Shutting Guildhall Walk bar sends a clear message
Portsmouth's most senior policeman today welcomed the two-week closure of a notorious bar in Guildhall Walk saying it would send a 'clear message' to others.
In an unprecedented move, Yates's licence was yesterday suspended by Portsmouth City Council for 14 days.
It follows the death of 18-year-old Private Matt Brooks who had been attacked inside the bar, as well as a worrying spate of fighting and drunken disorder at the venue.
Yates's now has to comply with 12 strict conditions - such as replacing its door staff and banning 'shots' - before it reopens in order to avoid it being shut permanently.
Chief Superintendent David Peacock said he hoped the decision would make other clubs and bars in the street stand up and take notice.
Just this week a 30-year-old man had a blood clot removed from his brain after he was punched to the ground in Guildhall Walk.
Chief Supt Peacock said: 'This sends a clear message that we are doing everything we can to stamp out the violence and disorder which have taken place.
'We are now going to review all the premises licences of all the bars in the Guildhall Walk area, and if we find similar problems they will also appear before the council.'
He said he was pleased with the licence suspension because it makes sure the bar follows through on its promises.
'This gives Yates's an opportunity to demonstrate that they can deal with the issues we have identified,' he said.
'Any further incidents will obviously be brought up at the club's full review.'
Yates's was ordered to appear before an emergency city council licensing committee yesterday.
Since December last year there have been eight thefts inside Yates's, 12 assaults, including one on the club's manager, one indecent assault and nine reported incidents of drunk and disorderly behaviour.
Hampshire police were highly critical of Yates's door staff, who were said to have pushed troublemakers out a back door into a poorly-lit area, and on one occasion refused to call an ambulance when one was needed.
On the night Pte Brooks was fatally assaulted on May 13, one bouncer responded to a call for help saying: 'It's got nothing to do with us. Once they're outside it's not our problem.'
Criticism also fell on the number of people allowed inside the venue, with police demanding the figure be lowered from 600 to 500.
Police had wanted to shut the bar down for 28 days.
But after private talks with Yates's managers they reached a compromise of 14 days, which was agreed by councillors.
The club now has until June 11 to address the police's concerns. A full licensing review will take place on June 23.
Licensing committee chairman, Cllr Les Stevens, said any further premises which appeared before them on similar grounds would be dealt with very seriously.
'I am pleased the police and the bar have managed to come to an agreement,' he said.
'We have got to stop the violence which keeps breaking out at venues like this, and managers need to take some responsibility for what goes on inside their premises.'
A spokesman for Yates's said they had reached an agreement with the police to close while improvements were made to ensure customer and staff safety, adding: 'Throughout this period we will be working closely with Chief Superintendent Peacock and his team in order to achieve our shared goal of a safe night-time economy.'
‘We have got to stop the violence which keeps breaking out at venues like this, and managers need to take some responsibility for what goes on inside their premises.'
A spokesman for Yates's said they had reached an agreement with the police to close while improvements were made to ensure customer and staff safety, adding: ‘Throughout this period we will be working closely with Chief Superintendent Peacock and his team in order to achieve our shared goal of a safe night-time economy.'
TAKING ACTION Chief Superintendent David Peacock in Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth
Picture: Ian Hargreaves (101676-1)
Shut bar sends clear message
Yates's licence is suspended for two weeks as police warn other venues they could be next in crackdown
by JOE NIMMO
The News
joe.nimmo@thenews.co.uk
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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