Police raise concerns over late night burger bar

Police have requested that the premises licence of a Blackpool takeaway be reviewed owing to their concerns about the absence of required door staff and public safety late at night.

Blackpool Council’s licensing panel have been asked to review the licence of Burger Shack, based at 20 Talbot Road, after an application from PC Matt Lund on behalf of Lancashire Constabulary.

Burger Shack currently has a premises licence authorising the provision of late night refreshment indoors, from Monday to Sunday from 11pm to 4am.

Although the licence is currently in the name of Tallat Ghazanfarsince and has been since January 2006, the licensing service received a request in April to transfer the licence to Mr Mohammed Ishtiaq.

The license has a number of conditions attached, including the requirement of at least one SIA (Security Industry Authority) door staff be employed from opening hours to closing time on Fridays and Saturdays.

The written representation from Lancashire Constabulary refers to four documented breaches of a condition relating to door staff requirements.

What the police say

Police say that on many occasions, due to the late hours,  customers are “already in drink” and  on one of those occasions a man was reportedly assaulted inside the premises. That incident is still being investigated.

The police document states: “The premises now has 4 documented occasions where police have attended and have found no door staff to be present.

“Having been caught on four separate occasions in breach of their licence, it is fair to assume that these were not the only instances, and that the venue consistently fails to use door staff, as required by their licence.

“Even after being advised by the police and having a warning letter sent to the licence holder and left at the premises they have continued to operate without door staff.

“At no time during police visits has the premises licence holder been present and the staff don’t seem to know who is in charge which leads directly to their non-compliance with the conditions of their licence.

“The CCTV relating to the assault has not been provided yet which is another consequence of the premises licence holder not being contactable.

“These issues lead the police to have no confidence in the PLH (premises licence holder) as a responsible person suitable for running a late night takeaway in a high risk area of Blackpool. “

The Licensing Panel, which met on Monday (June 1) to consider the application, will now write to the licence holder within five working days to confirm its decision.