Camden News: Sgt Bob Dear

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Camden News by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
Published: 18 September 2008

Sgt Bob Dear

‘Change booze rules’ – police

Cops speak out as ban store gets licence

POLICE have criticised licensing rules after claiming a shop was allowed to continue selling alcohol because its owners had changed the store’s name.
Camden’s licensing police chief Sgt Bob Dear accused Delta Express’s application for a new licence at 17 to 23 Southampton Row in Holborn of being “nothing more than a transparent attempt by the existing owners to circumvent the review process”.
Previous owners Food City had twice been the subject of a review after undercover police – who spent more than a year collecting evidence – caught them breaking their licensing conditions.
The breaches, and the two suspensions that followed, were unique in Camden. After Food City were handed a second three-month alcohol sales ban they surrendered their licence without serving the suspension.
Delta Express were granted a new licence by licensing chiefs last Tuesday.
Sgt Dear warned: “If granted, there is nothing to stop this new licence from immediately being transferred back into the name of Food City.”
The licensing panel said there was no evidence the two companies were connected.
Licensing officer PC Gerry McGann called the decision “unpalatable” and said that the law needed “firming up”.
In a letter to the Town Hall, Jenny Hughes, of
J&H Consultants, representing Delta Express, insisted it was a new company unconnected to Food City. She said they sold the business after the “threat” of suspension.
She added: “We do not understand police concerns regarding these premises, but we submit that the representations are not relevant representations. Delta Express KNS Limited is a newly formed company whose directors have no connection with Food City.
“There is no intention to transfer the licence back to Food City and, even if an application was made, the police have the right to object.”
J&H Consultants was unavailable for comment.

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