Club forced to close for week after series of violent clashes

The Gatecrasher club on New Briggate in Leeds city centre was closed after police applied to Leeds Council's licensing sub-committee, which last Friday suspended the licence for a week.

Police have asked for the club's licence to be reviewed, which will be heard by the committee on February 14.

West Yorkshire Police took action following a number of violent incidents at the club over the festive period and the first fortnight of the New Year.

A police spokesman said officers had previously spoken to the club after it had scored a large number of points on the city centre's 'Licensing Matrix'.

This is a system which measures the number of incidents and crimes within the city's licensed premises over a rolling six-month period.

Under the Licensing Matrix, if a premises scores 30 or more points within six months officers request to speak to owners and licensees to address any issues.

Should the premises then score a further 30 points in that six-month period, officers can take enforcement action.

However, the number of incidents of violence at the club continued to rise, police said, which led to immediate action being taken.

When the club reopens tomorrow it must operate a 'Check 25' proof-of-age policy and install ID machines for checking customers' identities, replace its whole door staff team, and use search arches or hand-held metal detectors when directed to by police officers.

They were also ordered not to host any more We Play Vinyl nights, after many of the incidents took place during these events.

Acting Superintendent Vernon Francis, who introduced the Licensing Matrix to Leeds city centre, said: "The last thing we want to do is risk harming our city's night-time economy by closing premises down, but our priority is keeping the public safe and we can't do this by turning a blind eye to crime and disorder.

"We have regularly tried to work with the club to address the issues affecting them but have been left with no option other than to request the closure and to apply to review the licence."