Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Senior Licensing Officer outlined the purpose of the hearing and explained that on 9 January 2013 an application was received for a review of the Premises Licence in respect of Booze N Stuff, 15 St Leonards Road, Northampton.  The application was submitted by Northamptonshire Police and related to two Test Purchases where underage persons were sold alcoholic drinks at the premises to be taken away for consumption.

Application for the Review

PC Bryan stated that the grounds for review were under the Licensing Objectives of the Prevention of Crime and Disorder and the Protection of Children from Harm.

He stated that on 22 June 2012 two Test Purchasers, aged 15 and 16, had been sold two bottles of alcoholic beverage.  The seller, an employee of the shop, had been issued with a Penalty Notice for Disorder (£80), for an offence under Section 146 of the Licensing Act 2003 of selling alcohol to a minor.  On 18 August 2012 a second Test Purchase had been carried out, using two 16 year old people, who had been sold two bottles of alcoholic beverage.  The seller was Mr Abdullah, the Premises Licence Holder, who was invited at a later date to Campbell Square Police Station and formally P.A.C.E. interviewed about the sale. 

Mr Abdullahi, at the interview, admitted the offence under section 146 of the Licensing Act 2003 of selling alcohol to a minor and was Cautioned for the offence.  In addition, Mr Abdullahi accepted a Section 169A Closure Notice for Persistently Selling Alcohol to Children, rather than being reported for the offence of Section 147A of the Licensing Act 2003 and going to court.  The Closure Notice was served on 10 October 2012 and the closure dates were 12 noon on 26 October to 12 noon on 9 November 2012.

The Police had waited until January 2013 to submit the review application as the Police had run an operation to reduce alcohol fuelled violence in December 2012 and if the premises had come to their attention during that period the Police would have added any additional information to the Review papers.  PC Bryan conformed that there had been no further matters to add.

The Police had concerns that during the interview mentioned above Mr Abdullahi did not know the full name of his Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) and could only state that the DPS ran a business in Peterborough.  He stated that the DPS did visit the premises from time to time but this is difficult to prove or disprove.  Mr Abdullahi clearly ran the day to day business of the premises and had been present on the occasion of both Test Purchases and on each occasion PC Bryan had visited the premises.

The Police were concerned that in their view Mr Abdullahi had little knowledge of the Licensing Act 2003 or his responsibilities under the Act.

The Police considered that Mr Abdullahi should take a course for Personal Licence Holders and obtain  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.