A shop owner whose staff failed licensing checks risks having his licence suspended for up to two months.
Sussex Police has asked a Brighton and Hove City Council licensing panel today (Wednesday 4 November) to suspend the drinks licence for Corner News and Booze, in Ditchling Road, for up to eight weeks.
Further potential conditions could require anyone selling alcohol after 10pm to hold a personal licence.
The licence, in place since 2006, allows for the sale of alcohol from 6am to 4am daily.
The panel of three councillors – Julie Cattell, Ivan Lyons and Paul Nann – was asked to give the business, which fronts Upper Hollingdean Road, a “yellow card” warning.
At the hearing, PC Jen Wade said that the shop, which is also known as Best Deal Convenience Store, had not received a licensing check since 2020.
On Friday 31 October last year, officers watched as two young-looking customers were not asked for identification (ID). When asked by officers, the men showed ID that indicated that they were 20 and 21.
Staff appeared unsure about what to do when a customer who appeared drunk attempted to buy super-strength K Cider during a licensing visit.
Other breaches of the premises licence included the closed-circuit television (CCTV) system recording the wrong time by an hour.
On Wednesday 21 January, a test purchase was carried out but the secret shopper was not checked for ID when buying beer. Licensing officers also found that staff could not operate the CCTV system.
Shop owner Ihsan Baksi, 45, was called in to Brighton Police Station, in John Street, for a meeting.
On Wednesday 22 July, a licensing check found that staff were still unable to operate the CCTV as required by the licence.
PC Wade said that a further visit last week, on Tuesday 27 October, found that a blue notice about the review was displayed but the information on it could not be seen.
The shop also failed to comply with other conditions, including a requirement to sign up for security cover from a mobile support unit.
The business passed a police test purchase carried out that day, with the buyer asked for ID – and two staff were on duty at 11pm.
PC Wade said: “While this shows movement in the right direction, the late-night operating hours and its location continue to add an additional element of risk.
“This area has two very large blocks of flats directly opposite the shop that house a number of vulnerable persons involved in ASB (anti-social behaviour), crime and substance misuse, as well as having a large population of students housed on the estate near by.”
Council licensing officer Donna Lynsale backed the police evidence and noted that the shop had Dragon Soop on sale, with an alcohol volume of 7.5 per cent, which is higher than the 6 per cent limit for beer.
Neighbour Felicity Beckett spoke to praise Mr Baksi, who received three representations of support from people living near by.
Speaking about Mr Baksi, and referring to him as “Ray”, Mrs Beckett said: “Children do not try to buy booze there because it’s not a place that’s known for that.
“Considering the vulnerable people that live across the road, I bear witness to them being extremely sensitive to the needs of those people.”
Graham Hopkins, of GT Licensing Consultants, represented Mr Baksi and said that work was already under way to train Mr Baksi’s brother as a personal licence holder and at least one other member of staff.
Mr Hopkins said that an external trainer would keep staff training up to date for a year and all workers would be trained to operate the CCTV system.
He said: “We accept mistakes have been made and understand the police’s concerns through that. Mr Baksi is a decent man, a good man. He’s trying to make this work.
“We would ask you (the panel) to bear in mind that we will be there to support him and are quite happy to come down to Brighton to do the training in person if that reassures the police further.”
Mr Baksi was also willing to reduce the times at which alcohol was on sale, to finish at 2am daily, although the shop continues to open 24 hours a day.
He asked the panel not to suspend the licence, saying that it would destroy his business.
The panel retired to make its decision which should be made public within five working days.
