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Delta Express |
Shop’s licence row ‘frustrates’ police
‘Unpalatable decision shows rules need firming up’
FRUSTRATED police criticised licensing rules after a shop was allowed to continue selling alcohol because its owners had officially changed.
Licensing police chief Sergeant Bob Dear accused Delta Express of making “nothing more than a transparent attempt by the existing owners to circumvent the review process” when it applied for a licence at 17 to 23 Southampton Row, Holborn.
Previous owners Food City had twice been the subject of a licensing review after undercover police – who spent more than a year collecting evidence – caught them breaking their licensing conditions.
The consistent breach of conditions and the two suspensions that followed were unique to Camden. After Food City were handed a second three month ban from selling alcohol they surrendered their licence without serving the ban.
Delta Express were granted a new licence by licensing chiefs last Tuesday.
But Sgt Bob Dear alleged it was a change of nothing more than name and that, “if granted, there is nothing to stop this new licence from immediately being transferred back into the name of Food City.”
He added: “Delta Express is a ‘new’ company that was only created/registered on May 29 2008 and has no trading history.”
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”.
He added: “Delta Express was a new company set up in May 2008 – moments later Food City surrendered their licence and put in a new application, but Food City are still the leaseholder.
“They could continue to breach their conditions, we would go through the whole procedure once more, they’d probably receive a suspension, they would appeal it, which could go on for months, and then they could just surrender their licence before the appeal date and start a new company.”
In a letter to the Town Hall, Jenny Hughes of J & H Consultants, representing Delta Express, maintained 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 did not reply to messages left by reporters yesterday (Thursday). |
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