A serious sex attack inside a city centre kebab shop has been cited as one of the reasons police are objecting to a bid to extend its opening hours to 4am.
Albion Kebabs in Queen’s Road, Brighton, currently has a licence to open until 1am from Monday to Thursday, until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays and until midnight on Sundays.
Owner Adriatic Dema has applied to extend this until 4am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays before bank holidays, and until 2.30am on all other days, which will be decided at a licensing committee hearing tomorrow.
But he faces a wall of stiff opposition from police, council officers, councillors and residents, who argue that it should be turned down as it falls within a cumulative impact zone and has failed to show how it will stop its customers causing trouble in the area.
Brighton and Hove commander, Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp, said: “The Brighton police licensing unit has had involvement with Albion Kebabs and Adriatic Dema in the last six months, and Mr Dema had a meeting with us at our request in December to discuss problems at the premises late at night.
“An alleged serious sexual assault took place inside the premises in October 2014 at approximately 2.42am when the premises was still open and trading, despite the fact that the permitted hours for late night refreshment ended at 1am.
“Sussex Police are unable to disclose further information on this matter because of sub judice rules at this stage as a criminal investigation is still ongoing.
“When police met with Mr Dema in December 2014 to discuss concerns about the running and management of the venue, Mr Dema admitted that the CCTV system inside the shop had not been working since February 2014, in breach of the CCTV condition on the premises licence.
“In addition the premises were found to be trading beyond its permitted hours on 18 October, 2014 at 3.45am when the permitted hours for late night refreshment finished at 3am.”
The council’s licensing officer Becky Pratley has also objected, saying: “The premises is also located in the electoral ward St. Peter’s and North Laine, which … is ranked the worst out of 21 wards for criminal damage and police recorded alcohol related incidents.
“This ward was also ranked the worst for A&E attendances between 8pm and 5am due to assault, and third worst for sexual offences.
“On looking at the variation application form, it seems to me that the applicant has failed to demonstrate how they will not add to the existing cumulative impact of the area or how they are a potential exception to our policy.”
The North Laine Community Association and ward councillors Lizzie Deane and Ian Davey also objected on the grounds it is within the CIZ and would lead to further disruption for residents (Mr Davey is no longer a councillor as he did not stand for re-election this month).
