The sub-committee received a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) concerning an application by Essex Police for the review of the premises licence at SFC, 26 Southchurch Road, Essex, SS1 2ND.

The application was presented by Ms V Powell of the Police Licensing Unit.  Ms J Mason and Mr G Ashford of the Police Licensing Unit, together with their witness, Ms R Newell from the Home Office Immigration Department were in attendance. Mr Hasan, owner of the property, together with Mr Hopkins (licensing consultant), the respondent’s representative, were in attendance at the hearing.

The application had been made on the grounds of crime and disorder, in particular, the employment of a person who is disqualified from work by reason of their immigration status and that employees were not in receipt of the minimum wage.

The sub-committee noted that an application had also been received from Mr Hasan to transfer the existing premises licence to him, to which the Police had objected. On the basis that the evidence submitted and given by all parties related to both applications, the Chairman explained at the outset of the hearing that both applications would be considered together, following consideration of all of the evidence.

The sub-committee heard that Mr Hasan had employed another person to look after the running of the premises in July 2017, prior to the commencement of trading in August 2017.  Mr Hasan had left this employee in charge of the premises whilst he visited his family in Bangladesh between 25th September until 9th October 2017.  The illegal worker was not employed by Mr Hasan and he had never met him.  Copies of documents to support this were referred to at the hearing by the respondent’s representative.  However, under the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005, the sub-committee disregarded these documents as evidence on the basis that they were not supplied to all parties before the hearing and at the hearing the consent of Essex Police was not given to it being produced.

The sub-committee listened to all the evidence and submissions, and read all the documents.  It had regard to the Statutory Guidance Notes and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy. The sub-committee further considered the four licensing objectives namely the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.

On the basis of the evidence presented to it, the sub-committee regarded this situation as serious and took the view that the licence holder had failed in his duty to comply with the conditions on the premises licence and the licensing legislation.  Due to the gravity of the situation and taking into account the promotion of the crime prevention objective, including acting as a deterrent, in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003, the sub-committee believed the imposition of further or amended conditions or a suspension of the licence would be ineffective in the promotion of the licensing objectives and the prevention of illegal working in the interests of the wider community.  It therefore:

Resolved:

That the premises licence be revoked.