Owners of a Shropshire nightclub which had its licence revoked following police claims of brawls, disorder and under-age drinking today accused the authorities of racism.
Managers at Brileigh’s, in Market Street, Oakengates, Telford, claim they were targeted in a police sting because their faces “did not fit”.
However, West Mercia Police have denied the claims, saying allegations of racism are completely unfounded.
They say the club was targeted because its management would not work with officers to reduce problems there, despite being given every chance to do so.
The row blew up after Telford & Wrekin Council’s licensing committee revoked Brileigh’s licence on the application of police under the new Licensing Act.
The club’s future had been under review following a two-day closure order last July after a brawl in which three people were injured.Undercover police officers visited all premises in Oakengates in November and produced evidence to the committee that Brileigh’s had problems with poor management, underage drinking, violence and disorder.
Brileigh’s licensee Haroon Rashid today claimed there had been “no communication” from police about resolving issues at the nightspot.
Mr Rashid, 28, said: “We feel we have been victimised by police.
“We tried co-operating with them but they didn’t want to know.
“Other Telford nightspots have had problems and it’s not just us. Our faces did not fit with the police in Oakengates because we are Asian.
“We’re not saying we’re angels but with better communication the problems could have been sorted out.”
Police licensing officer Paul Homersley today rejected claims of racism.
Mr Homersley said that all licensed premises in Oakengates had been treated equally and were given warning of the operation.
Brileigh’s was given 21 days to appeal against the decision from March 17. Until then it can continue to operate as normal and sell alcohol.
Mr Rashid said he was considering all options and might appeal against the decision.
Mr Homersley said Brileigh’s originally opened in 2005 as a private members’ club and operated without problems. It became a nightclub in 2006.
By Tom Johannsen
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16 Comments
I find these allegations most offensive. The owners of Brileigh’s should be ashamed of themselves and retract their comments immediately.
For once, H, I completely agree. What a childish and petulant response to some serious and fair allegations.
Even my 4 year old nephew has grown out of throwing tantrums this big!
Why do some sections of the community always feel the need to play the race card when challenged by authority? I don’t know the background to the owners of this club and I couldn’t care less, but if they were given every opportunity to clean up their club but failed to comply, then they surely have only themselves to blame. Racism is the shameful events experienced recently by the Polish family in Shrewsbury, and not an an accusation to throw around simply because you don’t like the consequences of your apparent failure to act within the law.
Not that old nutmeg!
God help us
Awwww didums, the race card always a last resort in hope of sympathy, grow up you morons its nothing to do with the colour of your skins you idiots its the nitemare YOUR club is giving local residents and police! huh Racism indeed! lol!
Sometimes when I read other peoples comments it really makes me laugh.
None of you are aware of the situation, what has and has not been implicated in the licensing report.
But because the word race has been mentioned it’s so easy for everyone to join “race-card” bandwagon. Peoples businesses and reputations are at stake and despite protests of the race card the colour of skin makes a hell of a lot of difference.
Shell, perhaps you’d care to share your inside knowledge with the rest of us then??? If proof exists to back up the complaints, then I would have no hesitation in withdrawing my earlier comment on this particular case.
As for your statement regarding “the colour of skin makes a hell of a lot of difference”; I agree that in the minds of some racist half wits this is unfortunately true.
A bit of an assumption there Shell. I find that the words,
bigot and race/racial/racist are invariably used by people
in the hope that those that the words are directed against
will feel hurt, slighted, insulted or whatever in the hope
that they will or will not do something that, ordinarily
they would not etc.
The words these days are the resort of the weak, the coward
the inarticulate and those who have no better argument to
support their case than throw the over used but no longer
“cutting” comments to those that see things differently
to them.
If I was the Police Officer responsible for dealing with
this issue and the word had been levelled at me, those that
used it would be the subject of a report to the Race
Quango. See how they would like a role reversal.
If people’s businesses and reputations are at stake, it’s a
pity they didn’t realise that when they were given the
opportunity to remedy the problem - and didn’t do so.
Shell,
How on earth do you come to that conclusion in this case. Have you read the article ?
Presumably now a full blown enquiry will have to be launched as the club owners are rightly or wrongly accusing the authorities decision as being racially motivated, in any other case if there is the merest suggestion that race is a factor involved everything else would be dropped to investigate such a crime, at the end of the day who will be there to judge the judges?
The issues that preceded all this are now quite frankly meaningless, the allegation has been made and it’ll be a case of pass the hot potato within the police and council hq’s.
Shell,sweety, the colour of their skin has no effect what so ever! Infact these days i see more racial problems directed at the white folk, should we all do the same and claim the reason’s for being treated unfairly is because we are white? Nope don’t be so rediculous darling, the fact is they didn’t DO what the authorities clearly stated they should of to tidy up their club, obviously the licence they had wasn’t so important to them otherwise they would of acted accordingly..using the race card to duck out of their responabilities is soooo past its sell by date, just like their club, race was never the issue in this matter the lack of control and good sense was their down fall.
I am not backing the nightclub owners or police since I have not got all the information to tell if there is evidence of racism.However, at times like this we should realise we have racists amongst us and should bare that in mind.
Sorry last line should read we should bear that in mind.We live in a country where one of our prominent footballers has stated clearly that the worst racist abuse he got was from England supporters.You should try the NHS
look i ait bein funny i love breileighs its a fab club luv it tha bst dt
care wat ne1 says nva b a club like it in telford AGEN
Thank you Becky for that enlightening comment, and there was me thinking Esperanto was a thing of the past!
Shame on them using the race card in a situation where the club and pretty much everyone knows whats going on there and its not like any of it was hidden ..all police work is spot on top marks for them,all the club management have done is make themselves look guilty and people who use the racist issue in this way dont realise i think that they are constantly weakening this card for people who are truely suffering ,bit like the boy who cried wolf.