nominal BNP group leader. Amusingly, Lloyd's election address called on parents to be held responsible for the actions of their children.