Operators fight licence conditions in court
Pub operators in Newcastle under Lyme are taking the local authority to court over its policy of forcing pubs to search customers for drugs. Yates Group, Laurel Pub Company, Mitchells & Butlers and Inventive Leisure, who all operate in the Staffordshire town, have been told that to receive a public entertainment licence (PEL) they will be expected to search one in every 30 customers after 7pm, and more later in the evening.
The news has brought an outcry from pub operators and licensees in the town who will be forced to employ extra staff to conduct the searches. They are concerned that civilian security staff will be conducting searches which should be controlled by trained police.
The policy is part of a number of PEL conditions, which include minimum priced drinks and membership of Pubwatch. Operators and licensees in the town were happy to support the minimum pricing scheme.
Mark Jones, chief executive of Yates Group, said: "We don't believe putting doorstaff on from 7pm sends a message of a safe night out. We are in favour of minimum pricing but they are asking civilians to do the job of the police."
A spokesperson for Mitchells & Butlers, which owns the Edwards bar in the town, said: "We raised our concerns over how we are meant to operate such a measure. We don't see how it would be feasible."
Karen Kelshaw, spokeswoman for the British Beer & Pub Association, said: "We always advise that licensees take the issue of drugs seriously and do what they can to keep them off the premises, but there needs to be a sense of proportionality. Local authorities can't enforce searches as part of a licence."
The opposition to the drug searches has left the council's town centre development officer Brett Ritzkowski disappointed. He said: "There was a lot of opposition to the random search measure. I've worked in the pub trade and can see both sides."
The case is due to be heard at the end of June.
