London Metropolitan police have reportedly told a music venue in Croydon to no longer play bashment, as the music genre falls into a category the borough finds an "unacceptable form of music."
According to the Croydon Advertiser, Dice Bar owner Roy Seda has been told by police repeatedly over the past year not to play bashment at his venue, including tracks by dancehall artist Sean Paul. The newspaper also learned that the Met had sent undercover officers into the venue to ensure that DJs were not playing the genre that derives from Jamaican dancehall and ragga.
Speaking to the paper, Nero Ughwujabo, chief exec of Croydon Black and Ethnic Minority (BME) Forum, said:
"Singling out Caribbean and specifically Jamaican music as being associated with crime and disorder is profiling – which is unacceptable.
The newspaper was also able to obtain documents from a meeting between police officers detailing how Dice bar was not "adhering to the music policy" and to their joint agreement "not to play bashman or John Paul" [sic].
The owner of Dice bar has been forced to request DJs not to play bashment or risk not being paid or even fired.
A local council leader has found the allegations made by Mr Seda as "hugely concerning" and has expressed the need for a "very clear explanation" from the police regarding their actions.
The London Met have denied that such a policy exists.
