A Birmingham nightclub has been allowed to keep its licence following the death of a teenager from a suspected drug overdose.

Lab 11 in Digbeth has been commended for putting together a 'comprehensive' package of measures following the tragic incident on September 2.

But police have warned they and other nightclubs are almost powerless to completely stamp out Birmingham's drug culture.

The venue on Trent Street originally had its licence suspended by Birmingham City Council after a 19-year-old man - who has not been publicly named by authorities - suffered a cardiac arrest in the early hours of Sunday, September 2, and later died at City Hospital.

But the authority later lifted the order after an appeal and were contented by a raft of new conditions.

Trent Street, Digbeth

Since then Lab 11 owner Will Power, aged 30, has taken over as the designated premises supervisor (DPS).

He has almost doubled the amount of CCTV cameras to 42, replaced the security team and introduced drug detection dogs.

Further measures include reducing the size of the toilet doors to deter drug activity, improved lighting, installing sloped services and anti-drug signage.

While arguably Mr Power's most ambitious proposal is to launch a new Rave Safe scheme which provides a dedicated welfare team within the club - a model it wants to roll out if successful.

Addressing a council licensing sub committee for a summary review of Lab 11 today (Monday, October 1), PC Deano Walker, licensing officer at West Midlands Police, welcomed the changes but warned that drugs would never be completely eradicated.

He said: "The venue's attitude is totally different now. It is unfortunate it has taken this incident to happen to get here.

"But I don't think you will ever get rid of it (drugs) to be honest.

"Drugs is drugs. People like to drink, like to have a beer, and some like to take drugs.

"I don't think we will ever see an end to it."

Lab 11 in Trent Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, will keep its licence after the suspected drug-related death of a teenager.
Lab 11 in Trent Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, will keep its licence after the suspected drug-related death of a teenager.

Kyle Stott, public health officer at the council, echoed the sobering warning and said: "The culture is not going to go away. It is that simple to be honest.

"What we have to do is look at prevention and intervention at the earliest opportunity we can.

"But no policy is absolutely 100 per cent and no scenario is 100 per cent. It is a tragic set of circumstances but we are encouraged by the interim steps from the venue."

The committee ruled to amend the club's licence including a host of new conditions, most of which have already been implemented by Lab 11.

Addressing the committee Mr Power said: "I started off as a DJ, then putting on events, then it grows to having your own venue.

"Your biggest fear is that someone loses their life. It does have an effect, it has had an effect on me.

"You think about that person and their family. Ultimately it is all very good having a venue where people can enjoy themselves but we have got a duty to make sure they enjoy themselves safely.

"Unfortunately I'm not going to be the last venue owner in front of a committee.

"It [drugs] is an inherent part of society and it's our duty to make these practices (new licensing conditions) are upheld and we prevent where possible drugs getting into the venue and also we will have a team in place if there is an incident so they can react as quickly as possible."

His barrister Duncan Craig stated that Lab 11 had always tried to comply with its licence conditions and the incident on September 2 had served to 'concentrate their minds' further.