Bar has licence suspended following serious violence
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A Peterborough city centre bar has had its Premises Licence suspended following recent instances of serious violence.
The force made an application under section 53a of the Licensing Act 2003 for Peterborough City Council to expedite a review of Bar 42's licence which allows a venue to serve alcohol to customers.
Despite licensing officers from both the council and police advising the premises over many months, concerns have escalated with violence taking place as recently as last weekend.
Incidents include a serious sexual assault on a woman within the Broadway bar in November last year and two instances of serious violence taking place this month (11 and 20 July), with the latest incident resulting in a man being hospitalised with a bleed on the brain.
The application was submitted to the council’s Regulatory Services Licensing team who is responsible for issuing licences for the provision of music, late night refreshments and the sale of alcohol at more than 500 permanent venues in Peterborough.
During a licensing review hearing held today (Wednesday), Peterborough City Council’s Licensing subcommittee members decided the Premises Licence for Bar 42 will be suspended until a full hearing takes place on 20 August at Peterborough Town Hall.
Inspector Sam Tucker, from Peterborough’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We note the decision of the committee today and believe there was no option but to take this action following the recent serious incidents of violence.
“We have worked with the licence holder with advice being given to address issues, however we are still concerned for public safety within the venue.”
Councillor Dennis Jones, Leader of Peterborough City Council, said: “The subcommittee decision supported by the licensing and legal team is the correct and appropriate action to take as we will not accept or tolerate licensed premises failing to consider public safety in the city.”
The bar will have a right to appeal the interim decision and has been advised accordingly.