Heavy-handed tactics anger trade
by John Harrington
Police forces across the country are increasingly applying inconsistent and heavy-handed tactics to deal with pubs.
A number of forces have been slammed for using tactics for recording crime in pubs and clubs that distort the true picture and for using inappropriate methods in searches of licensed premises, which risk alienating pub operators from the police.
Earlier this year, Ultimate Leisure's Coyote Wild nightclub in Mansfield was given a 24-hour closure order because of "incidents of disorder".
But solicitor Jeremy Allen told a court hearing after the closure that police had not stepped foot in the premises. "It was a decision made on what police called intelligence but I would call rumour," Allen said. He claimed it was an example of "unlawful and unnecessary use of police powers".
Chief executive Bob Senior said extensive CCTV footage showed there was no good reason for police to shut down the club for the night a move that saw 900 customers thrown on to the streets. It is believed that Ultimate is now paying about £45,000 a year for two police to patrol the area around Coyote Wild in a move some observers think is aimed at keeping on side with unpredictable local police chiefs.
Bar, Entertainment & Dance Association chief executive Jon Collins pointed to examples of police forces that had recorded crimes at pubs and clubs in ways that give a distorted picture of crime on the premises.
He said police in Leeds recorded 87 crimes at one venue. But of these, around half had been reported by the staff because they suspected customers of using drugs on the premises, and others had been for less serious crimes such as mobile phone thefts.
"We are getting to a situation where it looks like a venue is being punished for being responsible, for having a robust search policy," said Collins. "Good management is being penalised."
l Profit warning at Ultimate Leisure p11
