D-Day for Portsmouth Kens Kebab House

Kens Kebab House in Guildhall Walk could have its licence taken away following police concerns over violence PPP-170113-164701001

It comes after a police report exposed a catalogue of problems at Kens Kebab House, in Guildhall Walk.

Assaults have taken place at the venue after 3am, when it should be closed in keeping with the conditions on its licence.

While a security guard previously jailed for an ‘unprovoked attack’ at the takeaway - operated by businessman Naseem Ahmed - was caught back on duty.

In a report going before Portsmouth City Council’s licensing authority from 9.30am today, at Portsmouth Guildhall, licensing officer PC Pete Rackham said: ‘It is the view of the chief officer of police that Mr Ahmed has failed to comply with this premise license conditions and adhere to his permitted hours.

‘As such, he has broken the law and committed offences under the Licensing Act 2003.

‘In tandem with this failure to operate in accordance with the law, the premises has seen an increase in violent incidents.’ He added the only ‘realistic measure’ to prevent crime and disorder is to ‘revoke the licence’.

As reported, two assaults took place on August 28 and October 2 last year at 4am and 4.25am, when hot food was still being served.

A door supervisor on duty at the takeaway on October 13 had previously been sentenced to eight months prison, ‘despite causing GBH injuries to someone previously at the premises in an unprovoked attack’.

While on November 6, another door supervisor attempted to break up an altercation between a man and a doorman from another venue.

Police say this happened at 3.23am, outside agreed operating hours.

CCTV collected by police of activity between November 5 and 6 showed ‘numerous transactions of money in exchange for food to members of the public for up to two hours after the premises ceased to have any authority to perform licensable activities.’ While police licensing officials saw it was open at 4am on November 13.

A file has been submitted with a view to prosecuting Mr Ahmed for five counts of carrying on a licensable activity on premises otherwise than under and in accordance with an authorisation.