Police target big venues in licensing crackdown
by Ewan Turney
Police forces across the country have warned they will continue to target large city-centre venues for revocation of licences before and after 24 November.
There appears to be a sustained campaign by police to take high-profile casualties to send out a message to others not to step out of line.
Last week magistrates revoked the late licence of Britain's largest club, the Syndicate, in Blackpool.
Police in Lancashire gave the court a dossier detailing 61 incidents in the past two years, including violence by doorstaff, drug taking, under-age drinking and a sexual act.
The club will now only be able to sell alcohol until 11pm but can stay open till 3am.
'If similar facts present themselves in the future, we will take the same action to achieve the same outcome,' said Super-intendent Steve Watson. 'There can be no doubt among licensees as to our position in this regard. Compromising safety is simply not an option.'
Owner of the Syndicate Mike Nordwind said he was 'astounded' by the decision but would reopen on 24 November with the hope of conducting fresh talks with police.
The revocation follows similar cases at the Works in Nottingham and the Hippodrome in London.
Merseyside police officers have also instituted revocation proceedings against the city's largest club, 051, and Baby Storm after compiling a list of top 10 offenders.
'This process (applying for revocation) will continue until I am satisfied all the bars and clubs are well-run and safe for people to visit,' said Chief Inspector John Roy.
Bar Entertainment & Dance Association chairman John Hayes, who steps down in November, said it was a 'worrying trend'.
He said: 'I am not saying all operators are innocent but I do feel for them. There has always been under-age drinking but the difference now is there are cheap drinks and huge pres- sure to fill venues because of over-saturation.
'You can go on the internet and buy any form of ID you want. Our job is approaching the impossible,' Hayes added.
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