Licence revoked over ‘serious failings’ at Wakefield pub where man was attacked

A council panel said they also had “serious concerns” after police reported multiple breaches of licensing conditions at The Little ‘Un on Spring Terrace, South Elmsall.

Officers were called to the pub in the early hours of January 24 this year and found a man unconscious in the street.

PC Toby Warden told a licence review hearing at Wakefield Town Hall that the attack took place following an earlier incident at the pub where damage was caused.

The officer said an arrest had been made but he could not disclose further details as the matter was still under investigation.

The incident happened eight days after police licensing officers visited the pub to carry out routine compliance checks and discovered a number of breaches.

PC Warden said the CCTV recording system was inadequate as images were not stored for the required 31-day period.

Councillors were told that incident report logs and staff training registers had not been completed.

PC Warden said there was also “confusion” over who the designated premises supervisor was and that the pub’s licence was not on display.

A closure notice for the premises was then issued.

Officers made follow-up visits on February 24 and March 18 but the breaches had not been rectified, the officer said.

CCTV footage was recovered which appeared to show customers being served alcohol after permitted hours.

It was also discovered that accredited security staff had not been working at the pub at weekends, as required by the licensing conditions.

Checks with a security company revealed that door staff had not been provided as an outstanding bill had not been paid.

PC Warden said the evidence showed there had been a “total disregard for licensing objectives.”

He said: “There has been serious failings in control measures required to run licensed premises.

“West Yorkshire Police believes there should be serious consideration for revocation of the premises licence.”

Licence holder Assan Ndure told the hearing he had always had door staff at the premises but didn’t realise they had to be accredited.

Mr Ndure conceded he did not “know much about the licensing business and what was required of a premises licence.”

He told councillors he had been a regular customer of the pub before taking it over last November but had not previously operated licensed premises.

Mr Ndure said he had suffered financially due to a loss of customers following the incident in January, which had contributed to his lack of compliance.

He said: “I fully understand now what my responsibilities are.

“I’ve never had a crime before in my pub. This was the first time. I don’t think it’s fair to shut it down.

“There were things I should have had in place but I have got them all in place now.

“All I can say is that I made a mistake and I apologise. Everybody needs a second chance.”

Paul Jaques, senior legal advisor for Wakefield Council, said: “It is clear from the review application that the objectives relevant to crime and disorder have not been followed.

“It is apparent to the committee that poor management practice has been in place and, on what the committee has heard during this hearing, there is no confidence that this will improve.

“A number of opportunities to correct matters have still not been followed and, in the circumstances, the committee has decided to take the step to revoke the premises licence.”