Police detail Brighton bar trouble to fight bouncer cuts (From The Argus)
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Police detail Brighton bar trouble to fight bouncer cuts
1:10pm Friday 8th February 2013 in News By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter
The Pitcher and Piano in East Street, Brighton
A shocking catalogue of incidents at a city centre bar has been released by police attempting to stop the venue deploying fewer bouncers on weekend nights.
Sussex Police has released a list of more than 30 incidents at the Pitcher and Piano in East Street, Brighton, to a licensing committee considering the bar’s application.
The current licence conditions require up to five door supervisors to be deployed at the premises each Friday and Saturday evening, irrespective of the number of customers at the venue.
Pitcher and Piano wants to change this so it only needs to put no more than two staff on the door on busy nights.
The request will be considered by Brighton and Hove City Council’s committee on February 15.
Chief Superintendent and Commander of Brighton and Hove Graham Bartlett has written to the committee saying the force is concerned with the application and has called on it to reject the bid.
Police incidents
The letter includes more than 30 incidents at the club during the past two years.
Just a few weeks ago, on January 16, bar staff called Sussex Police to report people breaking in after hours. The report said the gang “helped themselves to alcohol”.
Other incidents include where a bouncer allegedly tried to push a drinker over railings on to a 10ft drop and where one man took the banned drug GHB known as liquid ecstasy.
At the end of last year a man was reportedly knocked out and required hospital treatment suffering a “deep cut to his lower lip” after being punched.
'Ongoing issues'
Ch Supt Bartlett said that East Street has “ongoing issues with noise and antisocial behaviour”.
He said: “East Street has historically over the last few years experienced increasing problems with alcohol-related disorder and violence, as well as increasing complaints from residents and businesses.”
A Pitcher and Piano spokesman said: “It’s a run-of-the-mill licensing issue. The police are entitled to put out whatever summary they want.
“There is a little point having doormen when there is no one in the building.”
Highlighted by Sussex Police
- January 16, 2013: A group break in and drink booze from the bar after hours
- November 24, 2012: Actual bodily harm – woman pushed inside bar
- August 4, 2012: Police called to eject drunken Chelsea fans from the premises
- May 26, 2012: Police called to venue because queues were spreading across road causing traffic problems
- February 10, 2012: Man racially abusive to bar staff
- June 12, 2011: Allegation that GHB was in the premises. One person said it was “forced” up their nose and also spiked in his drink
- January 1, 2011: Report of woman-on-woman fight over spilt drink – someone had their hair pulled.
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Comments(8)
Jimmy935
says...
1:58pm Fri 8 Feb 13
dhamallamafarmer
says...
2:00pm Fri 8 Feb 13
bogs
says...
2:19pm Fri 8 Feb 13
rayellerton
says...
3:36pm Fri 8 Feb 13
qm
says...
8:41am Sat 9 Feb 13
whereisthe...?
says...
12:20pm Sat 9 Feb 13
Blatantly obvious and very, very sad.
The things people like that will do to make even more profits (over people).
No one in their right mind would object to the POLICE using their expertise and recommending a common-sense solution to a very nasty ongoing problem.
THIRTY INCIDENTS FFS!?
Without this type of police action, this town will become even more like the wild west. Things are bad enough here already.
Habibi
says...
6:54pm Thu 14 Feb 13
Metro Reader says...
1:19pm Fri 8 Feb 13
“The current licence conditions require up to five door supervisors to be deployed at the premises each Friday and Saturday evening, irrespective of the number of customers at the venue. “
So they can have as many as they want then?
As for someone breaking in afterhours - this has nothing to do with the number of door staff.
"A Pitcher and Piano spokesman said: “It’s a run-of-the-mill licensing issue. The police are entitled to put out whatever summary they want." a slightly arrogant comment from the P&P I think.
“There is a little point having doormen when there is no one in the building.” Not only a sexist comment - door people or staff, I am sure they have to have at least one female, but are staff not in the building when open, and on a Friday or Saturday you never know who will attend, especially as we are coming into the lunatic summer period.