STAFF at a pub threatened with closure after a customer was caught selling illegal tobacco will be made to wear body cameras.

Security measures at the Moon on the Square, in Market Pavement, Basildon, will be stepped up after the Wetherspoons pub won its fight to stay open.

Bosses faced a licensing review at Basildon Council’s headquarters in St Martin’s Square yesterday after Essex Trading Standards discovered a customer had been selling the tobacco from a table inside the venue for more than two years.

A cross-party committee, made up of councillors Frank Ferguson, Stephen Hillier and Alan Bennett, ruled the pub’s license had been breached - but allowed it to continue trading.

Wetherspoons bosses told the hearing they had acted swiftly to install new security measures in light of the findings, including facial recognition cameras, improved CCTV to cover ‘blind spots’ and body cameras for staff.

Nigel Connor, company secretary, said all staff have been reminded of the chain’s policy for reporting customers breaching acceptable standards of behaviour.

He said: “As a result of this, five staff involved have received final written warnings, and there have been two demotions.

“The pub is at the heart of the community and the staff know who the troublemakers are, and we have a new, strong and positive manager who will ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

Alan Bennett, chairman of the council’s licensing committee, said: “The decision of the committee is to take no action up against the pub.

“In agreement with Trading Standards and Essex Police, the necessary steps taken by the pub are considered to be proportionate and satisfactory.

Wetherspoons bosses insisted that its area managers carry out twice weekly visits to ensure its pub is up to standards.

“We are concerned that even with two visits a week, for two years, that still nobody was made fully aware of what was going on by middle management.”

The committee also noted that the pub had reached a settlement agreement with Essex Police and Trading Standards following a meeting on Tuesday.

At the hearing both parties agreed to withdraw concerns they had about the pub retaining its licence.

Liz Webb, from Essex Trading Standards said: “We accept to a large degree that our concerns have been addressed. We also welcome the robust stance taken by Wetherspoons over the matter.”