Brighton bans incitement tracks

It's a difficult time for the Daily Mail: Brighton city council has banned songs with contain incitement to commit hate crimes.

It's a tricky one for the Mail - it doesn't really like all the violent imagery in some rap music, but it also can't help noticing that this is an idea that's pro-gay.

In the end, it reaches for a fudge-headline:

Brighton becomes first city to ban rap music that offends gays

Except, of course, that's not what's happened at all.

The local licensing committee has simply made it explicit that venues which play music which incites violence - already a crime - will be refused a licence on grounds of criminal activity:

"Licensing policy supports the crime and disorder reduction partnership's crime reduction strategy.

"In particular it seeks to confront and reduce racist, homophobic, transphobic and religiously motivated crimes, incidents and antisocial behaviour.

"Particular attention will be paid to any licensed premises where there is evidence of criminal activity or any association with racist or homophobic crime."

The rule isn't about rap music - indeed, it was inspired by Buju Banton's planned gig at Concorde 2, so if anything it's a dancehall - and it isn't about "offending gays". It's merely codifying British law, and covers racist Oi tracks as much as it covers homophobic ragga tracks. But the Mail, of course, isn't likely to worry about fact challenging a good story.