Jacqui Kennedy, Birmingham City Council's director of regulatory services

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According to Jacqui Kennedy, Birmingham City Council's director of regulatory services, "Birmingham City Council do not condone unlicensed events." She said local authorities must ensure the four licensing objectives - the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, the protection of children from harm - were not undermined. "As with all legislation there are interpretation issues and each case is determined on its merits," she added.

Did the clowns' playing undermine the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance or the protection of children from harm? I don't see how. I think she should have stepped in and slapped the jobsworths down, that's why she's there. As Director. To Direct.

Maybe I'm tempted to letterbox her ward with details of what happened next time she's up for re-election. She ought to be answerable if she's throwing her weight around so destructively. Or is she not actually a councillor? Is "director of regulatory services" a non-elected position?

Clowns appearing at a circus in Birmingham have been silenced by licensing regulators who banned them from playing their trumpets.

Zippos Circus said Birmingham City Council officials told them the show could not go on unless the clowns dropped the musical part of their act.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/w...ds/7630174.stm

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Zippos Circus said Birmingham City Council officials told them the show could not go on unless the clowns dropped the musical part of their act.

I know zippos said they could only drop the trumpets if it was funny.