WE  understands that Jamaican dancehall performers Mavado and Bounty Killer were not allowed to perform at the Second City Banqueting Suite in Sherlock Street, Hockley earlier this week as police officers, acting on what they dubbed a credible security threat stepped in at the last minute to stop the concert.

The 11th hour cancellation irked dancehall fans and once again raised concerns about discrimination against their culture. The event organisers Birmingham-based Luv One Luv All Promotions have taken a financial pounding as the concert cost over £25,000 to stage, and they had been forced to implement special security arrangements including walk-through metal detectors, a retinue of 30 security guards and specially trained dogs.

Reports reaching us are that over 700 tickets had already been sold for the event, but the police maintain that their actions stemmed from security concerns.

In a statement, West Midlands Police said: "It was agreed that the event should not go ahead due to specific and credible information received by police, which raised concerns for public safety."

A string of negative incidents has threatened to derail Mavados high-flying momentum in recent months. Last week, the deejays close associate, Chase Cross, was stabbed outside the Miami Soho Studios on March 16th before the show even began. On January 19th of this year, Mavado had been booked to perform at a show in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but he was been banned by the local authorities, presumably because of the content of his music.

The police said the decision had been made bearing in mind that St. Vincent and the Grenadines had experienced 36 murders on the island in 2007, a huge jump from 13 in 2006, and they were concerned about Mavado's lyrics, which were considered to be violent. In December 2007, the deejays show was brought to a premature end by a swarm of local cops who surrounded Temple Hall Estate in rural St. Andrew.

Last year, Mavado had two dates in the UK on November 23 and 25 at the Mercia Banqueting Suite (Coventry) and the Stratford Rex (London) respectively. That show should have been is first ever performance in the UK.