The Director of Regeneration reported upon an application by Merseyside Police to review a Premises Licence in relation to the Five Bars Rest, 61 Borough Road, Wallasey, under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003. The application was related to the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety. The Five Bars Rest currently had a Premises Licence to allow the following Licensable Activities –

Supply of Alcohol

Monday to Sunday  11.00am to 2.00am

Hours Open to the Public

Monday to Sunday  11.00am to 2.30am

Regulated Entertainment (Live Music, Recorded Music, Performance of Dance and Anything of a Similar Description)

Monday to Sunday  12.00noon to 1.00am

Entertainment Facilities (Facilities for Making Music, Dancing and Anything of a Similar Description)

Monday to Sunday  12.00noon to 1.00am

The Licensing Manager set out the steps that could be taken by the sub-committee for the promotion of the Licensing Objectives and commented that no representations had been received from other Responsible Authorities.

In attendance were Sgt D Peers and Con K Cottrell (Merseyside Police), Mr T Jones (Designated Premises Supervisor) Ms K Smith (Manager) and Mr D Howard (employee at the Five Bars Rest).

Sgt Peers commented that Mr Jones had always cooperated fully with Merseyside Police and that the premises had been well managed. However, he indicated that the application had been made as a result of a number of incidents that had occurred within the past months, which undermined the prevention of crime and disorder objective. Merseyside Police were seeking a condition that two SIA registered doorstaff were on duty from 2100hrs whenever the premises were having entertainment and that the CCTV within the premises was to the local authority specification.

Mr Jones commented that a new CCTV system had been installed and that signs had been placed in the bar area which indicated that anybody committing crime would be prosecuted. In addition, a 21 age limit had been put in place. He addressed each of the incidents that had been highlighted by Merseyside Police and commented that four were as a result of false allegations by people wasting police time. There were other incidents that had been reported to the Police by staff members in order to demonstrate that troublesome customers would be prosecuted and to send out a clear message that violent or threatening behaviour would not be tolerated. Other, more serious incidents had taken place in the vicinity that were in no way connected to the Five Bars Rest, but had been linked to the premises by the Police because of its proximity.

Mr Jones referred to the proposed condition for the employment of doorstaff when regulated entertainment was taking place and advised the sub-committee that he always made a considered judgement as to whether doorstaff would be required, having regard to the type of entertainment provided and to the likely numbers and age range of the customers expected.

Merseyside Police informed Members of the sub-committee that in their experience, Mr Jones had always honoured anything that he had said he would do.

In determining the application, the sub-committee had regard to the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 and to the Licensing Objectives.

Resolved –

(1) That, in accordance with regulation 14.2 of the Licensing Act 2003, the public be excluded from the meeting during the determination of the application.

(2) That having listened carefully to the representations from both sides, the sub-committee thanks Mr Jones for his citizenship and the approach to his job in seeking to make the area safer and encourages him and his staff to continue.

(3) The sub- committee is pleased to note that an appropriate and functioning CCTV system has been installed and that this will voluntarily be adopted as a condition of the licence. Confirmation is sought from Merseyside Police that the system is to the specification of the local authority.

(4) That in relation to the provision of doorstaff, the sub-committee has been re-assured by Mr Jones and relies on him to make a proper assessment. The sub-committee welcomes his assurance that doorstaff will be employed when he judges it to be appropriate and that he will not provide entertainment of a sort likely to lead to disorder. The sub-committee is confident that the Police will bring it to the attention of the sub-committee if their trust and judgement has been misplaced.