A NIGHTCLUB has been refused yet another extended alcohol licence as the police aim to clamp down on violent crime.
As reported by the Star, Bar 44 has had several Temporary Event Notices (TEN) refused since the start of the year which led bosses to claim that the club is being "singled out" by police.
TENs are applied to extend a venue's licence beyond their standard operating hours, usually for some form of special event, but police have said that it is "highly likely" that these applications will be objected to because of a reported rise in violent crime.
This has been shown with Maloney's being refused a licence extension for a televised boxing match last month, and Bar 44 have now been refused another extension for a "celebrity DJ" event which was planned over the bank holiday weekend.
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Speaking at a sub-licensing committee meeting at St Helens Town Hall on Wednesday, May 14, Bar 44 manager Tom Glover explained that although the proposed event would be un-ticketed, the celebrity DJ would provide a "boost to the venue".
Mr Glover said that while the application was an extension until 5am, club bosses would be happy to compromise until 4am.
He later questioned why the position has changed on Temporary Event Notices, which were previously approved by police, and voiced his concern about a pre-booked event at another town centre venue which was allowed until 4am without objection.
The club manager also suggested that there are "unsubstantiated statistics" regarding violent crime in the town centre, and believes that there is "no direct correlation" between the approval of TENs and violent crime - particularly as venues already have 12 'special days' where they can operate until 5am throughout the year.
Bar 44 is also appealing the council's refusal of a permanent licence extension, which is due to be heard next month.
Reiterating the police's approach towards Temporary Event Notices, Licencing Constable Craig Carmichael explained that the majority of these will be objected to because of the reported rise in violent crime across St Helens town centre, particularly in the night time economy.
Constable Carmichael pointed to statistics where there have been 607 violent crimes reported in St Helens town centre over the past 12 months, with 74 of these incidents taking place on Westfield Street.
18 of the incidents are reported to have taken place between 3 and 5am, which is why the police is taking a stance that 3am is "late enough" for the nightlife in St Helens.
As independent analysis from the government's Home Office has also identified St Helens town centre as one of 12 serious violence hotspots across Merseyside, the police believe that action needs to be taken to reduce the level of crime and disorder and make residents feel safer in the town.
While expressing that the police are "not singling out" Bar 44, or that criminal incidents are the fault of staff, Constable Carmichael pointed to ten crimes reported in the vicinity of the Westfield Street nightclub between December and April, with half of these reported between 3 and 5am.
Speaking on behalf of behalf of St Helens Chief Inspector John Smith, Constable Carmichael said: "After reviewing the data and practices in place, [the police] now intends to placing greater emphasis on reviewing all Temporary Event Notices.
"He has a responsibility to act in the best interests of St Helens residents and ensure a safe use of the night time economy.
"He believes that to grant a TEN puts residents at a greater risk of becoming a victim of violent crime."
Constable Carmichael added: "[3am finishes are] being regularly exceeded by several bars when they are using their 12 special days or through these TENS.
"Due to the level of crime and disorder in the town centre, and the fact that it is recognised as a serious violence hotspot, we believe that 3am is late enough and we will be opposing extensions such as TENS."
Following the submission of evidence from both sides, the council's sub-licencing committee decided that the event should not take place and a Counter Notice was given to refuse the Temporary Event Notice.
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