Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Broughton.

Members are asked to declare an interest in matters for consideration at the meeting.

None declared.

                                                                                                            (Enclosure)

Minutes of the meeting held on 18th May were agreed as a correct record of the decisions taken.

Report CSL012 by the Community Safety and Licensing Service Manager.

(Enclosure)

Decision:

That the premises licence for the premises known as European Mini Market, 9 Wharf Road, Grantham be revoked.

The Solicitor to the Committee introduced those people present:  Inspector Rod Rose, Licensing Inspector for Lincolnshire Police who had requested the review, Mr Hamasala the owner of the premises subject to the review and Mr Carter, of Counsel who had been retained to represent Mr Hamasala.

Inspector Rod Rose wished to show the Committee an excerpt from a DVD which was filmed during a recent search at the premises. The search was conducted by HMRC, trading standards and Lincolnshire Police. The applicant and his representative had not seen the footage and requested an adjournment to be able to view the footage. 

The meeting was adjourned between 10.08am and 10.14am and Committee Members left the meeting to enable the footage to been viewed by the applicant and his representative before being seen by the Committee. Mr Carter confirmed that he had viewed the footage and had been able to take instruction from his client.

Meeting reconvened at 10.14am

The Licensing Officer presented report CSL012 which concerned the review of the premises licence for the European Mini Market, 9 Wharf Road, Grantham, the review had been requested by Lincolnshire Police.  Law enforcement agencies had identified through intelligence, the possibility that alcohol and other goods were being made available for retail sale in contravention of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 and the Tobacco Products Duty Act 1979. 

On 8th February 2012 a joint visit consisting of officers from Lincolnshire Police, Trading Standards and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) entered the premises and seized a total of 3280 cigarettes, 2.42 Kilos of tobacco and 24.8 litres of non duty paid vodka.  The cigarettes and tobacco were hidden behind a purpose built compartment concealed underneath the counter and accessed by pulling on “false power sockets” to reveal a sliding door with the cigarettes hidden behind.  The cigarettes were only discovered after an indication by a dog trained in the detection of cigarettes/tobacco.  All the cigarettes found were foreign brands which had not had any UK duty paid on them and should not have been for sale in this country. The Premises Licence Holder was present at the time of the visit.

Three days later on 11th February 2012 a serious incident of violence and disorder occurred at the premises which required police attention.  Six people were arrested for affray. All six people have been uncooperative with the police and the police strongly believe that the cause of the incident was caused by an argument over payment of the seized goods although there is no evidence to support this. The incident on the 11^th February involved employees of the premises.

On 8th March 2012 another incident happened at the premises to which the police attended and made arrests.  The police say that the incidents show inefficient management of the premises, which was failing to promote the licensing objective of the Prevention of Crime  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

The meeting closed at 11.38am.