Pub boss speaks out after licence reviews (From Southend Standard)
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Pub boss speaks out after licence reviews
3:20pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 in News
Pub boss speaks out after licence reviews
A PUB boss say a police “crusade” against licencees has resulted in a reluctance to report any concerns for fear of being shut down.
Stephen Barham, who runs Bar Lambs, part of the Lamb & Lion pub, in Station Road, Westcliff, spoke out following a string of licence reviews in the town.
It comes after Mayhem, in Warrior Square, was raided by more than a hundred police officers on Friday, September 21.
Officers said this was based on intelligence about drug dealing on the premises, and they have now called for a review on the club’s licence.
After the raid, the club’s owner Richard Shea said they had worked closely with police, who previously brought in an ION Track machine to swab clubbers hands for signs of drugs on entry.
Nevertheless, he said police hadn’t informed him about any drug problem.
Mr Barham said an over-zealous response to problems in pubs and clubs had left landlords wary about telling the police about any worries they might have.
He said: “Licensees have a genuine desire to promote a safe and sociable environment both on their premises and in the surrounding area.
“This would best be achieved in partnership with the police and local resident organisations but, as it stands, licensees are reluctant to inform the police of any concerns they have in fear of the consequences.”
The licence at Bar Lambs was revoked after a review was called by police last year. But in September, Mr Barham managed to get the licence back after agreeing to a string of conditions.
His solicitor, David Dadds, who is also representing the Old Hat, in Alexandra Street, Southend, in its upcoming licence review, is advising his clients not to let police swab their premises for drugs without seeking legal advice first.
Southend Inspector Matt Bennett said: He added: “The Essex Police approach to licensing enforcement is indeed to work closely with licensees and at Southend we champion this approach.
“It is never our objective to force a premises into closure, however it is our obligation to ensure all licensed premises are managed correctly, thereby ensuring the safety of the customers who frequent that establishment and the community as a whole. “
Comments(15)
fletch12107
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5:13pm Wed 10 Oct 12
naffeville
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5:15pm Wed 10 Oct 12
emcee
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5:17pm Wed 10 Oct 12
This drugs situation is a society problem and, although I feel the police should do all they can to deal with it, I do not see why they should lay the blame for the drug culture on landlords. A lot of the time it seems to be that the police need scapegoats for an issue that they, and the government in general, are increasingly unable to deal with.
billericay boy
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5:21pm Wed 10 Oct 12
leeharveyosmond
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6:34pm Wed 10 Oct 12
leeharveyosmond
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6:39pm Wed 10 Oct 12
Really? You'd better take a look at what the Licensing Unit at Southend is up to, because it doesn't appear to be the policy you describe. It appears rather more like lurid and spurious allegations that evaporate for want of evidence when put before a magistrate. Go on, look into the "string of conditions" of conditions agreed to by The Lamb And Lion's owner, which Sgt Barnes is still touting as one of his triumphs. That string of conditions amounted to stuff already in the premises licence for some years, and also stuff that is sound business practice for anybody running a pub. Nothing special at all.
beaulocks
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7:14pm Wed 10 Oct 12
Gay Ray wrote:You are dead right its not for you. Get yourself up Ricky Rayment and Danny Cods new place in Rayleigh. Def more your thing.
If the photo is representative of the clientele at Bar Lambs I shan't be going there. They look like rough boys to me.
Gay Ray
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7:35pm Wed 10 Oct 12
leeharveyosmond wrote:I had a feeling there might be a misrepresentation there. Thank you for confirming my suspicions.
@Gay Ray, no the picture shown with someone drinking from an inverted bottle is not from Bar Lambs or The Lamb And Lion, nor it is representative of what goes on there. Since it's also different from the picture that accompanied this story in the print edition, I suspect someone at the Echo has used a stock photo.
If that's the way they behave in Stock I won't be going there either. I may take up Beaulocks' suggestion and pay Rayleigh a visit- probably more my sort of place.
If he's a bit nicer to me than of late I might even take asbo for half a shandy.
maddriver
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9:22pm Wed 10 Oct 12
emcee wrote:Have to say I agree with this comment. I am also a little puzzled about the statement in the article that a machine was used to swab clubbers hands on entry. Surely if the police have reason to suspect drug dealing, then they should be carrying this out on both entry and exit to establish that drugs are being dealt on the premises.
I am not saying all landlords are angels but the licenced trades are between a rock and a hard place. No landlord can ensure everyone of his/her clients are "clean" on entering their premises and I dare say if every drug user was removed from licenced premises there would be hardly anyone left and the businesses would close anyway.
This drugs situation is a society problem and, although I feel the police should do all they can to deal with it, I do not see why they should lay the blame for the drug culture on landlords. A lot of the time it seems to be that the police need scapegoats for an issue that they, and the government in general, are increasingly unable to deal with.
DogsMessInLeigh
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11:12pm Wed 10 Oct 12
aduksquack
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12:17pm Thu 11 Oct 12
leeharveyosmond wrote:Ah, The Echo takes another step closer to stealing the Framley Examiner's crown… http://www.framley.c
@Gay Ray, no the picture shown with someone drinking from an inverted bottle is not from Bar Lambs or The Lamb And Lion, nor it is representative of what goes on there. Since it's also different from the picture that accompanied this story in the print edition, I suspect someone at the Echo has used a stock photo.
om
andy:)
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6:36pm Thu 11 Oct 12
Secondly it is claimed (by the police) that the manager of the Old Hat warned patrons of the police raid but now the manager denies this and CCTV backs him up ?
What exactly is the purpose of these raids, you could raid any bar (and prob any gathering of people) and find one or two with drugs on them, I dont believe this means the bar should automatically be shut down, what of Churchills the scene of a recent killing by bouncers and untold assaults, is their licence up for review.
Come on police, sort out your priorities.
Andy
Brunning999
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7:14pm Thu 11 Oct 12
However David Dadds comment of advice does really make you think what law and order is about, perhaps he prefers the later.
Eric Whim
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5:11pm Sun 14 Oct 12
Get yourself up Ricky Rayment and Danny Cods
don't forget to wear a condom though
Gay Ray says...
5:12pm Wed 10 Oct 12