|
 |
Previous story (News Browser) Next story
Comment on this story
Police have taken action against a supermarket in Slade Green, following numerous complaints over the last two months that alcohol was being sold to underage youths.
The sales caused groups of between 30 and 40 youths to congregate in the Arthur Street playground, drinking and causing criminal damage, nuisance and disorder. Although this took place on most days of the week, the biggest problems were occurring on Friday and Saturday evenings. Both the police and the Bexley Community Safety Partnership responded to complaints from local residents.
On 17 February at 19:50 hours, a closure order under Section 161 of the Licensing Act 2003 was served on TJ’s Supermarket, Northend Road, Slade Green, by Sergeant Ross McKibbin, of the Slade Green Safer Neighbourhoods Policing team, and Chief Inspector Steve Murrant, Operations Manager for Bexleyheath Police Station.
The order was issued to the manager of the off-licence, Mr Teja Singh Sahota, and meant that the premises had to remain closed for 24 hours. The order was re-issued 24 hours later at 19:50 hours on Saturday 18 February.
The closure order was issued on the supermarket because the situation at Arthur Street playground was getting progressively worse, with more youths causing alcohol-related disorder. Police anticipated that the same youths would purchase alcohol from TJ’s Supermarket on the weekend beginning Friday 17 February and further disorder was expected.
Chief Inspector Steve Murrant says: “My decision to authorise the use of a closure order under the licensing act was not taken lightly. This is the first time it has been used, and results in the closure of a premises and the subsequent loss of trade. Such action was only taken after consideration of all the circumstances.”
Closure Orders give the police the power to close licensed premises where there are grounds to believe that there is, or is likely to be, imminent disorder on, or in the vicinity of and related to the premises, and closure is necessary in the interests of public safety, or a public nuisance is being caused by noise coming from the premises and the closure of the premises is necessary to prevent that nuisance.
Magistrates reviewed the closure order at Bexley Magistrates’ Court on 22 February. They found in favour of the Police and extended the order pending a review of the license on 10 March. Until that time the off-license cannot sell alcohol and must remove it from public display.
Sergeant Ross McKibbin says: “This is an excellent result and the first use of these powers in Bexley. The use of such legislation reassures the community, and sends a clear message that we are committed to dealing with anti-social behaviour and disorder, and will not tolerate the sale of alcohol within Bexley borough to anyone under the legal age of 18.”
“I am very pleased the Police have made use of the new powers available to them to tackle this problem at its source,” adds Cllr Chris Ball, Chair of the Bexley Community Safety Partnership. “Their tough and prompt action is the clearest possible expression of our determination to continue improving the quality of life of our residents.”
|
|
