John Lloyd (died 7 May 2017)

John Lloyd writing on front page
of first issue of Devon Labour Briefing

John Lloyd (died 7 May 2017) was a Labour Party Activist and Councillor in Exeter.

I remember John from one incident in circa.1984.

At the time I was the membership secretary for the Pennsylvania / St. Davids branch of Exeter Labour Party. On my rounds to collect subs, I called in at a shared house, inhabited by several animal rights activists. To my misfortune, I arrived just as a police raid was taking place. It was quickly established that I had nothing to do with the house, nor the animal rights movement. I was sent away, but all my Labour Party cards and membership lists were confiscated.

I immediately went to the Heavitree Police Station to complain. Again, I was treated extremely impolitely, before being sent away empty-handed. The following morning after explaining the situation at the Clifton Hill Party HQ, I met up with John, and, in his capacity as a Councillor and member of the Police Authority, he made the complaints. The documents were returned later that day, no doubt after having been photocopied.

John even went on to write an article on excessive police powers for the first issue of Devon Labour Briefing.