Store caught selling alcohol to children faces licence review

In May, October and December last year teenage volunteers were sold alcopops and lager at the former Spar store in White Lane, Gleadless, now known as White Lane Convenience Store.

As a result, South Yorkshire Police have asked Sheffield Council to reconsider the shop’s licence at a meeting next Tuesday, April 27.

Police carried out a total of six test purchases at the shop last year, in which teenagers were asked to attempt to buy alcohol. On three of those occasions staff members sold alcohol to the under-age children, which led to three fixed penalty notices of £80 being issued.

During the first test purchase operation, two 15-year-old girls were sold three bottles of the alcopop Smirnoff Ice. In October, a 15-year-old girl was then sold a bottle of the WKD alcopop and, in December, a 15-year-old boy was sold four cans of Carling lager.

According to a report drawn up by acting police sergeant Antony Pollitt, which is set to go before Tuesday’s meeting of the licensing board, there have been numerous complaints by residents in the area of anti-social behaviour being carried out by drunk teenagers.

He said: “It is clear that the management of the premises has fallen well below that expected of a competent operator, with the continued sale of alcohol to under aged persons.”

Mr Pollitt adds that extra training was offered to designated premises supervisor Ghalib Ali and his staff, but they failed to attend a training course on Wednesday, February 16.

As a result, he said, “It is felt that it would be a necessary and proportionate response to request a review of the premises licence.”

Julie Hague, from Sheffield’s Safeguarding Children Board, carried out the test purchase operation in conjunction with South Yorkshire Police.

In her report for the licensing board, she said: “I am concerned that, despite attempts to support the premises to improve their operation, the designated premises supervisor has been unable to demonstrate due diligence or operate the necessary systems to protect children from the risks associated with underage sales.

“I am therefore asking the licensing authority to take positive action to protect children from the risks presenting at these premises.”

At the same committee meeting next Tuesday, police will also ask members of the licensing board to refuse a temporary events licence for Empire Bar in Charter Square, Sheffield city centre.

In January this year, the bar was closed down after numerous violent incidents on the premises, many of which were said to be gang-related.

On February 17 a meeting was then held at which new conditions were imposed on Empire Bar’s licence and a new designated premises supervisor was named.

As a result, Sheffield Council’s licensing board said the bar’s licence could be reinstated and the club has now been open for about six weeks.

However, police are objecting to plans for a temporary licence which would allow the club to open until 5am on Monday, May 2.

In their submission to Sheffield Council, a spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said: “Since the reopening of Empire Bar there has been one report of theft and one report of assault, whereby a female was pushed down some stairs outside and therefore cannot be linked to the premises.

“Due to the minor offences reported, South Yorkshire Police are of the opinion that the new conditions attached to the licence are clearly working.

“If a temporary events notice was to go ahead, whereby conditions are not applicable, this may result in crime and disorder once again.”