Pub boss slams police for lack of support
McMullens boss Peter Furness-Smith has slammed British law enforcement for not doing enough to support pubs in a strongly-worded letter to Home Secretary John Reid.
The MD of the Hertford brewer and pub operator complained that while pub staff are under the constant threat of being fined for serving minors, thugs who cause violence in pubs are being let off scot-free.
He gave the example of a barman who was fined £80 after mistakenly serving a 17 year-old during a sting operation at the company's Lord Kitchener pub in Barnet, London. McMullens, as the premises licence holder, and also the designated premises supervisor were taken to court and prosecuted "at great cost to both the tax payer and to my company" but were eventually acquitted.
A few months later staff at McMullens' Fishery pub in Elstree suffered injuries and abuse from a group of people after refusing to serve a man who appeared to be drunk. Two of the group gave themselves up to police - and were let off with a caution.
Furness-Smith said: "I hope these two recent examples of incidents which are far from 'one offs' help to highlight how far we have gone in this country to redefine the principles of justice let alone advertise our law enforcement priorities.
"I find it incredible that you encourage your police force to commit resources to entrapping, and fining honest hard working pub employees who make an error of judgement but take no action against a person who admits to assault and criminal damage. Interestingly you will also know that underage persons who actually manage to con their way into purchasing alcohol are rarely if ever fined or prosecuted!
"I am sure your opinion polls are beginning to tell you that honest hard working people are increasingly concerned by our political elite as more and more examples of this sort of ludicrous behaviour by the state comes to light.
"I feel bound to write to someone and have chosen you, not because I think it will result in any change to your political priorities, although I hope it will, but I have a duty to my team to 'do something'.
"How do you expect this industry to attract and keep the quality people we need when on the one hand we are constantly undermined by both our politicians and their law enforcement agencies and on the other hand we are not supported when assaulted by the scum in our society?"
