Pub with '˜criminal behaviour centred on it' has licence revoked

Councillors on the licensing committee yesterday (Tuesday) considered the police’s case over the Jolly Crispin, on West Street, and agreed with the force that the premises had been undermining the licensing objectives, with ‘regular drug dealing and drug use being associated with the venue’.

Officers told the committee that following a warrant executed at the premises a substantial amount of contraband tobacco was seized.

Police also found that the premises were operating in breach of their licence conditions ‘on a daily basis’.

Sergeant Kim Enderby from the Alcohol Licensing Team said: “Over the past two years we had been receiving intelligence linking the pub to the use and sale of drugs.

“Initially we attempted to work with the owners to resolve these problems. However testing of the premises with a drugs itemiser indicated that these issues remained.

“Local officers ran an Operation targeted directly at the drug dealing.

“This proved effective in the disruption of the criminal activity, with two males currently on bail and a quantity of illegal drugs seized.

“My officers assisted in a search warrant executed at the pub. During this search a substantial amount of hand rolling tobacco, which the manager admitted were smuggled goods was seized from the premises.

“He has received a police caution for the tobacco and a further one in relation to breaching his licence conditions.”

Sgt Enderby said’numerous’ breaches of the licences conditions were uncovered including those which had been imposed at a previous review hearing to protect the public using the venue.

She said: “Despite knowing this the premises continued to repeatedly breach their licence conditions.

“This decision sends a clear message to all licensed premises that criminal activity in our licensed premises will not be tolerated, operate responsibly within the law or face the risk of sanctions and ultimately the loss of your licence.”

There is a 21 day appeal process, after which, if no appeal is submitted, then the revocation comes into force.