Police vow to get tough in hunt for rogue pubs
by John Harrington
Police forces are stepping up their attempts to close 'problem' pubs and clubs under the new licensing regime.
Forces are now approaching councils to close venues that they say cause disorder, rather than appealing to magistrates as they did before the Licensing Act went live on 24 November.
Hertfordshire Police this week wrote to Hertsmere Borough Council urging them to revoke the licence of a pub that they originally closed on the grounds of drug use.
Police shut the Woodcock in Borehamwood in October using the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, which allows senior officers to close a venue if they believe it has connections with Class A drugs. But magistrates overturned the closure order three weeks later.
Woodcock licensee Marion Buckley flatly denies accusations that her pub was used for drugs and has vowed to fight police attempts to close the venue.
'The police are giving my pub and family a bad name. It's all lies. I will go the ends of the earth to save this pub,' Buckley told the Borehamwood & Elstree Times.
A council hearing into the Woodcock's licence is now set for January. Buckley has until 20 December to submit a written response.
Meanwhile, police in east London sent a stark warning to the area's licensees after shutting a nightclub following a dramatic raid involving more than 130 officers.
The Anti-Social Behaviour Act was also used to close the Trax club in Romford, because police suspected it was being used for drug-taking, under-age drinking and alcohol-related disorder.
Seven men were arrested inside Trax for drugs and other offences during the police swoop at around 9pm on 25 November. A knife, CS canister and drugs were seized. The owners of Trax have until tomorrow (Friday) to lodge an appeal.
'We hope the closure of this popular venue will send out a hard-hitting message straight to the heart of licensed businesses, who must take responsibility for their weak standards in dealing with crime, disorder and drugs misuse on their premises,' said chief superintendent Sultan Taylor.
