Police want licensee on site at all times

Police want to force six Hastings pubs to ensure the designated premises supervisor (DPS) or a personal licence holder is on site whenever alcohol is served.

They also called for four week licence suspensions at three of the bars. Other hard-line conditions proposed include forcing pubs to count customers in and out, operate Challenge 25 and carry out rigorous staff training to avoid underage sales.

Police proposed a series of hard-line conditions at the six pubs in George Street that are all being put up for review en massee — the move caused anger among licensees who see it as a blanket approach.

In a letter to the council, police point to a "lack of control over customers" at the pubs, saying they are not being kept "respectably" and customers "most certainly do not obey the law".

Other conditions proposed by police include having a 8pm curfew on Highway permits, no more than five people smoking outside if there are no permits, and an hourly log on how many people are inside (with incidents logged).

The police want licensees to make sure all staff are aware of fake IDs available from the internet and train staff in avoiding underage sales , with refresher courses every eight weeks.

Meanwhile, the council's environmental health department proposed 10 virtually identical conditions for all six pubs.

Under the plan, after 9pm there must be no tables or drinking on the street, no more than six customers outside smoking and at least one doorman employed. Music must be inaudible outside after 11pm.

Hearings for three of the pubs take place on Friday and the remainder on Thursday 2 July.

Joe O'Riordan, secretary of the local licensed victuallers association 1066 LVA, accused the police of not supporting licensees. "The police largely ignore the consumption of alcohol on the street unless it has a direct connection to a licensed premises. those purchasing from the off-trade and drinking in the street must be apprehended and penalised."

The MA left a message with the police but had no reply.

Hastings Council has defended its decision to review all six licences en massee.

Bob Brown, licensing services manager for Hastings, denied the council was following the blanket approach of Oldham, saying that not every licensed venue on George Street is being reviewed.

He said the Licensing Act's guidance allows for reviews of more than one venue when there's nuisance linked to the close proximity of outlets.

"We are complying with the [Licensing] Act. We are quite justified doing what we are doing," he said.